Patents Examined by Joseph T Phan
  • Patent number: 10686939
    Abstract: Meeting and conferencing systems and methods are implemented in a variety of manners. Consistent with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for operating an audio conference system that includes at least one logic circuit and a caller interface involves receiving incoming telephony calls at the caller interface. A logic circuit is used to authenticate incoming telephony calls. Menu options are provided to authenticated, incoming telephony calls. In response to a selection of the menu options, an incoming telephony call is prompted to select a callback number. The logic circuit monitors for a trigger event. A participant is called back using the selected call back number in response to detecting the trigger event. The called-back participant is then placed into a conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: 8x8, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramprakash Narayanaswamy
  • Patent number: 10668895
    Abstract: A variable force limiter control system for a vehicle includes a variable force limiter mechanism, a relative speed sensor, an acceleration sensor and an electronic control unit. The variable force limiter mechanism is configured to change a force limiter load. The relative speed sensor is configured to detect a relative speed of the vehicle with respect to a collision object before a collision. The acceleration sensor is configured to detect an acceleration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to predict a severity of a collision on the basis of at least the relative speed. The electronic control unit is configured to control the force limiter load on the basis of both the predicted severity and the acceleration in an initial stage of the collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jiro Ohachi, Takuya Nezaki, Takashi Hasegawa, Katsunori Yamada, Mitsuaki Gotoh, Makoto Aki, Yusuke Mase, Takashi Fujinami
  • Patent number: 10661857
    Abstract: A drive mode selection device for selecting a drive mode of an assistance device that assists a user by generating motive power using electric power from a battery, and that can be driven in a plurality of drive modes having different outputs, the drive mode selection device comprises a task information acquisition unit configured to acquire task information, which is information relating to a predetermined task to be executed by the assistance device; a remaining charge acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining charge of the battery; a power estimation unit configured to estimate a power amount discrepancy on the basis of the task information and the remaining charge of the battery; and a mode selection unit configured to select the drive mode on the basis of the estimation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Takatsuka, Junichi Wada, Kazuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 10657805
    Abstract: A vehicle to vehicle communication device including a satellite vehicle signal reception means for suppressing a decrease in relative position accuracy with a small communication amount during a unit time, a communication means, a kinematic acquisition means, a positioning means, a first vehicle information storage means, a second vehicle information storage means configured to record satellite vehicle information and the velocity vector of the second vehicle in each time, a relative position calculation means configured to calculate a relative position from the velocity vector of the first vehicle, the velocity vector of the second vehicle, and the satellite vehicle information, a requested satellite vehicle number generation means configured to generate a requested satellite vehicle number notifying the second vehicle of a satellite vehicle number observed by the first vehicle, and a transmitting satellite vehicle information generation means configured to generate information to be sequentially transmitted
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Bandou, Yukihiro Kawamata, Akira Maeki
  • Patent number: 10597114
    Abstract: A drive mode selection device for selecting a drive mode of an assistance device that assists a user by generating motive power using electric power from a battery, and that can be driven in a plurality of drive modes having different outputs, the drive mode selection device comprises a task information acquisition unit configured to acquire task information, which is information relating to a predetermined task to be executed by the assistance device; a remaining charge acquisition unit configured to acquire a remaining charge of the battery; a power estimation unit configured to estimate a power amount discrepancy on the basis of the task information and the remaining charge of the battery; and a mode selection unit configured to select the drive mode on the basis of the estimation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Takatsuka, Junichi Wada, Kazuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 10562534
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assistance system is provided, which includes a processor configured to execute a required driving ability estimating module to estimate a driver's required driving ability required for driving a vehicle based on a traffic environment around the vehicle and drive assistance provided to the driver by the vehicle, a current driving ability estimating module to estimate a driver's current driving ability, and a changing module to perform increase processing in which the required driving ability is increased when the current driving ability is higher than the required driving ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuka Minegishi, Keiichi Tomii, Takahiro Tochioka
  • Patent number: 10558215
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assistance system is provided, which includes a processor configured to execute a required driving ability estimating module to estimate a driver's driving ability required for driving a vehicle based on a traffic environment around the vehicle and drive assistance provided to the driver by the vehicle, a current driving ability estimating module to estimate a driver's current driving ability, and a changing module to reduce the required driving ability by performing reduction processing in which comprehension of the traffic environment by the driver is facilitated when the current driving ability is lower than the required driving ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuka Minegishi, Keiichi Tomii, Takahiro Tochioka
  • Patent number: 10543757
    Abstract: A control system for an electrified vehicle having low and high voltage battery systems includes a set of vehicle modules that collectively draw an ignition-off draw (IOD) current from the low voltage battery system while the vehicle is off, a set of sensors configured to measure a set of parameters of at least one of the low and high voltage battery systems, and a controller configured to: estimate the IOD current, receive the set of measured parameters from the set of sensors, based on the set of measured parameters and the estimated IOD current, set a wakeup time indicative of a future time at which the low voltage battery system will require recharging, and based on the wakeup time, temporarily wakeup the vehicle such that recharging of the low voltage battery system using the high voltage battery system is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Moustapha Diab, Feisel Weslati
  • Patent number: 10530925
    Abstract: Users are provided control of their communications. Should a call be processed for a user, a text message may be automatically sent as a response to the call. The user may pre-compose different text messages. The user may also compose a custom text message. Regardless, the user's text message is automatically sent as a response to the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert A. Koch, Robert G. Hensey, Jr., Shiejye Geoffrey Lin, David Archie Scott
  • Patent number: 10491413
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for processing confidential information. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving confidential information on an incoming line coupled to the call center server; intercepting a DTMF tone portion of the confidential information at an encoder located between the incoming line and an agent at the remote client; and processing the DTMF tone at approximately the same time for two separate data paths, wherein a first path contains encoded confidential information for a call server, and a second path contains no confidential information for the agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Clark
  • Patent number: 10469667
    Abstract: A conferencing system and method are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a conference device and one or more user devices. The conference device is configured to receive audio information from one or more user devices. The audio information received by the conference device can be mixed with audio information received by conference device microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MITEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zibo Zhao, Anjie Wu
  • Patent number: 10469662
    Abstract: An automated system of an enterprise is disclosed for managing a communication session with a customer of the enterprise. The automated system includes a monitoring module configured to monitor one or more attributes associated with the communication session. The automated system further includes an analysis module configured to determine a plurality of resources required for managing the communication session based on the attributes. The automated system further includes a management module configured to manage allocation of the resources for the communication session, wherein the allocation is refined during the communication session based on the attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Neil O'Connor, Tony McCormack
  • Patent number: 10469663
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for protecting sensitive information within a call center in real time is provided. A call from a caller is received within a call center. The call is assigned to an agent and a determination is made as to when the caller is to provide sensitive information. The user is transferred to an automated voice response system to which the sensitive information is provided, while maintaining the call with the agent. The caller is returned to the agent upon providing the sensitive information. A notification regarding a status of the sensitive information is sent and the call is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Intellisist, Inc.
    Inventors: David Milstein, Gilad Odinak, Howard M. Lee
  • Patent number: 10447851
    Abstract: Techniques described herein may be used to enable a user to obtain services from multiple organizations in a seamless, automated, and efficient manner. A network device may cause a user device to automatically access a web service by, for example, downloading a mobile application or accessing a web page designed to provide the web service. The network device may automatically identify a second web service that is logically related to the first web service and offer the second web service to the user. If the user accepts the second web service, the network device may cause the user device to automatically access the second web service via a mobile application, a webpage, etc. Identification and authentication issues for accessing the first or second web services may be automatically resolved by network device based on the mobile device number (MDN) of the user device and/or other profile information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Kiran Naiga, Gilda Majidi, Momin Mirza, Gaurav Gupta, Avinash S. Chugh, Manian Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 10440179
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect and prevent mute abuse by contact center agents provided by an application with an event listener in a contact center communication system are described along with various methods and mechanisms for administering the same. Based on predefined thresholds, the event listener can detect and notify a contact center supervisor and/or a systems administrator when certain mute timing thresholds are not met and/or mute timing thresholds are exceeded. If the exceptions provided by the event listener suggest that an agent is deliberately circumventing a metrics scoring system and/or avoiding work by placing a caller on mute rather than accepting and addressing a work item, service observing monitoring, logging, and disciplinary action can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Rodney A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 10397410
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Value-Added Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Hodge, David Woody
  • Patent number: 10389876
    Abstract: A system for providing voice-to-text captioning service comprising a relay processor that receives voice messages generated by a hearing user during a call, the processor programmed to present the voice messages to a first call assistant, a call assistant device used by the first call assistant to generate call assistant generated text corresponding to the hearing user's voice messages, the processor further programmed to run automated voice-to-text transcription software to generate automated text corresponding to the hearing user's voice messages, use the call assistant generated text, the automated text and the hearing user's voice messages to train the voice-to-text transcription software to more accurately transcribe the hearing user's voice messages to text, determine when the accuracy exceeds an accuracy requirement threshold, during the call and prior to the automated text exceeding the accuracy requirement threshold, transmitting the call assistant generated text to the assisted user's device for dis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Christopher R. Engelke
  • Patent number: 10375235
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system, method, and computer readable medium for providing information to a receiving party in a communications network. The method includes receiving a message from a sending party and performing a lookup of information relating to the sending party in a database via an Internet Protocol connection. The lookup is based on an identifier of at least one of the sending party and the receiving party. Subsequently, the information is provided to the receiving party based on the availability of the information in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: I D YOU, LLC
    Inventors: Monica Rose Martino, Kevin V. Nguyen, M. Gregory Smith
  • Patent number: 10367936
    Abstract: Embodiments for automatically distributing phone call recordings to interested parties generally include associating one or more forwarding criteria with each of one or more interested parties, establishing a phone call from a calling party to a destination number through an institutional phone system, recording the phone call, and, if the phone call satisfies one or more forwarding criteria associated with one or more interested parties, automatically distributing the recording of the phone call to the at least one interested party associated with the satisfied one or more forwarding criteria. Distribution may be by e-mail, by uploading the recording to a website that interested parties (and preferably only interested parties) can access, by queuing the recordings for export to physical media, and/or through a voice mail system. Calls may be selected for distribution based on the caller, the called party, conversation content, call time, or any other suitable criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: DSI-ITI, INC.
    Inventors: James P. Rokosky, Thomas C. Gerlach, Anthony R. Bambocci
  • Patent number: 10348898
    Abstract: Techniques for improving customer relationship management are disclosed. The techniques may be realized via a call processing system that may efficiently rout an incoming call to an agent of a call center. Also, the call processing system may provision a telephone number to a web-based help desk call center. Further, the call processing system may include a communication framework enabling a communication between a plurality of browser windows and a local storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Zendesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Kai-Man Yan, Adrian P. McDermott, Shajith C. Thengumoottil, Henry Hsu