Patents Examined by Solomon Bezuayehu
  • Patent number: 9967382
    Abstract: A system capable of connecting a home telephone circuit connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a server via a data network using an adapter. The system may enable a telephone connected to the home telephone circuit to perform voice commands by sending audio data from the telephone to the server via the data network and the server determining the voice commands included in the audio data. Based on the voice command, the server may send an instruction to the adapter via the data network, the instruction causing the adapter to initiate a telephone call over the PSTN. Additionally, the server may send an instruction to any device associated with a user profile corresponding to the adapter. Thus, the system may enable the telephone to control a number of devices within the home using the voice commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Hart, Brian Oliver, Adrian Hurditch, Nawdesh Uppal, Reza Abdollahi
  • Patent number: 9961200
    Abstract: A method for utilizing a multi-intent matrix is provided. The method may be used to avoid a derived intent collision while determining correct intent of a human-voice-telephone query. The method may include receiving a telephone call at the voice response system. The method may include responding to the telephone call at the voice response system. The response may include prompting a human caller to utter a reason for the telephone call. The human caller may be associated with the telephone call. The method may include receiving a human-voice-telephone-query-utterance at the voice response system. The method may include translating the human-voice-telephone-query-utterance into a text string. The translating may occur at the voice response system or a translation module. The method may include analyzing the text string utilizing a group of parameters. The method may include re-analyzing the text string utilizing a group of parameters set to custom values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Viju Kothuvatiparambil, Emad Noorizadeh
  • Patent number: 9961207
    Abstract: A voicemail notification indicates a caller has recorded a voicemail. The voicemail notification may be sent to any destination, such as a caller's device. The voicemail notification may be displayed in a communication log to visually indicate that the voicemail was recorded. A different notification may be sent and displayed to indicate the recipient retrieved the voicemail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Darryl Cynthia Moore
  • Patent number: 9961206
    Abstract: An interactive voice response (IVR) system adaptor causes the media player of an IVR system to present a user with a first option to proceed with an audio-only call and a second option to experience a multimedia call including display of visual information on the user device. When the user selects the first option, the proxy IVR interface passes first messages output from the media player to an application server of the IVR system, and passes second messages from the application server to the media player. When the user selects the second option, the IVR system adaptor receives third messages from the user device, translates the third messages into the first messages, passes the first messages to the application server, in response thereto receives the second messages from the application server, converts the second messages to fourth messages, and sends the fourth messages to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: JACADA LTD.
    Inventors: Gideon Hollander, Adi Toppol
  • Patent number: 9954631
    Abstract: Time division duplex transmission over copper physical channels is managed. In one example, upstream time slots for upstream transmission in a first physical channel are scheduled. Downstream time slots for downstream transmission in a second physical channel are scheduled. Transmission in the upstream time slots is substantially not simultaneous with transmission in the downstream time slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth Kerpez, George Ginis, Marc Goldburg, Ardavan Maleki Tehrani
  • Patent number: 9948782
    Abstract: A system and method for optimized rendering of contact center services in a hybrid operations environment. A processor in a first operations environment receives a message transmitted by a first contact center resource relating to a contact center service. The message is forwarded to the processor by an edge device coupled to a second operations environment different from the first operations environment. The edge device is configured to hide from the message identification of a location of the contact center resource. Despite such hiding, the processor identifies the location of the first contact center resource based on identification information that the processor retrieves from the message. The processor selects a second contact center resource based on the identified location of the first contact center resource for providing the contact center service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENESYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Bischoff, Gregg Kerlin, Henry Lum, Donald Huovinen, Tamal Islam, Terry Stocking, David H. Anderson, Galina Kovalenko, Bernard Bretherton, Vyacheslav Sayko
  • Patent number: 9948769
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a method of determining crosstalk for at least one first line in a communication system having a plurality of second lines. The method includes obtaining at least one pilot matrix representing a sequence of pilot signals and transmitting pilot signals across the plurality of second lines in accordance with the at least one pilot matrix. The method further includes obtaining measurement vectors for the at least one first line on a plurality of subcarriers, in response to the transmitted pilot signals, determining a weighted vector, the weighted vector being a weighted combination of the measurement vectors and determining a crosstalk coupling vector based on the determined weighted vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Amin Emad, Carl J. Nuzman, Emina Soljanin
  • Patent number: 9942392
    Abstract: An architecture and process flow for a system that processes event notifications from a speech analytics system for the purpose of controlling the recording of calls in a contact center for various contexts. Based on the regulatory context of the call, call recording may require requesting and receiving consent from the remote party to record the call. A speech analytics system operating in conjunction with an event handler module and a call recording application specific module can facilitate automatically recording the call and minimize agent intervention. The application specific module may provide icons and text on the agent's display to remind or inform the agent of the context and various conditions. The application specific module may also control various recording equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Noble Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jason P. Ouimette, Karl H. Koster
  • Patent number: 9936068
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to extracting contact information from streaming voice data. An aspect includes a speech recognition module configured to transcribe a stream of voice data representing at least a portion of a telephone conversation into text data; a contact information extraction module configured to extract contact information from the text data; and a transceiver configured to send at least a portion of the contact information to a recipient calling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian B. Kau, Jerald T. Schoudt
  • Patent number: 9930173
    Abstract: A system for detecting three-way calls in a monitored telephone conversation includes a speech recognition processor that transcribes the monitored telephone conversation and associates characteristics of the monitored telephone conversation with a transcript thereof, a database to store the transcript and the characteristics associated therewith, and a three-way Call detection processor to analyze the characteristics of the conversation and to detect therefrom the addition of one or more parties to the conversation. The system preferably includes at least one domain-specific language model that the speech recognition processor utilizes to transcribe the conversation. The system may operate in real-time or on previously recorded conversations. A query and retrieval system may be used to retrieve and review call records from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DSI-ITI, LLC
    Inventor: Andreas M. Olligschlaeger
  • Patent number: 9928026
    Abstract: An example method includes, based on an adjustment to a first displayed volume control, instructing the first playback device to adjust playback volume level; based on an adjustment to a second displayed volume control, instructing the second playback device to adjust playback volume level; after sending the commands, instructing the first and/or second playback device to process an audio stream into a first and/or second channel and to reproduce a respective one of the first and second channel, wherein the grouped first and second playback devices provide multi-channel sound; and based on an adjustment to a third displayed volume control, instructing the first and/or second playback device to adjust a group volume level for both the first and second playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne
  • Patent number: 9866698
    Abstract: A request to establish a voice communications session between a user of a telephonic device and an interactive voice response (IVR) system of a call handling system is received by a dynamic call control engine. A resource requirement for the voice communications session is determined. Resource usage data for multiple call handling systems is accessed by the dynamic call control engine. A particular call handling system from among the multiple call handling systems is selected based on the resource usage data and the resource requirement. A connection to be set up between the telephonic device and the particular call handling system to allow the user of the telephonic device to participate in the voice communications session with an IVR system of the particular call handling system is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GENESYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alberto Fernandez, Vadim Snitkovsky
  • Patent number: 9854297
    Abstract: A system is described in which, in some embodiments, a centralized service entry device may be used to coordinate communications going into and out of a home or premises. The service entry device may be physically connected to a plurality of external access networks, such as a cable television coaxial or fiber connection and a twisted-pair wire connection, and may coordinate access to those networks by a plurality of in-home devices. Within the home, the system may include a plurality of client devices to assist in the coordination of communications with devices in different rooms within the home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Francisco
  • Patent number: 9813551
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention facilitates the investigation of networks of criminals, by gathering associations between phone numbers, the names of persons reached at those phone numbers, and voice print data. In another aspect the invention automatically detects phone calls from a prison where the voiceprint of the person called matches the voiceprint of a past inmate. In another aspect the invention detects identity scams in prisons, by monitoring for known voice characteristics of likely imposters on phone calls made by prisoners. In another aspect, the invention automatically does speech-to-text conversion of phone numbers spoken within a predetermined time of detecting data indicative of a three-way call event while monitoring a phone call from a prison inmate. In another aspect, the invention automatically thwarts attempts of prison inmates to use re-dialing services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Gainsboro, Lee Weinstein, Charles Barrasso
  • Patent number: 9800721
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention facilitates the investigation of networks of criminals, by gathering associations between phone numbers, the names of persons reached at those phone numbers, and voice print data. In another aspect the invention automatically detects phone calls from a prison where the voiceprint of the person called matches the voiceprint of a past inmate. In another aspect the invention detects identity scams in prisons, by monitoring for known voice characteristics of likely imposters on phone calls made by prisoners. In another aspect, the invention automatically does speech-to-text conversion of phone numbers spoken within a predetermined time of detecting data indicative of a three-way call event while monitoring a phone call from a prison inmate. In another aspect, the invention automatically thwarts attempts of prison inmates to use re-dialing services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Gainsboro, Lee Davis Weinstein, Ken Sinclair, Charles Barrasso
  • Patent number: 9800736
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for mass notification are described herein. One method includes receiving, by an operator station, a selection associated with a particular paging group of a fire network associated with a facility, receiving an audio message by the operator station, and communicating the audio message to the particular paging group according to the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell Internatoinal Inc.
    Inventors: Sheeladitya Karmakar, Vinayak G, Kallesh N. Patil, Jerin Cherian, Mukesh Vijay, Bhawani Shekhawat, Abhishek Kumar, Manikandan M
  • Patent number: 9742913
    Abstract: A call handling platform receives a call placed by a caller. The call handling platform collects data points based on an interaction of the caller with an interactive voice response module during the call, and computes an experience score for the caller. The call handling platform accesses a predetermined first threshold that indicates a first level of caller satisfaction and compares the experience score to the first threshold. Based on the comparing, the call handling platform determines that the caller has a lower level of satisfaction than the first level of satisfaction, and routes the call to a human agent. The call handling platform determines whether an option for recording a call is enabled. Based on determining that the option for recording a call is enabled, the call handling platform initiates recording of the interaction between the caller and the human agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GENESYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Praphul Kumar, Aaron Wellman
  • Patent number: 9742711
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for notifying a group of communication devices about a missed call are disclosed. Each communication device is associated with a group identifier that is shared with all the communication devices in a group. Each communication device is also associated with an individual identifier that is unique to that communication device. An unanswered communication to the group identifier is received on all the communication devices in the group. A first communication device transmits to a remote server an acknowledgement notification that the unanswered communication related to the group identifier has been acknowledged by the user. A clear indicator indicating that the unanswered communication has been acknowledged is transmitted from the remote server to all the devices in the group except the first communication device. Each of the communication devices receiving the clear indicator can then clear its indicator that notifies the user of a missed call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SORENSON IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Leigh Parent, Merle Lamar Walker, III, Richard Shields
  • Patent number: 9730036
    Abstract: A method is provided for redirecting a call initiated from a portable communication device. The method includes screening calls initiated from the portable communication device, and on the portable communication device, automatically redirecting the call initiated from the portable communication device from a normal communication network to a specified service provider communication network when the screening determines that the call matches predetermined criteria. The method also includes authenticating a user account, executing a visual IVR application that visually interacts with a user of the portable communication device upon authentication of the account, and forwarding the redirected call via a communication network to an alternate system when the authentication of the account fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Charles Langevin, Brian Nab, Eric Reed
  • Patent number: 9697522
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for interactive device operation are disclosed. In one example, a method for user device operation includes retrieving from a user device memory a user device identifying data, dialing a remote computing device having an interactive voice response (IVR) system, and transmitting the user device identifying data to the remote computing device. The method includes outputting one or more voice messages from the interactive voice response system to a user of the user device, the one or more voice messages associated with a usage of the user device. The method further includes transmitting a user action to the remote computing device made responsive to the one or more voice messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Perotti, Todd W Zazelenchuk