Patents by Inventor Howard Pfeffer

Howard Pfeffer 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).

  • Publication number: 20090190732
    Abstract: A telephone subscriber registers with a digital telephone service provider (DTSP) to obtain telephone service. The telephone subscriber also registers with an instant messaging service provider (IMSP) and receives a screen name. The telephone subscriber registers the screen name with the DTSP to receive caller identifying information (CID) via instant messaging (IM) (sometimes referred to herein as “CID IM service”). When a call to the telephone number of the telephone subscriber is received at a switch operated by the DTSP, the DTSP confirms that the telephone subscriber has registered a screen name with the DTSP and then sends the caller identification information to the IMSP. The IMSP then sends an instant message containing the caller identification information to the telephone subscriber's instant message client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Matthew Cannon, Richard N. Cho
  • Publication number: 20090168982
    Abstract: A system and method for providing caller ID in a multi-region cable network. Caller identifying (CID) information of an incoming VoIP call is provided to a digital telephone subscriber through a video termination device (VTD) using a path that is different from the path by which the VoIP call packets are delivered to the digital telephone subscriber. The telephone number of a digital telephone subscriber is associated with the IP address and/or MAC address of the subscriber's VTD. The called number of the incoming VoIP call is used to select the VTD to which the CID information is delivered. A message is then sent through an out-of-band channel to the digital telephone subscriber's VTD comprising the CID information for display on video display equipment. Alternatively, the VTD is DOCSIS-compliant and a message is addressed to the VTD using the IP address of the VTD DOCSIS modem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Tom Gonder, Scott Ramsdell, Howard Pfeffer, Matthew Cannon, James Balasalle, Albert Straub
  • Patent number: 7532712
    Abstract: A system and method for providing caller ID in a multi-region cable network. Caller identifying (CID) information of an incoming VoIP call is provided to a digital telephone subscriber through a video termination device (VTD) using a path that is different from the path by which the VoIP call packets are delivered to the digital telephone subscriber. The telephone number of a digital telephone subscriber is associated with the IP address and/or MAC address of the subscriber's VTD. The called number of the incoming VoIP call is used to select the VTD to which the CID information is delivered. A message is then sent through an out-of-band to the digital telephone subscriber's VTD comprising the CID information for display on video display equipment. Alternatively, the VTD is DOCSIS-compliant and a message is addressed to the VTD using the IP address of the VTD DOCSIS modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Gonder, Scott Ramsdell, Howard Pfeffer, Matthew Cannon, James Balasalle, Albert Straub
  • Publication number: 20080246605
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting real time parental screening of a variety of different types of communications which may be directed to or sent from children are described. The methods and apparatus may be used with voice, text messaging and/or E-mail communications individually or as part of a unified parental control system. Parents can set restrictions preventing text messages, E-mails and/or voice calls being sent to or received from particular individuals, sources or destinations. In addition, parents can configure the system to support real time parental screening of individual communications, e.g., messages or calls, with the parent being provided a real time notification of an incoming or outgoing communication and the parent being provided an opportunity to control in real time the disposition of the individual communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Matthew Cannon
  • Publication number: 20080239993
    Abstract: A system and method for providing premium transport in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network. An edge server in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network maintains a list of preferred content providers (PCPs). For each PCP, the PCP list comprises matching criteria. The edge server monitors the header of incoming packets for the matching criteria. A packet that matches the matching criteria is modified by the edge server causing the packet to be associated with a “premium” downstream service flow. Packets sent in response to a “preferred” packet are parsed by a cable modem and routed upstream according to a “premium” upstream service flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Howard PFEFFER, Kenneth Gould, Ron De Silva
  • Publication number: 20080216135
    Abstract: In response to user requests for content, content may be dynamically mapped to communications channels, e.g., QAM channels, used to communicate multiple programs during the same transmission time slot, e.g., through the use of multiplexed MPEG streams. A customer premise device, e.g., STB, uses a tuner tuned to the QAM channel to receive the communicated stream, recovers multiple programs communicated using the single communications channel, and records and/or displays the recovered programs. In this manner, more programs can be received and recorded than there are tuners in the customer premise device, e.g., STB. In some embodiments a content service provider control node processes user requests for content, maps requested programs to transport streams, communicates mapping decision information to a content distribution node, and communicates QAM tuning information to the user devices which can then receive and record multiple programs communicated via a single communications channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Kenneth Gould
  • Publication number: 20080216119
    Abstract: A user recovers and records multiple programs communicated simultaneously using a communications channel, e.g., QAM communications channel. The simultaneous communication may be by communicating, e.g., an MPEG-2 transport stream including data corresponding to multiple programs through a corresponding to QAM communications channel. Thus a user device, e.g., a set top box, is able to receive and record programs corresponding to multiple simultaneously broadcast programs using a single tuner. This allows a device to receive and record or display more programs at any given time, than the number of QAM tuners and/or receivers in the user device. Novel user interface features which facilitate a user's ability to identify and record multiple programs corresponding to a QAM channel are also described. Methods and apparatus for determining program to communication channel mappings based on user program recordation information are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Kenneth Gould
  • Publication number: 20080216136
    Abstract: A user recovers and records multiple programs communicated simultaneously using a communications channel, e.g., QAM communications channel. The simultaneous communication may be by communicating, e.g., an MPEG-2 transport stream including data corresponding to multiple programs through a corresponding to QAM communications channel. Thus a user device, e.g., a set top box, is able to receive and record programs corresponding to multiple simultaneously broadcast programs using a single tuner. This allows a device to receive and record or display more programs at any given time, than the number of QAM tuners and/or receivers in the user device. Novel user interface features which facilitate a user's ability to identify and record multiple programs corresponding to a QAM channel are also described. Methods and apparatus for determining program to communication channel mappings based on user program recordation information are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Kenneth Gould
  • Patent number: 7388870
    Abstract: A system and method for providing premium transport in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network. An edge server in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network maintains a list of preferred content providers (PCPs). For each PCP, the PCP list comprises matching criteria. The edge server monitors the header of incoming packets for the matching criteria. A packet that matches the matching criteria is modified by the edge server causing the packet to be associated with a “premium” downstream service flow. Packets sent in response to a “preferred” packet are parsed by a cable modem and routed upstream according to a “premium” upstream service flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Kenneth Gould, Ron Da Silva
  • Patent number: 7237028
    Abstract: Bandwidth loading on the network is managed by pushing e-mail message traffic out to the edges of the network at times when bandwidth demand is low. To accomplish this, a user's e-mail is cached at the proxy server nearest to his presumed location. This decentralizes the e-mail storage away from the mail server and spreads it out over the network at the various proxy servers. This cache action is preferably done when there is a lull in network traffic (e.g., at night). This has the effect of decentralizing the bandwidth demand on the overall network since the e-mail messages have a shorter distance to travel when retrieved by the user from the cache location at the proxy server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Road Runner Holdco LLC
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, John Leddy
  • Patent number: 7099475
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing roaming of a subscriber and password authentication a non-LDAP region. A user signs onto a network access server which in turn connects to the regional LDAP RADIUS server. Password authentication occurs by hashing a transmitted password and comparing it to a clear text password from an LDAP database that has been hashed in the same manner as the transmitted password. When the subscriber is in a non-LDAP region, The password proceeds trough a proxy server to a regional RADIUS server which connects to a non-LDAP server. The non-LDAP server connects to and SMS database and retrieve the clear text password associated with the non-LDFSAP user, hashes it according the same method as the transmitted hashed password and formats the password for comparison in the regional RADIUS server. If the hashed passwords compare, the access is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Road Runner Holdco LLC
    Inventors: Barbara Huff, Howard Pfeffer, Michael Gazillo, Jack Cashman
  • Publication number: 20060165082
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating communication between a CMTS and an application sever in a cable network. Customer premises equipment (CPE) generates packets that are sent through a cable modem (CM) to a cable modem termination system (CMTS). A packet is parsed by CMTS and the destination IP address and port number compared to the destination IP addresses/port tuples received by the CMTS from a datastore. A packet that is directed to an IP address/port tuple on the target list (a “service request packet”) is modified to incorporate CMTS-identifying information and subscriber-identifying information in the packet header. When the application server communicates with the CMTS to reserve the network resources, the application server provides the CMTS the CM MAC and CM IP addresses to facilitate resource allocation, subscriber identification and billing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Kenneth Gould
  • Publication number: 20060115062
    Abstract: A system and method for providing caller ID in a multi-region cable network. Caller identifying (CID) information of an incoming VoIP call is provided to a digital telephone subscriber through a video termination device (VTD) using a path that is different from the path by which the VoIP call packets are delivered to the digital telephone subscriber. The telephone number of a digital telephone subscriber is associated with the IP address and/or MAC address of the subscriber's VTD. The called number of the incoming VoIP call is used to select the VTD to which the CID information is delivered. A message is then sent through an out-of-band to the digital telephone subscriber's VTD comprising the CID information for display on video display equipment. Alternatively, the VTD is DOCSIS-compliant and a message is addressed to the VTD using the IP address of the VTD DOCSIS modem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Tom Gonder, Scott Ramsdell, Howard Pfeffer, Matthew Cannon, James Balasalle, Albert Straub
  • Publication number: 20060098643
    Abstract: A system and method for providing premium transport in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network. An edge server in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network maintains a list of preferred content providers (PCPs). For each PCP, the PCP list comprises matching criteria. The edge server monitors the header of incoming packets for the matching criteria. A packet that matches the matching criteria is modified by the edge server causing the packet to be associated with a “premium” downstream service flow. Packets sent in response to a “preferred” packet are parsed by a cable modem and routed upstream according to a “premium” upstream service flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, Kenneth Gould, Ron Silva
  • Publication number: 20050138196
    Abstract: Bandwidth loading on the network is managed by pushing e-mail message traffic out to the edges of the network at times when bandwidth demand is low. To accomplish this, a user's e-mail is cached at the proxy server nearest to his presumed location. This decentralizes the e-mail storage away from the mail server and spreads it out over the network at the various proxy servers. This cache action is preferably done when there is a lull in network traffic (e.g., at night). This has the effect of decentralizing the bandwidth demand on the overall network since the e-mail messages have a shorter distance to travel when retrieved by the user from the cache location at the proxy server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, John Leddy
  • Patent number: 6850968
    Abstract: Traffic handling load on network servers is moderated by attenuating POP checks at proxy servers located across the network. Attenuation of POP checks is accomplished by intercepting each POP check packet at a proxy server that is nominally local to where the user is located. The proxy server permits a given user's initial POP check to proceed on through the network to the mail server. Thereafter, though, the proxy server only permits that user's received POP checks to proceed onward according to a predetermined algorithm, e.g., at intervals of no less than fifteen minutes. Overly frequent POP checks by a user are responded to by the proxy server (rather than the mail server itself) with a response indicating that the user that he has no mail (despite not knowing deterministically whether that is a true statement). Additionally the proxy server may buffer and delay the POP transactions to effectively allow only a predetermined rate of POP checks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Service Co.
    Inventors: Howard Pfeffer, John Leddy
  • Publication number: 20030131264
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing roaming of a subscriber and password authentication a non-LDAP region. A user signs onto a network access server which in turn connects to the regional LDAP RADIUS server. Password authentication occurs by hashing a transmitted password and comparing it to a clear text password from an LDAP database that has been hashed in the same manner as the transmitted password. When the subscriber is in a non-LDAP region, The password proceeds trough a proxy server to a regional RADIUS server which connects to a non-LDAP server. The non-LDAP server connects to and SMS database and retrieve the clear text password associated with the non-LDFSAP user, hashes it according the same method as the transmitted hashed password and formats the password for comparison in the regional RADIUS server. If the hashed passwords compare, the access is permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Barbara Huff, Howard Pfeffer, Michael Gazillo, Jack Cashman