Patents by Inventor John D. Francis

John D. Francis 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).

  • Method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations
    Patent number: 9420080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations over communication networks is disclosed. For example, a telephony endpoint device comprises a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a gain boost circuit, coupled to the microphone, for applying a gain boost to the audio signal. The telephony endpoint device also comprises a switch, coupled to the gain boost circuit, wherein operating the switch will control whether the gain boost is to be applied to the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Bing Chen, John D. Francis, Laurie Frances Garrison, Diane Nawrocki, David Nemec
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PRIVACY FOR TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS
    Publication number: 20160057263
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations over communication networks is disclosed. For example, a telephony endpoint device comprises a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a gain boost circuit, coupled to the microphone, for applying a gain boost to the audio signal. The telephony endpoint device also comprises a switch, coupled to the gain boost circuit, wherein operating the switch will control whether the gain boost is to be applied to the audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Bing Chen, John D. Francis, Laurie Frances Garrison, Diane Nawrocki, David Nemec
  • Method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations
    Patent number: 9178478
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations over communication networks is disclosed. For example, a telephony endpoint device comprises a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a gain boost circuit, coupled to the microphone, for applying a gain boost to the audio signal. The telephony endpoint device also comprises a switch, coupled to the gain boost circuit, wherein operating the switch will control whether the gain boost is to be applied to the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Bing Chen, John D. Francis, Laurie Garrison, Diane Nawrocki, David Nemec
  • Method and system for administering subjective listening test to remote users
    Patent number: 7831025
    Abstract: A method and system for administering a subjective listening test to remote users. A user can participate in a subjective listening test, such as an MOS listening test, over a telephone call. The telephone call is received and audio recordings are sequentially played over the telephone call. Quality ratings corresponding to the audio recordings are input by the user over the telephone call. The user can input digits corresponding to the quality ratings. This allows a user to take part in a subjective listening test without traveling to a lab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: John D. Francis, Laurie F. Garrison, James H. James
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PRIVACY FOR TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS
    Publication number: 20080260168
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations over communication networks is disclosed. For example, a telephony endpoint device comprises a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a gain boost circuit, coupled to the microphone, for applying a gain boost to the audio signal. The telephony endpoint device also comprises a switch, coupled to the gain boost circuit, wherein operating the switch will control whether the gain boost is to be applied to the audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: BING CHEN, JOHN D. FRANCIS, LAURIE GARRISON, DIANE NAWROCKI, DAVID NEMEC
  • Method and device for detecting path faults in a network
    Patent number: 6480576
    Abstract: For testing a network, a connection between an originating station and an answering station is established over the network. Signals are sent over the connection and if the signals are not correctly received through the connection, the connection is maintained and a message is sent to a monitoring station indicating that a defective connection has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cluff, John D. Francis, Allen J. Mollica