Patents by Inventor Larry Raymond Metzger

Larry Raymond Metzger 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: 8670537
    Abstract: A method of and system for adjusting audio volume in a conference call environment are disclosed. The method comprises associating respective gain factors with each source of a plurality of incoming audio streams. The method further comprises automatically adjusting the volume of each incoming audio stream in accordance with the associated gain factor. In accordance with example embodiments, the method may be performed either at a telephony endpoint such as a VoIP telephone or at a conference bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Raymond Metzger, Michael P. O'Brien, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8649492
    Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques for optimizing voice quality for a media stream provided to participants in a conference are provided. A first path is provided that provides an unmixed path of media from a first user to participants in the conference. A second path includes a mixed path of media from multiple users. The mixed path may include media from a first user and a second user that is mixed. The mixed path may include a transcoding from a first compression to a second compression, and back to the first compression (or another compression). A floor control module may switch between the first path and the second path to optimize voice quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Larry Raymond Metzger, Michael P. O'Brien, Gordon Rex Earl
  • Patent number: 8160112
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of buffering a media stream is provided. The method may comprise receiving a plurality of IP packets of the media stream, each packet providing a fragment of a portion of the media stream. Thereafter, the portion of media stream may be buffered in a jitter buffer using the fragments provided by the received packets. Further, the portion of the media stream may be buffered in a replay buffer using the fragments provided by the received packets. The replay buffer may be larger than the jitter buffer and a first received fragment and a second received fragment may be combined. The second received fragment may have been discarded by the jitter buffer. A media stream may then be played back using media from the replay and/or jitter buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, James C. Frauenthal, Michael P. O'Brien, Larry Raymond Metzger
  • Publication number: 20090074012
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of buffering a media stream is provided. The method may comprise receiving a plurality of IP packets of the media stream, each packet providing a fragment of a portion of the media stream. Thereafter, the portion of media stream may be buffered in a jitter buffer using the fragments provided by the received packets. Further, the portion of the media stream may be buffered in a replay buffer using the fragments provided by the received packets. The replay buffer may be larger than the jitter buffer and a first received fragment and a second received fragment may be combined. The second received fragment may have been discarded by the jitter buffer. A media stream may then be played back using media from the replay and/or jitter buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, James C. Frauenthal, Michael P. O'Brien, Larry Raymond Metzger
  • Publication number: 20080037750
    Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques for optimizing voice quality for a media stream provided to participants in a conference are provided. A first path is provided that provides an unmixed path of media from a first user to participants in the conference. A second path includes a mixed path of media from multiple users. The mixed path may include media from a first user and a second user that is mixed. The mixed path may include a transcoding from a first compression to a second compression, and back to the first compression (or another compression). A floor control module may switch between the first path and the second path to optimize voice quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Larry Raymond Metzger, Michael P. O'Brien, Gordon Rex Earl
  • Publication number: 20080037749
    Abstract: A method of and system for adjusting audio volume in a conference call environment are disclosed. The method comprises associating respective gain factors with each source of a plurality of incoming audio streams. The method further comprises automatically adjusting the volume of each incoming audio stream in accordance with the associated gain factor. In accordance with example embodiments, the method may be performed either at a telephony endpoint such as a VoIP telephone or at a conference bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Larry Raymond Metzger, Michael P. O'Brien, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7302496
    Abstract: Peer-to-peer endpoint devices discover a localized IP address realm that minimizes the traversal of the Network Address Translators. Each endpoint device sends a query from its corresponding local address realm to its corresponding destination endpoint device using the corresponding available address for the destination endpoint device. The available address has a value outside the address realm of the endpoint device sending the query. The query also specifies a unique identifier that is identifiable solely by the endpoint device. The destination endpoint device receives the query, having traversed one or more NATs and at least two address realms, and sends a response that specifies the unique identifier for the query source, a unique identifier for the destination endpoint device, and multiple alias addresses for reaching the destination endpoint device. The query source selects one of the alias addresses that is determined reachable by the query source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Raymond Metzger