Patents Represented by Attorney Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC
  • Patent number: 8238327
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for subscriber and enterprise assignments and resource sharing are disclosed. A disclosed method includes managing resources for a communication service having a communication location. The disclosed method comprising associating a group identifier with a sub-group type, and associating a subscriber with the group identifier, wherein the sub-group type is used to determine at least one super-group usable to route an outdial call from the communication location if the outdial call is associated with the subscriber, and wherein the super-group comprises at least one of a circuit group or a voice over internet protocol communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Marco Schneider, Philip Charles Cunetto, John Edward Lemay, David Pennington Dudley, Jesie Tsae-Jiuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8234969
    Abstract: Electronic trigger apparatus for use with firearms are described herein. An example electronic trigger apparatus described herein includes a trigger assembly having a trigger and trigger arm that is movable between a first position and a second position. A first biasing element biases the trigger in the first position and provides a first resistance to the trigger when the trigger moves between the first position and the second position. A switch element assembly has a spring element and a sensor operatively coupled to the spring element where the spring element provides a second resistance to the trigger as the trigger moves between a pressure-point position and the second position. The sensor detects a force or deflection imparted on the spring element by the trigger arm when the trigger is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventor: Rudi Beckmann
  • Patent number: 8239277
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor shoppers in a retail environment are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method involves collecting location information indicative of a measured path of travel of a person through a monitored environment. The example method also involves collecting person detection event information associated with a plurality of zones in the monitored environment. The person detection event information is indicative of detections of the person in each of the zones. In addition, the example method involves determining an adjusted path of travel of the person through the monitored environment based on the location information indicative of the measured path of travel and the person detection event information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Morris Lee, Arun Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8239531
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for use in establishing secure end-to-end communication links over a VPN gateway via a network interface unit. Illustrative embodiments include establishing and providing secure communication relationships between users (customers) and companies for e-commerce and other business purposes. Each company's data and linkage to users remaining private and secure from the other participating companies as well as from the general public over the Internet. Login by user with network interface units, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Required authentication exchanges and required encryption key exchanges facilitate the secure communications. Financial arrangements regarding the provisioning and use of network interface units are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Bellovin, Thomas Joseph Killian, Bruce LaRose, Aviel D. Rubin, Norman Loren Schryer
  • Patent number: 8238267
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage voice service in evolved packet systems are disclosed. An example method in a UE in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) includes receiving a first Non Access Stratum (NAS) protocol response message with network provided Voice over IP Multimedia (IM) Core Network (CN) Subsystem (VoIMS) indicators, wherein the UE has a voice services indicator related to a UE usage setting and responsive to at least one of the voice services indicator related to a UE usage setting or the network provided VoIMS indicators, causing the UE to disable evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRAN) cell reselection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Johanna Lisa Dwyer, Richard Charles Burbidge, Stefano Faccin, Chen Ho Chin
  • Patent number: 8235793
    Abstract: Systems and methods for use with a gaming machine that, in response to the staking of a wager by a player, is arranged to randomly determine an outcome of a game, display on a display representations of the outcome, and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, wherein the player can stake a variable sized wager on the occurrence of a winning outcome, the systems and methods including varying the probability of selecting the outcome associated with a special prize dependent on the size of the wager staked by the player and/or varying the probability of one or more other prizes that are alternatives to the special prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Edgar Pau
  • Patent number: 8239422
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provision network resource records are described. An example method of provisioning a plurality of resource records in a telephone number mapping system includes receiving first and second inputs to define a range of numbers corresponding to a plurality of resource records; creating an object in a first server, the object having one or more attributes to represent the plurality of resource records; and automatically provisioning the plurality of resource records in a second server based on the one or more attributes of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: James Forsyth, Bernard Ku, Paul A. Tomalenas
  • Patent number: 8234395
    Abstract: A system maintains synchrony of operations among devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group of devices that perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. J. Millington
  • Patent number: 8234366
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to present presence information are disclosed. An example method includes requesting presence information associated with a first user, receiving the presence information from the first user, receiving information from a monitoring sensor associated with the first user, and sending a first message indicating that a communication session is permissible when the presence information and the information from the monitoring sensor indicates that a communication session is permissible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Lalitha Suryanarayana, Michael Grannan
  • Patent number: 8234328
    Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, a system receives selections from a user based on a list of pre-defined monitoring categories and/or optionally receives custom category definitions from the user. The option for custom category definitions may be advantageous due to the flexibility provided to a system administrator or other user. In embodiments of the invention, the pre-defined and/or custom monitoring categories may be or include complex hierarchical behavior. Such an approach provides monitoring algorithms that can achieve improved accuracy compared to known methods. In embodiments of the invention, the order of computations used in resolving a monitoring category may be re-ordered, statically and/or dynamically, to improve the efficiency of monitoring operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Trustwave Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Baba, Charles Douglas Phillips
  • Patent number: 8234226
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for classifying data for use in data fusion processes are disclosed. An example method of classifying data selectively groups nodes of a classification tree so that each node is assigned to only one of a plurality of groups and so that at least one of the groups includes at least two of the nodes. Data is classified based on the classification tree and the selective grouping of the nodes, and the results displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Samson, Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 8233998
    Abstract: Secure data write apparatus and methods for use in safety instrumented process control systems select a parameter associated with a process control element within the process control system and send first data associated with the parameter to the process control element. A confirmation associated with a request to write the first data to the process control element is received from a user and the second data is sent to the process control element in response to receiving the confirmation. The first and second data are compared at the process control element and the first or second data are written to a location in the process control element associated with the parameter if the first and second data are at least substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Joe Wysuph, Michael George Ott, Bruce Hubert Campney, Cindy Alsup Scott, Michael Wayne Ausen, Gary Keith Law, Godfrey Roland Sherriff, David Mark Smith, Julian Kevin Naidoo
  • Patent number: 8233395
    Abstract: A system for advertising routing updates is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a route reflector having a controller element that generates from a routing update a plurality of dissimilar routing advertisements transmitted in whole or in part to one or more provider edge routers operating in a packet-switched communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Mark A. Elias, Michael Satterlee
  • Patent number: 8229763
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for medication management including an order entry component and a pharmacy component. The order entry component is capable of writing an advanced order. The advanced order includes one or more related at least one of sub-orders and additives. The pharmacy component is capable of automatically processing the advanced order. The processing occurs without the intervention of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean William Laughland, Dennis Robert Dale, Michael Thomas Randazzo
  • Patent number: 8229781
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine shopper traffic in retail environments are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method of generating shopper traffic data, in-person-based count data and sensor-based count data are obtained. The in-person-based count data is indicative of a first quantity of shoppers within a first zone of a monitored establishment is obtained. The sensor-based count data is indicative of a second quantity of shoppers within the first zone of the monitored establishment. The example method also involves determining a relationship value indicative of a relationship between the in-person-based count data, the sensor-based count data, and first sales data associated with the first zone of the monitored establishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Nielson Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Zenor, William J. Dupre, Frank W. Piotrowski
  • Patent number: 8226464
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus comprises a movable symbol selector and a reference object. The symbol selector has a plurality of presentation portions. Each portion is associated with one or more symbols of a first set of symbols. The reference object comprises a plurality of parts over which the selector can be moved. Each part is associated with one or more symbols of a second set of symbols. When the symbol selector moves relative to the reference object at least one relationship is formed between at least one of the selector portions and at least one of the reference object parts. The at least one relationship is for use in determining a game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Hyong Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 8230457
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention create a novel system for rating an event in a media based on the strength of the emotions viewers feel towards the event. The viewer's responses to the media can be measured and calculated via physiological sensors. The metric for rating the strength of the media is created based on the mathematical coherence of change (up or down) of all pertinent physiological responses across multiple viewers. Such rating offers an objective ability to compare the strengths of events of the media, as there is a strong correlation between high coherence of physiological responses (all viewers feel the same thing at the same time) and strong ratings of emotionality, engagement, likeability, success in the marketplace/on screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC.
    Inventors: Hans C. Lee, Timmie T. Hong, William H. Williams, Michael R. Fettiplace
  • Patent number: 8229193
    Abstract: System and methods for applying image presentation context functions to image sub-regions are disclosed. An example method includes displaying a first medical image in a user interface, receiving a selection of a first image sub-region within the first medical image, receiving a selection of a first image presentation context function and a selection of an amount of a parameter of the first image presentation context function for the selected first image sub-region, applying the received first image presentation context function by the amount of the received parameter of the first image presentation context function to the received first image sub-region, and displaying the first sub-region with the applied first image presentation context function within the first medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Novatzky, Joseph Carroll
  • Patent number: 8229578
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage module run sequences in a process control environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a module including a plurality of function blocks, receiving an indication of a subset of the plurality of function blocks, and receiving an indication of a first sequence of execution for the subset, wherein the first sequence of execution is different than a second sequence of execution associated with the module. The example method also includes associating the subset with a run sequence identifier, and associating the run sequence identifier with a trigger condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Law, Brandon Hieb, David R. Denison, Alper Enver
  • Patent number: 8229192
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to process left-ventricle cardiac images are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying a first landmark point in a first cardiac image, identifying a first centroid of a left ventricle depicted in the first cardiac image, and performing a Cartesian-to-polar transformation to form a first rectangular representation of the left ventricle depicted in the first cardiac image based on the first landmark point and the first centroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shuo Li, Ian Ross, Richard Rankin