Patents by Inventor Guy G. Riddle

Guy G. Riddle 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: 6175856
    Abstract: A digital processing system and method which controls selection of a compressor in a communication system. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving at the digital processing system information from a communication port, which information identifies decompression processing capabilities at a remote processor, and selecting in response to the information a particular compression process for use in compressing data for transmission to the remote processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 6151619
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating a teleconference between two or more digital processing systems. A method according to one aspect of the invention comprises retrieving information containing an address and configuration data for the teleconference and retrieving a teleconference application program and using the information to initiate a teleconference with the teleconference application program where the information is independent of the teleconference application program and may be shared or used by another teleconference application program and is typically stored independently of the teleconference application program. A method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of transmitting a representation of an image to a second processor and prior to receiving a confirmation of an acceptance to begin the teleconference, displaying the image at the second processor. Various examples of apparatuses which may perform these methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5999977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5983261
    Abstract: In the present invention, in some embodiments, an administrator assigns a total bandwidth allocation to at least one other computer system, and the computer system parcels the bandwidth among the applications running on the computer system. In the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, an administrator sends a bandwidth maximum allocation to each node on the system. Each node determines a current bandwidth being used, and limits the current bandwidth to this allocation. Thereafter, each node then reallocates its usable bandwidth among applications running on the nodes that are attempting to send messages over the network. For each application, a current bandwidth use is determined, as well as a current bandwidth demand. The current bandwidth demand is the amount of bandwidth that the application would be using if no other applications were running on the node and if there were no limitations on the amount of data the application could send to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5973724
    Abstract: An automatic method in a teleconferencing system for merging at least two ongoing teleconferences. A first endpoint transmits a merge request message to the at least two teleconferences to a second endpoint. The merge request message includes a list of members in one of the at least two ongoing teleconferences. The second endpoint receives the merge request message and transmits join request messages to each member in the list of members. The first endpoint, the second endpoint and each member in the list of members then establish one teleconference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5931961
    Abstract: A network messaging protocol is used to send an arbitrary size packet over the network from a source machine to a destination machine. If the packet is accepted by the routers along the path of the potential network connection, then the destination machine will be able to echo the test message packet back to the source machine and an acceptable packet size is set equal to the test message packet size. If not, after a suitable time out, the source machine will send another test message with a different packet size than the initial arbitrary packet size and wait for echo and repeat the process until an acceptable packet size is discovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Murali Ranganathan, Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5920732
    Abstract: A method at the receiver of a communication medium which receives communication packages and performs buffer size allocations. The method heuristically determines, based on measurements taken directly from the communication medium an appropriate buffer size sufficient to store incoming data packets without wasting memory at the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5864678
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and reporting flow imbalance of a data stream. A grab rate signal is generated measuring the rate at which a source machine can sequence and compress data from an input. Next, an outflow rate is generated measuring the rate at which the source machine can transmit the compressed data out to a network. When the compressed data arrives at a destination machine from the network, an arrival rate signal is generated measuring the rate at which the destination machine can re-sequence the compressed data for playback and decompression. Finally, a play rate signal is generated measuring the rate at which the destination machine can decompress and play the data to an output. The four rates are used in determining a flow imbalance signal and reporting the imbalance so that the user may correct any deficiencies in the data stream by modifying the quality/size or compression method used for the data transaction from the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5854898
    Abstract: An automatic method for adding an additional data stream, such as auxiliary teleconference data, to an existing media connection between two endpoints, such as a teleconference between teleconferencing systems. A first endpoint identifies the availability of a second data stream to a second endpoint via a first message which references the existing media connection. The first endpoint notifies the second endpoint of the desire to connect via a second message. The second endpoint notifies the first endpoint of confirmation to connect via a third message. The first and the second endpoint then establish communication wherein the additional data stream is associated in a first endpoint and the second endpoint with the existing media connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5572582
    Abstract: An automatic method and apparatus for communicating information, such as teleconference data between teleconferencing systems. A first endpoint identifies communication capabilities to a second endpoint via a first message. The first endpoint notifies the second endpoint of the desire to connect via a second message. The second endpoint retrieves a timeout value from the second message and dynamically responds to the first endpoint according to the timeout value and a current context and notifies the first endpoint of confirmation to connect via a third message. The first and the second endpoint then establish communication according to the communication capabilities. The first and the second endpoint can optimize transfers of teleconference data according to the identified communication capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5444709
    Abstract: A real-time data stream is transmitted in data packets from a data source in accordance with a predetermined protocol over a shared network. Data packets of said real-time data stream are received at a data destination connected to the local area network. The data destination then reconstitutes the real-time data stream using information included in the data packets in accordance with the predetermined protocol. More particularly, a plurality of data frames are transmitted from the data source, each including at least one data packet. Each data packet includes a sequence number S identifying the data packet as the Sth data packet transmitted in the data stream and a frame number N identifying the data packet as belonging to an Nth frame transmitted in the data stream. Data packets that are the first data packets in respective frames to which they belong and data packets that are the last data packets in respective frames to which they belong include flags identifying them as such.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5434860
    Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides for transmission and flow control of real-time data streams over computer networks. A real-time data stream is transmitted in data packets from a data source in accordance with a predetermined protocol over a shared network, for example. Data packets of said real-time data stream are received at a data destination connected to the local area network. The data destination determines a suggested data rate for the data source based in part on a number of data packets lost during a preceding interval of time and transmits the suggested data rate to the data source. The suggested data rate is received at the data source, which adjusts its data rate of the in accordance with the suggested data rate. The rate adjustment mechanism is designed such that a network segment will not be overloaded with a single isochronous data stream connection and that a disproportionate shared of the network bandwidth is not consumed by the isochronous data stream connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 5166931
    Abstract: A facility is provided which obviates the need of administering network addresses in an internetwork composed of a plurality of networks by assigning to each network a common source address, rather than a unique network address. In addition, and when a connection is established between two of the networks, then, for the duration of the connection, each of those networks is dynamically associated with a respective second network address and a respective connection address, in which the connection address is used as a destination address. Accordingly, when one of the networks transmits a message to the other network, the internetwork identifies the proper connection as a function of the message destination address and then forwards the message to the intended recipient. In doing so, the internet changes the message source address to the second address associated with the one changes network and the message destination address to the second address associated with the other one of the two networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: 4852127
    Abstract: A universal protocol data receiver is disclosed which is capable of receiving data streams in character mode and block mode, providing flow control and error detection and correction. The receiver is divided into two stages separated by a first-in, first-out buffer register. The first stage handles flow control and error processing as well as initialization. The second stage handles interfacing with the data utilizing mechanism and flow control acknowledgements. The FIFO buffer is divided into two parts by a movable barrier which limits the access of the second stage. The barrier permits error processing by hiding incoming blocks of data behind the barrier until processing is complete. Both a hardware and a software implementation of the receiver are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Alexander G. Fraser, William T. Marshall, Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: RE39135
    Abstract: In the present invention, in some embodiments, an administrator assigns a total bandwidth allocation to at least one other computer system, and the computer system parcels the bandwidth among the applications running on the computer system. In the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, an administrator sends a bandwidth maximum allocation to each node on the system. Each node determines a current bandwidth being used, and limits the current bandwidth to this allocation. Thereafter, each node then reallocates its usable bandwidth among applications running on the nodes that are attempting to send messages over the network. For each application, a current bandwidth use is determined, as well as a current bandwidth demand. The current bandwidth demand is the amount of bandwidth that the application would be using if no other applications were running on the node and if there were no limitations on the amount of data the application could send to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: RE40704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgement message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgement message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: RE42442
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: RE44306
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: RE44395
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle
  • Patent number: RE44441
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing transmission of data to a plurality of second endpoints in a system wherein a first endpoint is providing data to the plurality of second endpoints each connected by a point-to-point communication channels. This may be useful in teleconferencing applications with a plurality of participants (endpoints) or broadcast server applications. The first endpoint activates a multicast communication channel having a first multicast address and commences broadcast of the data over the multicast communication channel. The first endpoint transmits a request message to each of the plurality of second endpoints in order to query each of the second endpoints whether they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address. Certain of the plurality of second endpoints transmit an acknowledgment message if they can receive transmissions broadcast to the first multicast address, and the first endpoint receives the acknowledgment message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Guy G. Riddle