Patents Examined by Stella Woo
  • System for text assisted telephony
    Patent number: 9131045
    Abstract: A method of and system for operating a captioned telephone service, the method comprising the steps of providing words spoken by a remote user to a relay, at the relay, a call assistant listening to the words spoken by the remote user and re-voicing the words into a computer with voice recognition software trained to the voice of the call assistant to create a text stream of the words spoken by the remote user and presenting the text stream to an assisted user via a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Engleke, Kevin R. Colwell
  • Methods and systems for multi-factor authentication in secure media-based conferencing
    Patent number: 9118809
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for multi-factor authentication of media-based (e.g., video and/or audio) conferencing between a plurality of end point devices. The methods and apparatuses provide for analysis of an end point media stream using a matrix of authentication factors, where the authentication factors include at least two of: user-specific facial recognition attributes, user-specific audio recognition attributes, acoustic environment attributes, visual environment attributes, user gesture attributes, technical attributes of the end point device, and technical attributes of the media stream, to determine an authentication score for the first end point device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Edifire LLC
    Inventors: Eric Anderson, Daniel P. Goepp
  • Call routing to subject matter specialist for network page
    Patent number: 9106747
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for location based call routing to a subject matter specialist. A call request is received from a computing device which includes an identifier of a network page. A topic specialist for the network page is identified from the contents of the network page. The call request is completed by establishing a call between the computing device and another computing device which is operated by the topic specialist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean M. Scott
  • Systems and methods for information exchange and synchronization using DTMF over telephone communication channels
    Patent number: 9106767
    Abstract: Systems, methods, protocols and apparatus for information exchange and synchronization using DTMF signaling over telephone communication channels are provided. Information is packetized and converted from one format, e.g., ASCII formatted data, to another format, e.g., BCD formatted data. The information is wrapped in one or more packets by a sending apparatus, each packet including one or more headers, such as a Name and Length field that identify the information being exchanged and the amount of data included in the packet payload/value field. The data in the packets are converted from BCD to DTMF signals and are transmitted over a telephone communication line to a receiving apparatus. The receiving apparatus converts the DTMF signals back to BCD formatted data and processes the packets to obtain the information contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Mist Silicon Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Srivatsan Kasturi, G. Alagiri, Vinod Nagarajan, Rajah Kalipatnapu, Darrell Fongson
  • Secure call environment
    Patent number: 9100484
    Abstract: Embodiments may take the form of a secure call environment and methods related thereto. In one embodiment, a secure call environment for conducting a transaction is provided. The secure call environment includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor storing instructions executable by the processor to provide secure call environment functionality. The secure call environment is configured to create a communication channel between a caller and an agent, record information entered by the caller, and provide the caller entered information to a client application without agent accessibility to the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALPINE ACCESS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Dean Kleck, Einer J. Petersen, Joshua P. Elson, Daniel C. Rojas, Richard A. Sadowski
  • Wireless VoIP network for security system monitoring
    Patent number: 9094410
    Abstract: A Voice over IP (VoIP) module is used to connect an alarm system to a monitoring station over the Internet. A built-in wireless or Ethernet over A/C power component is described, such that the Voice-over-IP equipment can be placed at a distance from a router, without the need to run an Ethernet cable from the VoIP equipment to the router. This arrangement is useful, as in many cases, the customer's security system is hidden within a closet, or else placed within the home or business at a significant distance from their Internet connection and router. The present invention accomplishes this by adding a built-in WiFi (wireless) radio, or a built-in Ethernet over Power circuit, into the Voice-over-IP equipment installed in the home or business.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Numerex Corp.
    Inventors: Harvey Alexander Elliot, Bryan Field Elliot, Daniel J. Elliot
  • Video chatting method and system
    Patent number: 9094571
    Abstract: A video chatting method and system are provided. The method and system describe collection of facial vector data, audio data, and interactive motion information of a user of a first client. The collected data may be transmitted to a second client. The second client, in turn, may generate a virtual avatar model of the user of the first client based on the received data. The second client may further display the virtual model, play sound in the audio data. The second client may also render the interactive motion information and facial data information of a user of the second client, and generate and display a virtual avatar model of the user of the second client. The provided method and system may decreases amount of data that may be transferred over the network. This may allow data transmission rate during video communication to be high enough for a smooth operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shang Yu, Feng Rao, Yang Mo, Jun Qiu, Fei Wang
  • Image communication apparatus and signal processing unit
    Patent number: 9083777
    Abstract: This image communication apparatus receives a digital signal having a voice bandwidth from an external apparatus capable of communicating through a network, and processes the received digital signal by means of a signal processing unit. If it is determined that the digital signal includes a CNG signal, the image communication apparatus determines that the digital signal is a facsimile signal received as deemed voice, and executes facsimile reception according to the T.30 standard. If it is determined that the digital signal does not include a CNG signal, the image communication apparatus determines that the digital signal is a voice signal, and executes a voice call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Ohara, Shigeru Koizumi, Daisuke Suga, Michio Fukushima
  • Obtaining and presenting of a plurality of images from a plurality of image sources in response to telephone device communication
    Patent number: 9083790
    Abstract: When a user operates a telephone device to engage in a communication with another user, the user's telephone device responsively obtains from a from a plurality of image-sources a plurality of images associated with the other user and presents the obtained images on a user interface. The telephone device may obtain one or more of the images from a social network account of the other user, and the telephone device may obtain one or more of the images from an image library stored by the telephone device. Further, the telephone device may stitch together the obtained images as a collage, slide show, or the like, and present the stitched-together images during setup of the communication and/or or during the communication itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: David Owens
  • System and method for a conference server architecture for low delay and distributed conferencing applications
    Patent number: 9077853
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting a multi-endpoint video signal conference are provided. Conferencing endpoints are linked by pairs of a reliable and a less reliable communication channel. Conference video signals are scaleable coded in base layer and enhancement layers format. Video signal base layers, which correspond to a minimum picture quality, are communicated over reliable channels. The video signal enhancements layers may be communicated over the less reliable channels. A conference server mediates the switching of video layer information from transmitting endpoints to receiving endpoints without any intermediate coding or re-coding operations. The video conference can be integrated with an audio conference using either scalable coded audio signals or non-scaleable coded audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: VIDYO, INC.
    Inventors: Reha Mehmet Civanlar, Alexandros Eleftheriadis, Ofer Shapiro
  • Satellite microphones for improved speaker detection and zoom
    Patent number: 9071895
    Abstract: Architecture for exploiting satellite microphones and employing other techniques of conference room camera/microphone systems to significantly improve the true positive rate (reduce false positives) in sound source localization (SSL). Techniques for realizing the improvement include using an LED emitter to determine the precise location of the satellite microphones on a table, using the base SSL and external sounds to determine the approximate location of the satellite microphone on the table, using the satellite microphone phase to improve the SSL performance, using the satellite microphone amplitude to improve the active speaker detector (ASD) performance, and using the satellite microphones to estimate camera zoom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Ross G. Cutler
  • System and method for combining a plurality of video streams generated in a videoconference
    Patent number: 9065974
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for videoconferencing that allows video images from two or more cameras at the same site to be displayed as a single panoramic image. Accordingly, a conferencing endpoint having a single monitor can display the panoramic image of the two or more video images from an endpoint having multiple cameras, such as a telepresence endpoint. A sliding display area can be used to define manually a zoomed portion of the panoramic image to be displayed. Alternatively, the zoomed portion may be determined automatically. The zoomed portion may be changed during the course of the conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventor: Avishay Halavy
  • Facsimile apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium
    Patent number: 9060073
    Abstract: After a telephone captures a line, a facsimile apparatus detects a tone signal on the captured line. The facsimile apparatus counts a number of the detected tone signals. When the counted number reaches a predetermined number, the facsimile apparatus controls to start a facsimile reception. The facsimile apparatus detects a change of a hook state of the telephone. When the change of the hook state of the telephone is detected, the facsimile apparatus resets the counted number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: CANNON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosui Naito
  • Data communication apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
    Patent number: 9060066
    Abstract: A data communication apparatus having a transfer function, and a method of controlling the same, wherein a list of stored addresses is displayed on a display unit, and when a transfer function is set, an address that becomes a transfer destination is selected in the list, and it is determined whether or not an editing restriction is set on the selected address. It is determined, when an editing target address is selected in the displayed list, whether an editing target address is set as the transfer destination and an editing restriction is set to the transfer destination, and if it is determined that the editing target address is set as the transfer destination and the editing restriction is set to the transfer destination, editing of the editing target address is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Kondo
  • Method and system for the mass sending of messages
    Patent number: 9049573
    Abstract: The present publication discloses a method and system for sending messages in a telecommunications network (1, 2, 6, 11, 12), in which method digital messages (40) which contain information on the desired reply address (32) are mass sent (3), and messages, which are sent on the basis of the reply-address information (32) are received (10). According to the invention, the reply-address information of each mass-sent message (40) is converted (3) to correspond to a predefined dialog, in which the stage of the dialog defines unequivocally the reply-address information (32), so that the transmission and reception of the messages are implemented in different parts of the telecommunications system (1, 2, 6, 11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: BOOKIT OY AJANVARAUSPALVELU
    Inventor: Jukka Salonen
  • Bandwidth reduction system and method
    Patent number: 9035999
    Abstract: A method and computing system for receiving an indication of a first user participating in a videoconference. A determination is made concerning whether bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference. If bandwidth compression is preferable for the first user of the videoconference: an unprocessed video stream associated with the first user is processed to generate a reduced bandwidth video stream, and the reduced bandwidth video stream is provided to a video encoder. Processing the unprocessed video stream includes performing an edge detection procedure on the unprocessed video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Carpenter, Chee Chew
  • Location aware conferencing system and method
    Patent number: 9020109
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first request to join a conference from a first user device. The location of the first user device is determined. Based on the location of the first user device, the proximity of the first user device relative to endpoints configured to facilitate the conference is identified. A first one of the endpoints that is more proximate to the first user device than other endpoints is selected for handling the conferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand K. Oswal, Pritam Shah
  • Multiparty service establishment based on priority rules for routing
    Patent number: 9019339
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and storage media provide for receiving a request to use a multiparty service; applying priority rules for routing the request toward a destination endpoint, wherein the applying comprises determining whether the destination endpoint is a private destination endpoint or a public destination endpoint; routing the request toward the private destination endpoint in response to determining that a destination address or a portion thereof included in the request corresponds to the private destination endpoint; and routing the request toward the public destination endpoint in response to determining that the destination address or the portion thereof included in the request corresponds to the public destination endpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Nicholson, Shawn Ferdinand, Rachel Lee Scarbrough
  • Apparatus and method for providing video telephony service in mobile communication terminal
    Patent number: 9013534
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a video telephony service in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The apparatus for providing the video telephony service in the mobile communication terminal includes a controlling unit for receiving preferred video format information from a peer mobile communication terminal during a signaling procedure with the peer mobile communication terminal for the video telephony service and for determining a video format to use in the video telephony service using the received preferred video format, and a video codec for encoding and decoding video data that is transmitted to and received from the peer mobile communication terminal, using the determined video format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Young Choi
  • Cordless telephone system and monitoring system
    Patent number: 9008282
    Abstract: Provided is a cordless telephone system including a base unit (100) connected to a telephone line and a handset (200) configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from the base unit (100) via wireless channel, wherein the base unit (100) or the handset (200) includes a strength measurement unit (20) configured to measure a strength of received radio waves, and a signal processing unit (10) configured to perform a prescribed security action based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Ashizuka