Patents by Inventor Frank A. McKiel
Frank A. McKiel 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).
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Patent number: 8130922Abstract: An emergency contact platform provides emergency contact services where usual communications have been disrupted. The emergency contact platform may include a server to receive registration information including a phone number associated with a phone when communication using the phone is impracticable. The server may also be configured to receive an information request identifying the phone number. The emergency contact platform may also include a database to store the received registration information. The server may be also configured to perform a lookup in the database based on the phone number and provide a result of the lookup based on the received information request.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: Shanyu Ger, Ayat Alihassan, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Publication number: 20120002953Abstract: A rewind or fast forward operation may be performed in which a series of reduced-in-size images frame previous frames in a video program may be presented to the viewer. In one implementation, a device may obtain sampled images corresponding to select frames of the video program and output a series of the sampled images in an order in which a sampling time corresponding to each of the sampled images in the video program monotonically increases or decreases in the output series. Differences in the sample times between successive images in the series of sampled images may not be uniform. The device may receive a selection of one of the images in the output series of sampled images and change a current output location of the video program to a location corresponding to the sampling time of the selected image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING, INC.Inventor: Frank A. MCKIEL, JR.
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Patent number: 7995916Abstract: To verify the integrity of optical paths through and among optical switches, optical signals are provided with co-propagating supplemental signals. The supplemental signals preferably have at least one characteristic which allows distinguishing one supplemental signal from another. Associated with a port of a switch, means are provided for detecting a supplemental signal and determining if the supplemental signal indicates that a desired optical signal is passing through the port as expected and desired. Means for imparting or changing the distinguishing characteristic of a supplemental signal may also be employed to facilitate verifying the passage of optical signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: John A. Fee, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110170857Abstract: To verify the integrity of optical paths through and among optical switches, optical signals are provided with co-propagating supplemental signals. The supplemental signals preferably have at least one characteristic which allows distinguishing one supplemental signal from another. Associated with a port of a switch, means are provided for detecting a supplemental signal and determining if the supplemental signal indicates that a desired optical signal is passing through the port as expected and desired. Means for imparting or changing the distinguishing characteristic of a supplemental signal may also be employed to facilitate verifying the passage of optical signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: VERIZON BUSINESS GLOBAL LLCInventors: John A. Fee, Frank A. McKiel, JR.
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Publication number: 20110071656Abstract: An approach is provided for template model view generation for home monitor and control interface. A platform receives a model view specified by a user, where the model view includes a floor plan of a premise. The platform generates a template model view based on the received model view by removing identifying information associated with the user. Also, the platform stores the template model view for access by another user, where the template model view is used to capture location information of one or more sensors or one or more actuators within the floor plan.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.Inventor: Frank A. McKiel, JR.
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Publication number: 20110072475Abstract: A system instructs that a first carrier signal that is modulated with a first digital media stream be sent to a first receiver, where the first digital media stream uses a first bandwidth. The system receives a second request from a second receiver to send a second digital media stream, where second digital media stream uses a second bandwidth that is greater than the first bandwidth, and determines that transmitting the second digital media stream will require use of the first bandwidth. The system instructs that a second carrier signal be modulated with the first digital media stream and sent to the first television receiver, and sends to the first television receiver an identifier of the second carrier signal as carrying the first digital media stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING, INC.Inventor: Frank A. MCKIEL, JR.
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Patent number: 7742703Abstract: An apparatus and method are applied to characterizing an dispersion-affecting element for use in controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical communications link. Information regarding the behavior of the dispersion-affecting element is recorded and stored in a medium that is provided for deployment with the dispersion-affecting element to enable improved management and active control of the dispersion-affecting element. The suitability of the dispersion-affecting element for operating under different conditions may also be characterized.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2009Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: John A Fee, Frank A McKiel
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Patent number: 7653002Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for monitoring perceived quality of a packet-switched voice service in a network. The method includes the step of receiving a packetized voice communication via the packet-switched voice service. At least one objective measurement is obtained from the received packetized voice communication. User perceived quality of voice data is derived from the at least one objective measurement. The user perceived quality of voice data is provided to a user. The steps of receiving, obtaining, deriving, and providing are performed in real-time.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: William Christopher Hardy, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090245477Abstract: An emergency contact platform provides emergency contact services where usual communications have been disrupted. The emergency contact platform may include a server to receive registration information including a phone number associated with a phone when communication using the phone is impracticable. The server may also be configured to receive an information request identifying the phone number. The emergency contact platform may also include a database to store the received registration information. The server may be also configured to perform a lookup in the database based on the phone number and provide a result of the lookup based on the received information request.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: MCI, LLCInventors: Shanyu GER, Ayat ALIHASSAN, Frank A. MCKIEL, JR.
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Publication number: 20090245787Abstract: An apparatus and method are applied to characterizing an dispersion-affecting element for use in controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical communications link. Information regarding the behavior of the dispersion-affecting element is recorded and stored in a medium that is provided for deployment with the dispersion-affecting element to enable improved management and active control of the dispersion-affecting element. The suitability of the dispersion-affecting element for operating under different conditions may also be characterized.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: VERIZON BUSINESS GLOBAL LLCInventors: John A. Fee, Frank A. McKiel, JR.
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Patent number: 7580639Abstract: An apparatus and method are applied to characterizing an dispersion-affecting element for use in controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical communications link. Information regarding the behavior of the dispersion-affecting element is recorded and stored in a medium that is provided for deployment with the dispersion-affecting element to enable improved management and active control of the dispersion-affecting element. The suitability of the dispersion-affecting element for operating under different conditions may also be characterized.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: John A. Fee, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Patent number: 7573984Abstract: An emergency contact platform provides emergency contact services where usual communications have been disrupted. The emergency contact platform may include a server to receive registration information including a phone number associated with a phone when communication using the phone is impracticable. The server may also be configured to receive an information request identifying the phone number. The emergency contact platform may also include a database to store the received registration information. The server may be also configured to perform a lookup in the database based on the phone number and provide a result of the lookup based on the received information request.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: Shanyu Ger, Ayat Alihassan, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Patent number: 7562861Abstract: A system includes a duct, a pressurized fluid source, and a valve. The duct receives one or more cables and the pressurized fluid source couples to a first end of the duct and produces fluid pressure within the duct. The valve couples to a second end of the duct and is closed for a time to build pressure within the duct, and then opened to permit the fluid under pressure within the duct to escape rapidly from the duct and propel the one or more cables through the duct.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLCInventors: John A. Fee, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090175188Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for monitoring perceived quality of a packet-switched voice service in a network. The method includes the step of receiving a packetized voice communication via the packet-switched voice service. At least one objective measurement is obtained from the received packetized voice communication. User perceived quality of voice data is derived from the at least one objective measurement. The user perceived quality of voice data is provided to a user. The steps of receiving, obtaining, deriving, and providing are performed in real-time.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: VERIZON BUSINESS GLOBAL LLCInventors: William Christopher HARDY, Frank A. MCKIEL, JR.
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Publication number: 20070064882Abstract: An emergency contact platform provides emergency contact services where usual communications have been disrupted. The emergency contact platform may include a server to receive registration information including a phone number associated with a phone when communication using the phone is impracticable. The server may also be configured to receive an information request identifying the phone number. The emergency contact platform may also include a database to store the received registration information. The server may be also configured to perform a lookup in the database based on the phone number and provide a result of the lookup based on the received information request.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2005Publication date: March 22, 2007Applicant: MCI, Inc.Inventors: Shanyu Ger, Ayat Alihassan, Frank McKiel
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Publication number: 20060219992Abstract: A system includes a duct, a pressurized fluid source, and a valve. The duct receives one or more cables and the pressurized fluid source couples to a first end of the duct and produces fluid pressure within the duct. The valve couples to a second end of the duct and is closed for a time to build pressure within the duct, and then opened to permit the fluid under pressure within the duct to escape rapidly from the duct and propel the one or more cables through the duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2005Publication date: October 5, 2006Applicant: MCI, Inc.Inventors: John Fee, Frank McKiel
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Publication number: 20060056843Abstract: To verify the integrity of optical paths through and among optical switches, optical signals are provided with co-propagating supplemental signals. The supplemental signals preferably have at least one characteristic which allows distinguishing one supplemental signal from another. Associated with a port of a switch, means are provided for detecting a supplemental signal and determining if the supplemental signal indicates that a desired optical signal is passing through the port as expected and desired. Means for imparting or changing the distinguishing characteristic of a supplemental signal may also be employed to facilitate verifying the passage of optical signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Applicant: MCI, Inc.Inventors: John Fee, Frank McKiel
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Patent number: 6980736Abstract: To verify the integrity of optical paths through and among optical switches, optical signals are provided with co-propagating supplemental signals. The supplemental signals preferably have at least one characteristic which allows distinguishing one supplemental signal from another. Associated with a port of a switch, means are provided for detecting a supplemental signal and determining if the supplemental signal indicates that a desired optical signal is passing through the port as expected and desired. Means for imparting or changing the distinguishing characteristic of a supplemental signal may also be employed to facilitate verifying the passage of optical signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2002Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: MCI, Inc.Inventors: John A. Fee, Frank A. McKiel, Jr.
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Publication number: 20050147415Abstract: An apparatus and method are applied to characterizing an dispersion-affecting element for use in controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical communications link. Information regarding the behavior of the dispersion-affecting element is recorded and stored in a medium that is provided for deployment with the dispersion-affecting element to enable improved management and active control of the dispersion-affecting element. The suitability of the dispersion-affecting element for operating under different conditions may also be characterized.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: July 7, 2005Applicant: WorldCom, Inc.Inventors: John Fee, Frank McKiel
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Publication number: 20050141493Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for monitoring perceived quality of a packet-switched voice service in a network. The method includes the step of receiving a packetized voice communication via the packet-switched voice service. At least one objective measurement is obtained from the received packetized voice communication. User perceived quality of voice data is derived from the at least one objective measurement. The user perceived quality of voice data is provided to a user. The steps of receiving, obtaining, deriving, and providing are performed in real-time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: June 30, 2005Inventors: William Hardy, Frank McKiel