Patents by Inventor Edward D. Shephard

Edward D. Shephard 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: 10674040
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding an event, associated with a component of the Internet fax service architecture, that is to be logged, is received by a centralized audit logging module of the Internet fax service architecture. The component may be a web server, an email server, a fax server, a notification server or an imaging system. The information is utilized by the centralized audit logging module to determine specific parameters within the Internet fax service architecture to be logged. Finally, the event, including the information and the specific parameters, is recorded by the centralized audit logging module to an audit log associated with the Internet fax service architecture in a standardized format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: EC Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Publication number: 20200106923
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding an event, associated with a component of the Internet fax service architecture, that is to be logged, is received by a centralized audit logging module of the Internet fax service architecture. The component may be a web server, an email server, a fax server, a notification server or an imaging system. The information is utilized by the centralized audit logging module to determine specific parameters within the Internet fax service architecture to be logged. Finally, the event, including the information and the specific parameters, is recorded by the centralized audit logging module to an audit log associated with the Internet fax service architecture in a standardized format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Patent number: 10477069
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding an event, associated with a component of the Internet fax service architecture, that is to be logged, is received by a centralized audit logging module of the Internet fax service architecture. The component may be a web server, an email server, a fax server, a notification server or an imaging system. The information is utilized by the centralized audit logging module to determine specific parameters within the Internet fax service architecture to be logged. Finally, the event, including the information and the specific parameters, is recorded by the centralized audit logging module to an audit log associated with the Internet fax service architecture in a standardized format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Patent number: 10477070
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, a chronological record of a sequence of events associated with components of the Internet fax system is maintained by a central logging module in a form of an audit log for purposes of auditing security and compliance. A fax request is submitted. A work request is created, containing information identifying a selected imaging system. Source files to be included in the fax message are converted into a digital representation and associated with an outbound fax job, which is queued for sending by a fax server. The fax message is delivered and the user is notified regarding same. Audit log entries are stored within the audit log by providing by respective components the central logging module with a unique job identifier associated with the fax request and a result of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Publication number: 20190281189
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding an event, associated with a component of the Internet fax service architecture, that is to be logged, is received by a centralized audit logging module of the Internet fax service architecture. The component may be a web server, an email server, a fax server, a notification server or an imaging system. The information is utilized by the centralized audit logging module to determine specific parameters within the Internet fax service architecture to be logged. Finally, the event, including the information and the specific parameters, is recorded by the centralized audit logging module to an audit log associated with the Internet fax service architecture in a standardized format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Publication number: 20190222717
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, a chronological record of a sequence of events associated with components of the Internet fax system is maintained by a central logging module in a form of an audit log for purposes of auditing security and compliance. A fax request is submitted. A work request is created, containing information identifying a selected imaging system. Source files to be included in the fax message are converted into a digital representation and associated with an outbound fax job, which is queued for sending by a fax server. The fax message is delivered and the user is notified regarding same. Audit log entries are stored within the audit log by providing by respective components the central logging module with a unique job identifier associated with the fax request and a result of the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Patent number: 10277778
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding an event, associated with a component of the Internet fax service architecture, that is to be logged, is received by a centralized audit logging module of the Internet fax service architecture. The component may be a web server, an email server, a fax server, a notification server or an imaging system. The information is utilized by the centralized audit logging module to determine specific parameters within the Internet fax service architecture to be logged. Finally, the event, including the information and the specific parameters, is recorded by the centralized audit logging module to an audit log associated with the Internet fax service architecture in a standardized format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Publication number: 20170230544
    Abstract: Methods and systems for an auditing infrastructure for an Internet fax service architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, information regarding an event, associated with a component of the Internet fax service architecture, that is to be logged, is received by a centralized audit logging module of the Internet fax service architecture. The component may be a web server, an email server, a fax server, a notification server or an imaging system. The information is utilized by the centralized audit logging module to determine specific parameters within the Internet fax service architecture to be logged. Finally, the event, including the information and the specific parameters, is recorded by the centralized audit logging module to an audit log associated with the Internet fax service architecture in a standardized format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Patent number: 9225851
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing outbound fax messages in an efficient and scalable manner are provided. According to one embodiment, a request to deliver a fax message is received by an Internet fax system. Source files associated with the request and representing at least a portion of content to be included as part of the fax message are stored to a shared storage area accessible by multiple imaging systems and multiple fax processing resources. A load score is calculated for each imaging system based on one or more of a processor load and a memory load. An imaging system is selected, based on the load scores, to convert the source files into a digital representation suitable for faxing. The source files are converted by associating the digital representation with an outbound fax job. The fax message is delivered by submitting the outbound fax job to one of the fax modems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Messaging Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Publication number: 20150373208
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing inbound fax messages in a secure, efficient and scalable manner are provided. According to one embodiment, an inbound fax call is received at a telecommunications system of an Internet fax system. The call is switched to a PBX within the system. The call is further switched to a fax server within the system. The fax signal is translated by the fax server into multiple digital representations. Each notification server within the system calculates a load score based on a processor load, a memory load and a number of currently active inbound notification processes. A notification server is selected by the fax server based on the load scores. A subset of the digital representations are delivered to users associated with a subscriber associated with the destination address by the fax server requesting the notification server to perform user notification processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: EC Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Publication number: 20140079199
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing outbound fax messages in an efficient and scalable manner are provided. According to one embodiment, a request to deliver a fax message is received by an Internet fax system. Source files associated with the request and representing at least a portion of content to be included as part of the fax message are stored to a shared storage area accessible by multiple imaging systems and multiple fax processing resources. A load score is calculated for each imaging system based on one or more of a processor load and a memory load. An imaging system is selected, based on the load scores, to convert the source files into a digital representation suitable for faxing. The source files are converted by associating the digital representation with an outbound fax job. The fax message is delivered by submitting the outbound fax job to one of the fax modems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: EC DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Patent number: 8588381
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing outbound fax messages in an efficient and scalable manner are provided. According to one embodiment, an Internet fax system receives a request to deliver a fax message. Source files representing content to be included as part of the fax message are stored to a shared storage area accessible by imaging systems and fax processing resources. An imaging system is selected to convert the source files into a digital representation suitable for faxing. A work request identifying the selected imaging system is stored on a centralized work queue within a database. The imaging systems poll the centralized work queue to retrieve pending work requests. Responsive to identifying the work request, the selected imaging system converts the source files, associates the resulting digital representation with an outbound fax job and causes the fax message to be delivered by submitting the outbound fax job to a fax modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: EC Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard
  • Patent number: 8254538
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing outbound fax messages in an efficient and scalable manner are provided. According to one embodiment, an Internet fax system receives a request to deliver a fax message. Source files representing content to be included as part of the fax message are stored to a shared storage area accessible by imaging systems and fax processing resources. An imaging system is selected to convert the source files into a digital representation suitable for faxing. A work request identifying the selected imaging system is stored on a centralized work queue within a database. The imaging systems poll the centralized work queue to retrieve pending work requests. Responsive to identifying the work request, the selected imaging system converts the source files, associates the resulting digital representation with an outbound fax job and causes the fax message to be delivered by submitting the outbound fax job to a fax modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: EC Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian M. Watts, Edward D. Shephard