Patents by Inventor Edward A. Walter

Edward A. Walter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8024764
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adjunct device coupled between a Set-Top Box (STB) and a media device. The adjunct device can have a controller element that receives a telephony signal from a communication system and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) multimedia signal supplied by the STB, monitors call origination activities in the telephony signal, and presents at the media device in whole or in part the telephony and the IPTV multimedia signal according to the call origination activities monitored. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Larry B. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20110222677
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a communication device which includes computer instructions at least for matching a caller identifier associated with a messaging event and entries in a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users, and identifying a plurality of parties to whom the messaging event is potentially directed based on the matching. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, LP
    Inventors: EDWARD WALTER, LARRY B. PEARSON
  • Patent number: 7970116
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a User Interface (UI) element that selectively identifies one or more parties to whom a messaging event is directed according to one or more matches between a caller identifier associated with the messaging event and one or more entries in a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users of the terminal device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Larry B. Pearson
  • Patent number: 7971250
    Abstract: A system and method for providing data content analysis is disclosed. The system includes an intelligent switch in a local area network, where the intelligent switch has content analysis applications stored therein and is configured to apply one or more content analysis applications on a port-by-port basis. The method includes remotely updating one or more content analysis applications at intelligent switches of subscriber networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Edward A. Walter
  • Publication number: 20110103298
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that include receiving packet-based data at residential gateway from a service provider unit. In one embodiment, a location of a residential gateway is determined and at least a portion of the packet-based data is transmitted wirelessly to the residential gateway when the residential gateway is at an approved location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Andrew Augustine
  • Publication number: 20110107372
    Abstract: A set top box includes a processor configured to provide an electronic programming guide to available television programming. The available television programming includes previously-aired content, currently-airing content, and to-be-aired content. The processor is further configured to receive a selection indicating selected content, and determine if the selected content is previously aired content, currently airing content, or to-be-aired content. The processor is still further configured to request the selected content from a distribution server when the selected content is previously aired content, and provide playback of the selected content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Edward Walter
  • Publication number: 20110070879
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a video terminal device having a processor adapted to submit a query to a mobile device to determine whether to redirect one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device to the video terminal device, receive from the mobile device an affirmative response to the query, transmit a request to a wireless carrier system to redirect transmission of the one or more mobile messages to the video terminal device, receive from the wireless carrier system the one or more mobile messages while the mobile device remains communicatively coupled to the video terminal device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Michael Raftelis, John Kirby
  • Publication number: 20110039531
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system can have a controller for processing calls in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to detect an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit to a communication device over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Yolius Diroo, Edward Walter, Steve Wollmershauser
  • Patent number: 7870263
    Abstract: A system processes communication path requests in an autonomous system. The system includes a proxy server that receives a request message from an external system requesting establishment of a communication path through the autonomous system. The request message includes a desired communication path profile including a desired level of redundancy. The system also includes a management server in the autonomous system that receives the request message from the proxy server, generates a response message indicating whether a communication path corresponding to the desired communication path profile is available, and sends the response message to the proxy server. The proxy server receives the response message and transmits the response message to the external system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Michael Raftelis
  • Patent number: 7865558
    Abstract: There are provided a method, a system and a machine-readable medium for video terminal device messaging. In one embodiment, a method includes querying a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the querying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Michael Raftelis, John Kirby
  • Patent number: 7841871
    Abstract: In accordance with a disclosed example method, a first coaxial port is connected to a connector casing. The first coaxial port is connectable to a first section of coaxial cable and the first port to receive digital packet-based data from a first device. A second coaxial port is connected to the connector casing. The second coaxial port is connectable to a second section of coaxial cable. A first impedance is electrically connected to the first coaxial port. The first impedance located in the connector casing. A second impedance is electrically connected to the second coaxial port. The second impedance is located in the connector casing and is different from the first impedance to create an impedance imbalance between the second port and the second section of the coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Steven M. Wollmershauser, Vernon Reed, Donald True
  • Patent number: 7844262
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system (102) can have a controller (108) for processing calls in a communication system (100). The controller can be programmed to detect (504) an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit (508) to a communication device (115, 116) over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect (512) a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit (518, 521) to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link (524) the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Yolius Diroo, Edward Walter, Steve Wallmershauser
  • Publication number: 20100287586
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a first server, data from a set-top box device including login information for a user to establish a first session with a multimedia distribution system. The method includes determining at the first server that the user belongs to at least one presence group when the login information is verified. The method includes identifying one or more on-line members that are members of the at least one presence group and have established sessions with the multimedia distribution system. The method also includes sending information from the first server to the set-top box device, the information corresponding to session activity of each of the one or more on-line members. The information includes video content selected by a user of a particular set-top box corresponding to one of the one or more on-line members, where the video content is concurrently sent to the particular set-top box device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Thomas H. Adams, Michael Thomas Raftelis
  • Patent number: 7788695
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for enhanced multimedia distribution. The method can include displaying a multimedia selection at a display device coupled to a first receiver of a video distribution system, where the multimedia selection is determined by a user of a second receiver. A multimedia device can include a user interface module to receive a command from a first user to accept a channel selection of a second user. An indication of an attribute of multimedia content associated with a channel selected at a multimedia device can be received from a server having a channel content guide and stored to a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Thomas H. Adams, Michael Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20100218228
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclose for processing an object in a video data stream. The method runs on a processor programmed to execute the method and includes but is not limited to receiving at a client device, the video data stream from a server; displaying the video data stream at the client device on a client device display; receiving input data at the client device for rendering on the client device display a first functional indicator indicating one of a plurality of functions and surrounding a first region of pixel locations representing a first image object in the video data stream; and performing a function indicated by the first functional indicator on meta data for the first image object in the first region of pixel locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Edward A. Walter
  • Publication number: 20100217661
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing information related to goods available for purchase in a building. The method includes establishing a plurality of boundary zones where each of the plurality of boundary zones corresponding to a physical boundary zone within a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network. The method also includes storing product information related to the goods available for purchase that are located within at least one boundary zone of the plurality of boundary zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Edward Walter
  • Publication number: 20100177896
    Abstract: Systems (and corresponding methodologies) of deploying an enhanced access point (or an integrated router/access point) with embedded secure socket layer (SSL) tunneling capabilities are provided. The innovation enables users to initiate or prompt secure SSL tunnels between a wireless computer or device (and browser session) and the wireless gateway device (WGD). In particular, off-the-shelf web browser applications can be used to effect secure communication between a wireless mobile device and a SWAT-(Secure Wireless Application Tunnel-) equipped access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Michael Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20100177158
    Abstract: A computerized system and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system are disclosed including structures and methods for allocating an IPTV video conference channel to groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), accessing STB data at the server indicating a group of video conference participants' STBs in the groups of video conference participants' STBs, the group of STBs being associated with one video conference data, mapping at the server, the video conference channel to the group of video conference participants' STBs and to one IP address for the one of the video conferences data, and delivering from the server over the video conference channel from a first one of the of IP addresses, the first one of the video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Edward A. Walter
  • Publication number: 20100180308
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to search a portal in response to a user query for a plurality of related content items of disparate formats accessible across a plurality of platforms, present search results and a graphical user interface for the consumption of the plurality of related content items of disparate formats from the single portal in response to the searching, and select a set of the plurality of related content items of disparate formats from the single portal for provisioning on a first device with a first disparate format and at least a second device with a second disparate format. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: JERALD R. HOWCROFT, Edward Walter
  • Publication number: 20100172478
    Abstract: A signal testing apparatus for testing signals includes at least one receiver that receives signals having corresponding frequencies representative of a frequency range of a wired communication link over which the signals are received. The signal testing apparatus also includes a measurer that measures a signal loss for each of the frequencies to determine whether each measured signal loss is acceptable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, Yolius Diroo, Edward A. Walter