Signal Reception At Substation Patents (Class 379/372)
  • Patent number: 11968324
    Abstract: In a signal transmission system for transmitting an analog signal, in which a billing signal is superposed on an audio signal, from a transmitting device to a receiving device, the transmitting device includes a separation unit configured to separate the audio signal from the analog signal, an AD conversion unit configured to perform AD conversion on the audio signal separated by the separation unit, a detection unit configured to detect the billing signal from the analog signal, a coding unit configured to encode the billing signal detected by the detection unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the audio signal subjected to the AD conversion by the AD conversion unit and the billing signal encoded by the coding unit to the receiving device, and the receiving device includes a reception unit configured to receive the audio signal and the billing signal transmitted by the transmission unit, a DA conversion unit configured to perform DA conversion on the audio signal received by the reception uni
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Furuya, Tomohiro Tokuyasu, Hayato Fukuzono, Yu Ono, Tsutomu Tatsuta, Tomohiro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11722861
    Abstract: One example method of operation may include one or more of identifying an incoming communication via a communication processing device, identifying communication source attributes associated with a communication source of the incoming communication, retrieving one or more communication routing conditions from a communication recipient profile associated with an intended recipient device identified by the incoming communication, and determining whether to route the incoming communication to the intended recipient device or an automated communication management device based on the communication source attributes and the one or more communication routing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: FIRST ORION CORP.
    Inventors: Mark Himelfarb, Timothy Stalnaker
  • Patent number: 11658835
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a user request to call a plurality of second users simultaneously from a client system associated with a first user via an assistant xbot, wherein the user request comprises one or more references referring the plurality of second users, identifying the plurality of second users by resolving the one or more references to a plurality of entity identifiers associated with the plurality of second users, respectively, and initiating a group call to the plurality of second users simultaneously based on the plurality of entity identifiers by the assistant xbot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventor: Noam Yakob Behar
  • Patent number: 11265426
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the virtualization, aggregation, and distributed processing of facsimile communications. The Remote FAX Interconnect known as etherFAX® is a system and method that allows for the reception and delivery of information based on cloud computing infrastructure to or from one or more facsimile systems using Internet/web based communication protocols such as HTTP(S) as the transport between a facsimile capable application or hardware and the remotely accessible etherFAX® services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: etherFAX, LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Cichielo, Paul J. Banco
  • Patent number: 11120820
    Abstract: A technique for detecting a signal tone in an audio signal is disclosed. A determination is made as to whether a peak modulation frequency in the audio signal is in a specific range or not to obtain a determination result. A measure regarding a modulation spectrum of the audio signal is calculated. The measure is calculated based on at least components of the modulation spectrum above a specific limit of modulation frequency. By using the determination result and the measure regarding the modulation spectrum, a judgement is done as to whether the audio signal contains a signal tone or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Fukuda, Masayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10873659
    Abstract: A security implant device and a method of operation of the security implant, for securing Voice over IP (VoIP) phone, the implant device disables audio input and output components of the VoIP phone in order to prevent audio eavesdropping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: HIGH SEC LABS LTD.
    Inventor: Aviv Soffer
  • Patent number: 10089840
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus organize a plurality of haptic output variations into a cohesive semantic framework that uses various information about the alert condition and trigger, application context, and other conditions to provide a system of haptic outputs that share characteristics between related events. In some embodiments, an event class or application class provides the basis for a corresponding haptic output. In some embodiments, whether an alert-salience setting is on provides the basis for adding an increased salience haptic output to the standard haptic output for the alert. In some embodiments, consistent haptics provide for branding of the associated application class, application, and/or context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Camille Moussette, Gary I. Butcher, Hugo D. Verweij, Jonathan Ive
  • Patent number: 10079934
    Abstract: A user may have multiple devices that are associate with a single user address such as an email address, a telephone number, a user name, a user ID, etc. When a communication is addressed to the single user address, a location of each of the devices is determined, and any devices that are co-located within a common geographic area are identified. For those devices within the common geographic area, one of the devices is selected and instructed to play an audible alert. The other devices within the common geographic area are not instructed or are specifically instructed not to play the audible alert. All of the user's multiple devices may present a visual alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Xavier Ligeret, Teck-Kong Chong
  • Patent number: 10063691
    Abstract: A method to detect dial tone on a telephone line may include taking samples of incoming audio on a telephone line. The method may also include determining volumes of the samples. The method may further include determining whether the volumes of a threshold number of the samples are at or above a threshold volume. The method may also include, in response to determining that the volumes of a threshold number of the samples are at or above a threshold volume, determining that the incoming audio on the telephone line includes a dial tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sorenson IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Chevrier, Michael S. Stimpson
  • Patent number: 9736782
    Abstract: A mobile device configured to modify the mobile device's behavior based on the local environment of the mobile device. The mobile device determines the local environment based on a comparison of sound detected by the mobile device's audio sensor to sound detected by an exterior audio sensor. In particular, the mobile device determines if it is covered and, if covered, the mobile device determines properties of the covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Nilsson
  • Patent number: 9729705
    Abstract: A user may have multiple devices that are associate with a single user address such as an email address, a telephone number, a user name, a user ID, etc. When a communication is addressed to the single user address, each of the devices is queried to determine its location, and any devices that are co-located within a common geographic area are identified. For those devices within the common geographic area, one of the devices is selected and instructed to play an audible alert. The other devices within the common geographic area are not instructed or are specifically instructed not to play the audible alert. All of the user's multiple devices may present a visual alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Xavier Ligeret, Teck-Kong Chong
  • Patent number: 9706321
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for executing a method for modifying an output parameter of an electronic device. The method and apparatus emits a first sound. The method and apparatus are further configured to receive a second sound at the electronic device, the second sound based at least in part on the first sound. The processor of the electronic device compares at least one characteristic of the first sound to at least one corresponding characteristic of the second sound. The processor further receives output data from at least one sensor and modifies an output parameter of the electronic device in response to the comparison of the first sound and the second sound and the output data from the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Ryan Salter, Mark David Mesaros
  • Patent number: 9167069
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to management of notifications responsive to the arrival and departure of mobile devices in a defined area. A prioritized list is shared among mobile devices in a defined area. Upon detection, mobile devices add their respective selected notifications to the prioritized list. A mobile device entering the defined area receives the prioritized list and in response to detecting a shared selected notification on the prioritized list, one of the mobile devices in the area changes its selected notification to an alternative notification. A second mobile device entering the defined area would likewise receive the prioritized list and change its selected notification to a second alternative notification responsive to a shared selected notification on the list. At such time as a device leaves the area, the list is again updated and all notifications exclusive to the device are removed from the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 9160832
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to management of notifications responsive to the arrival and departure of mobile devices in a defined area. A prioritized list is shared among mobile devices in a defined area. Upon detection, mobile devices add their respective selected notifications to the prioritized list. A mobile device entering the defined area receives the prioritized list and in response to detecting a shared selected notification on the prioritized list, one of the mobile devices in the area changes its selected notification to an alternative notification. A second mobile device entering the defined area would likewise receive the prioritized list and change its selected notification to a second alternative notification responsive to a shared selected notification on the list. At such time as a device leaves the area, the list is again updated and all notifications exclusive to the device are removed from the list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 9154614
    Abstract: A call center maintains various pools of telephone numbers, where each telephone number pool comprises a plurality of telephone numbers in a geographic area. A call originating to a called number uses a calling telephone number that is selected from one of a plurality of telephone number pools based on the area designated by the called number. An index value is used to select the telephone number from the selected telephone number pool. The selected telephone number is used to as a calling telephone number when originating a call to the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventors: Juderic Trinidad, Theodore Ray Abbott, II, Ruby Amastha Fields
  • Patent number: 8909721
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system, method and device for providing information relating to a received communication for a device. The method comprises: while the device is composing an outbound communication, monitoring for receipt of an inbound communication; upon receipt of the inbound communication, evaluating a subject field of the inbound communication against a subject field of the outbound communication to determine whether the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication; and if the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication, generating a first message on a display of the device providing a warning indicating that the inbound communication has been received and when a send command is activated on the device for the outbound communication generating a second message on the display providing a command for merging the inbound communication with text of the outbound communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Arun Munje, Andrew James Turcotte, David Noel Vanden Heuvel
  • Patent number: 8824653
    Abstract: A call handling system receives an incoming call from a caller. In response to receiving the incoming call, the call handling system determines a call count for the caller. The call count for the caller is based on a number of calls in a sequence of calls received by the call handling system from the caller, including the incoming call. A maximum amount of time between any of the calls in the sequence of calls does not exceed an expiration period. Based on the call count for the caller, the call handling system identifies and performs an action to take with regard to the incoming call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis J. Cutajar
  • Patent number: 8675849
    Abstract: A method of receiving a phone number is provided, including receiving, at a receiver of a first phone during a first voice communication session between the first phone and a second phone, a phone number transmitted by a user of the second phone after the first voice communication session is established. The phone number is detected with a signal detector coupled for communication with the receiver, and stored in a memory coupled to the signal detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel
  • Patent number: 8638920
    Abstract: Management of call center call routing is provided. Service calls directed to a call center may be monitored according to a variety of parameters such as associated line of business, date, time, and call volume. Calls directed to an internal call center may be routed to an alternate call center for processing as required or needed by the provider of the internal call center. For each type of incoming service call, a maximum call count or percentage-based call count may be established to facilitate efficient routing of service calls to the internal call center or to an alternate call center to ensure that no more than a specified number of calls are routed to a given call center. Real time and summary reporting may be generated to allow call center management personnel to monitor and manage service call routing to one or more internal and/or alternate call centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Cutajar
  • Publication number: 20140016771
    Abstract: A line connection apparatus is disclosed. A hold/release recognition part records first person identification information by corresponding to second person identification information in a connection database stored in a storage part when a hold is recognized. The first person identification information identifies a first person who holds a line. The second person identification information identifies a second person for whom the line is held. The connection database maintains a state of holding a line and releasing a hold of the line. The connection control part refers to the connection control database and has a first person terminal of the first person in a hold state based on the first person identification information, which is corresponded to the second person identification information indicated by a re-connection request, in response to the re-connection request conducted by a same second person after the line is disconnected in the hold state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Naoto KAWASHIMA, Naoto MATSUDAIRA, Yuusuke TOUNAI, Hiroshi YOSHIDA, Shingo HIRONO
  • Patent number: 8577020
    Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus is connected to a single telephone line and is configured to be selectively connected either to a telephone set or to a facsimile machine. A pseudo ring back tone generator generates a repetitive pseudo ring back tone transmitted to a calling party in response to an incoming call. A pseudo ring signal generator generates a pseudo ring signal for driving a ringer of the telephone set to ring in response to the incoming call. A tone detector detects a CNG signal indicative that the incoming call is a facsimile. A controller controls at least the pseudo ring back tone generator and the pseudo ring signal generator. A table correlates a plurality of ring back tones with corresponding countries. If a ring back tone for a country meets a predetermined condition, the controller sets a predetermined pseudo ring back tone to the pseudo ring back tone generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Hosoi
  • Patent number: 8498397
    Abstract: Provided is a method for handling telephone calls directed to a telephony connection associated with a plurality of telephone numbers, wherein incoming calls made to the plurality of telephone numbers are announced by different ring tones. The method comprises receiving over the telephony connection a signal carrying ring tone information indicative of an incoming call. The method further comprises processing the ring tone information to differentiate the ring tone currently conveyed in the telephony connection from other possible ring tones that the telephony connection can carry. The method still further comprises handling the incoming call on the basis of the differentiated ring tone. Also provided are a telephone system and a computer readable storage medium holding a program element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: BCE Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Freeman, David Robert MacPhie, Nasahn Adam Sheppard, Jason Edward Short, Stephan Georgiev
  • Patent number: 8483384
    Abstract: An enhanced tone detector including an adaptive multi-bandpass filter, a tone detector and a filter control unit. The adaptive multi-bandpass filter has a signal input receiving an input signal, a signal output providing a filtered signal, and at least one control input for receiving at least one control signal. The tone detector has an input coupled to the signal output of the adaptive multi-bandpass filter and at least one output providing at least one tone detection signal when a tone event is detected. The filter control unit has a first input receiving the input signal, at least one second input receiving the at least one tone detection signal, and at least one first output providing the at least one control signal. The control signals may include one or more frequency component signals and corresponding bandwidth signals in which the frequency component signals correspond to component frequencies of a tone event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucio F. C. Pessoa
  • Patent number: 8433766
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system, method and device for providing information relating to a received communication for a device. The method comprises generating and providing a message on a display of the device indicating receipt of an inbound communication, after determining that the device is to receive the inbound communication while the device is composing an outbound communication and after determining the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication by an analysis of information of the inbound communication against information of the outbound communication. The message provides options for processing the inbound communication depending on whether the outbound communication is initiated as either a reply to the inbound communication or a forwarding of the inbound communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Arun Munje, Andrew Turcotte, David Vanden Heuvel
  • Patent number: 8401173
    Abstract: It is determined whether a call-connection condition set to a call-connection device is a first call-connection state or a second call-connection state. When the determination result shows that the first call-connection state is set, a call is connected from an originating terminal to a destination terminal. When the determination result shows that the second call-connection state is set, the call is connected from the originating terminal to the destination terminal and conversation-termination processing is performed without waiting for a disconnection request transmitted from the originating terminal or the destination terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Kaneko, Masaaki Nagasaka, Tadahiro Ohta, Tadaaki Tanaka, Keita Kobayashi, Norishige Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 8295887
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for adjusting a ring tone volume in a mobile communication terminal. The method implements a function by which a user can directly adjust the ring tone volume in a mobile communication terminal in consideration of circumstances. To this end, the present invention includes a user interface screen by which a user can adjust the output volume level of the ring tone which rings according to the passage of time. Thus, the present invention provides a user interface screen by which a user can adjust the output volume level of a ring tone which rings according to the passage of time, and enables the user to set the output level of the ring tone and the output time of the ring tone at a corresponding level according to predetermined intervals through the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jae-Chan Koh, In-Kwon Kang, Lae-Kyoung Kim, Hyun-Soo Kim, Yun-Chul Yi, Young-Shik Shin
  • Patent number: 8290123
    Abstract: A method run in a gateway for detecting a communication link between a called telephone and a telephone switch is provided. The method firstly detects if a ringer equivalency number (REN) is equal to zero. If the REN equals to 0, the method further determines if each discharge curve of a positive wire and a negative wire of the called telephone complies with a corresponding standard discharge curve, so as to determine if the communication link between the called telephone and the telephone switch has been established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jia-Xuan Huang
  • Patent number: 8271660
    Abstract: A network appliance (100) is provided having a network controller subsystem (110) for coupling the appliance (100) to a data network for providing and receiving data packets to and from a packet data network. A digital signal processing subsystem (120) is coupled to the network controller subsystem (110). A signal conversion subsystem (130) is coupled to the digital signal processing subsystem (120) and a user interface subsystem (160) is coupled to both the signal conversion subsystem (130) and the digital signal processing subsystem (120). The digital signal processing subsystem (120) operates under the control of a computer program which is capable of detecting incoming calls, initiating call sessions, and preferably, implementing advanced telephony features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Henning Schulzrinne, Jianqi Yin
  • Patent number: 8204257
    Abstract: A method for increasing ring tone volume is provided. The method includes steps of: reading an audio file which is set as a current ring tone; determining whether the ring tone is a MP3 audio file or a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) audio file; adjusting frequencies by using an equalizer technique to increase volume of the ring tone if the ring tone is the MP3 audio file; adjusting a volume level of the ring tone to be the highest volume level, and adjusting timbre of the ring tone to increase the ring tone volume by simulating a musical score of the ring tone by using different instruments if the ring tone is the MIDI audio file. A related system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Meng-Chun Chen
  • Patent number: 8204202
    Abstract: A method for playing a Ring Back Tone (RBT) in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is disclosed. The method includes: after the network receives an RBT playing request, obtaining the current status information of the called user; determining an RBT ID corresponding to the called user ID and the current status information of the called user according to the corresponding relationship; and playing the RBT to the calling user. A system and Multimedia Ring Back Tone Application Server (MRBT AS) for playing an RBT in the IMS network are also provided. An RBT may be selected and played to the calling user according to the current status of the called user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jiaqi Tao
  • Patent number: 8175245
    Abstract: A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Yolab Networks, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Karen A. Gross, Thomas J. Galvan, Rupika Chib
  • Patent number: 8170194
    Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a method for replicating ring back tone (RBT). In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of sending a Play and Collect request to a media resource server (MRS) by an application server (AS), playing an RBT subscribed by the called party to the calling party and obtaining a Replicate RBT request initiated by the calling party according to the Play and Collect request by the MRS, receiving the Replicate RBT request obtained and sent by the MRS, by the AS, and sending a Replicate RBT command to an RBT platform according to the received Replicate RBT request by the AS, the Replicate RBT command carrying RBT replication information and instructing the RBT platform to replicate the requested RBT to an information library of the calling party. The invention also relates to a system and apparatus for implementing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qingchun Shen, Hui Yu
  • Patent number: 8155301
    Abstract: A dialing prompt system and method may include a monitoring unit, and a dialing prompt information processing unit. The monitoring unit is adapted to monitor whether it is necessary to send dialing prompt information to a user, and if necessary, trigger the dialing prompt information processing unit. The dialing prompt information processing unit determines dialing prompt information for the user, and sends the information to the user. After the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a communication system, if the user sends a call request (by going off-hook, for example), the dialing prompt system generates voice information, text information, picture information, or video image information (namely, at least one of such items) as an indication that allows the user to make the call. That is, at least one item of “voice information, text information, picture information, and video image information” may form diversified information to replace the existing unitary dialing prompt audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 8135128
    Abstract: An animatronic telephone agent consisting of a communications subsystem connected to a wired or wireless telephone network for receiving incoming telephone calls, and a robotic automaton coupled to the communications subsystem and responsive to incoming telephone calls for performing different movements that provide non-verbal visual cues to a human observer that are indicative of the status of each incoming call. The automaton preferably takes the form of an animatronic device that has movable appendages and a face with at least movable eyes or eyelids and which provides visual cues by making gestures and/or exhibiting facial expressions that are indicative of the receipt and progress of incoming calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Stefan Johannes Walter Marti, Christopher Schmandt
  • Patent number: 8131812
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system, method and device for providing information relating to a received communication for a device. The method comprises generating and providing a message on a display of the device indicating receipt of an inbound communication, after determining that the device is to receive the inbound communication while the device is composing an outbound communication and after determining the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication by an analysis of information of the inbound communication against information of the outbound communication. The message provides options for processing the inbound communication depending on whether the outbound communication is initiated as either a reply to the inbound communication or a forwarding of the inbound communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Arun Munje, Andrew Turcotte, David Vanden Heuvel
  • Patent number: 8081778
    Abstract: A VOX interface is provided that interfaces with at least two communication paths to two separate devices. One communication path may be to a first electronic device, such as a central monitoring station remote from the VOX interface, and another communication path may be to one or more remote devices, such as to one or more patient devices remote from the VOX interface. The VOX interface may determine which of the communication paths is sending a signal (such as an audio signal), and configure the VOX interface (via one or more switches) to pass the signal through. Specifically, the VOX interface may sense signals indicating the presence of audio from a central station audio bus and the patient station bus, may do some background noise filtering on the signals, and may pass these filtered values through a differentiator circuit to determine which bus presented the audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: SimplexGrinnell LP
    Inventor: Joseph D. Farley
  • Patent number: 8036361
    Abstract: A ringback tone, indicative of an emotional state that is input by a user of a called communication device, is selected to play to a calling communication device during a call to the called communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Ramachendra P. Batni, Ranjan Sharma
  • Patent number: 8027460
    Abstract: A controller ensures that ring-tones of a relatively-small pool of distinct ring-tones are individually assigned to telephones of a group of telephones in such a way as to maximize the physical separation of telephones with the same or similar ring-tones. One telephone after another generates an audio signal, such as a chirp or a ring-tone, while the other telephones listen for the audio signal and report results of their listening to the controller. The controller uses the results to assign ring-tones to the telephones. A graph-coloring algorithm may be used to make the assignments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Marc William Joseph Coughlan, Alexander Quentin Forbes, Ciaran Gannon, Peter Donald Runcie, Alexander Martin Scholte
  • Patent number: 7940909
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for rewarding an RBT, including selecting an RBT and initiating an RBT reward via a third-party platform in which a donator exists; processing an RBT reward request from a third-party platform, and downloading the RBT selected by the donator to a customized RBT library of the rewarded party when a predetermine condition is met. The CRBT platform may also return reward result information (Successful or Failed) to the third-party platform; the third-party platform receives the reward result information and charges the donator for the rewarded RBT. If the donator is charged successfully, the rewarded party is notified that the rewarded RBT is received; if the donator is charged unsuccessfully, the downloaded RBT is deleted from the customized RBT library of the rewarded party. The disclosure further describes a device and a system for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yongfu Yan
  • Patent number: 7903808
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus can notify a user of the fact that facsimile data being received is sent from a specific party. A communication control part receives facsimile data and party information from a remote facsimile apparatus, the party information identifying the remote facsimile apparatus. A melody output part stores and outputs a call-notification-melody so as to output the reproduced call-notification-melody through a speaker. A specific party discrimination part stores specific party information regarding a specific party for which the call-notification-melody is output. A system control part cases the melody output part to reproduce and output the call-notification-melody stored when the party information which the communication control part acquired matches the specific party information stored in the specific party discrimination part at a time of reception of a call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 7890589
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system, method and device for providing information relating to a received communication for a device. For the method, it comprises: while the device is composing an outbound communication, monitoring for receipt of an inbound communication; if the inbound communication is directed to the device, evaluating the inbound communication to determine whether it is related to the outbound communication; and if the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication, providing a message to the device indicating receipt of the inbound communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Arun Munje, Andrew Turcotte, David Vanden Heuvel
  • Patent number: 7831029
    Abstract: A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventors: Karen A. Gross, Thomas J. Galvan, Rupika Chib
  • Patent number: 7770043
    Abstract: A data processing device includes (a) a display unit, (b) a light-emitting unit which illuminates the display unit, (c) a communication unit which makes radio communication with other data processing devices, (d) a detector which detects whether the communication unit is in operation or not, and (e) a controller which limits a current to be supplied to the light-emitting unit in accordance with transmission power consumed in radio communication carried out by the communication unit, when the detector has detected that the communication unit is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Teruyuki Motohashi
  • Patent number: 7675873
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing users of voice conferencing with indications of the quality perceived by other users of the voice conferencing system. A voice conferencing bridge measures the quality of the each user's channel, and provides real-time feedback to users whose channel quality is inadequate and that other users cannot hear them clearly. The feedback may be in the form of in-band or out-of-band signals, indicating for example that the user should speak louder, should mute while off-line, or warning the user that his or her channel may be muted automatically. The last option is particularly useful if a participant has temporarily left the conference and is playing music or hold tones while absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Zlatko Krstulich
  • Publication number: 20090110183
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for attenuating a dialing confirmation tone includes receiving an enable signal from a tactile user input device, generating at least one dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tone, and communicating the at least one DTMF tone to a telephone line. The method further includes attenuating a signal level of the at least one DTMF tone by a predetermined amount to produce at least one attenuated dialing confirmation tone in response to receiving the enable signal, and communicating the at least one attenuated dialing confirmation tone to an audio output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Embarq Holdings Company LLC
    Inventor: Amar Nath Ray
  • Publication number: 20090080625
    Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus is provided capable of preventing a misunderstanding that the external attachment telephone is hooked up, so that the external attachment telephone can be correctly shifted to a receiving mode. In the apparatus, a ring signal detecting section detects a ring signal sent by a line exchange machine from a line; and a hookup detecting section monitors a line voltage of the line and detects a hookup of an external attachment telephone. In the hookup detecting section, a line voltage detecting section detects the line voltage on the line; a reference voltage outputting section outputs a reference voltage; a threshold value voltage switching section switches to a threshold value voltage representing a first voltage level or switches to a threshold value voltage representing a second voltage level; and a voltage comparing section compares the reference voltage with the line voltage when the ring signal is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kimiaki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7398084
    Abstract: A method of monitoring, and a system to perform the method of monitoring, a mobile network, the method including generating detail records of information transactions in the mobile network; correlating dissimilar detail records from different ones of the monitoring points according to one or more common attributes of the dissimilar detail records, and aggregating at least a portion of the correlated detail records into a single group; and presenting the aggregated detail records in a high level presentation in a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Philip Connelly
  • Patent number: 7389104
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. For example, one exemplary of the invention provides a method for providing an alert to a subscriber. The exemplary method comprises receiving an alert message from at least one alert source. The alert message often will be pertinent to at least one of the subscribers. The alert message can comprise an alert and associated alert information. The alert information can provide information about the alert such that the information can be analyzed determine whether a particular subscriber likely should receive the alert. Other embodiments provide systems, which can be used to perform the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Phillips, Steven M. Casey
  • Publication number: 20070297598
    Abstract: It is determined whether a call-connection condition set to a call-connection device is a first call-connection state or a second call-connection state. When the determination result shows that the first call-connection state is set, a call is connected from an originating terminal to a destination terminal. When the determination result shows that the second call-connection state is set, the call is connected from the originating terminal to the destination terminal and conversation-termination processing is performed without waiting for a disconnection request transmitted from the originating terminal or the destination terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi KANEKO, Masaaki NAGASAKA, Tadahiro OHTA, Tadaaki TANAKA, Keita KOBAYASHI, Norishige ICHIHASHI
  • Patent number: RE42590
    Abstract: The telephone line coupler circuit has a single transmit opto-coupler whose output includes a DC bias component connected to a gate of a line seize switch for connecting a DC line seize load across the ring and tip contacts of the telephone line. The line seize switch is saturated by the transmit opto-coupler bias output and the AC component of the transmit opto-coupler output is sent over the telephone lines. The receive opto-coupler is used both for receiving communications signal and for detecting the ring signal. The band pass filter connected to the output of the receive opto-coupler may be switched to pass a ring signal frequency band or a communications frequency band. The circuit operates using two opto-coupler devices while conventional circuits require four opto-coupler devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Pinhas Shpater