Patents by Inventor Michael P. Ruf

Michael P. Ruf 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: 9049535
    Abstract: Voice messaging services are used to provide messages for recipients associated with terminated network-based instant connect communication sessions. A first device engages in a communication session with a second device. The communication session between the two devices terminates and the first device records locally a voice message addressed to the second device. The message may be stored on the first device and transmitted to the second device after another communication session is established between the two devices. Alternately, the voice message may be transmitted to a message server and forwarded to the second device at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 9002486
    Abstract: An audio recorder may be configured to automatically send a copy of recorded audio to one or more destinations, such as, one or more default destinations associated with the audio recorder. The audio recorder may be configured to use a wireless connection to send the copy of the recorded audio. For instance, the audio recorder may form part of a wireless communication device that may be configured to send the copy of the recorded audio via one or more wireless connections and/or wireless networks to suitable destinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8576994
    Abstract: Managing shared voice messages across the multiple voice messaging systems of the various recipients of a message. A server may act as a gateway and may interact with the multiple voice messaging systems and multiple user devices of the recipients. The server may retrieve voice messages from the sender voice messaging system and may transmit the voice message to the disparate voice messaging systems of the recipients with or without user assistance. The voice messages may be transcoded as necessary. the server then may determine the status of the voice message in the voice messaging systems of the recipients and may update the message status in the sender's and the recipients' voice message systems accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8571584
    Abstract: Delivering the content of an audio-only Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message to a recipient without requiring the recipient device to be MMS-enabled. A sender creates an MMS message, and sends it to the device of the intended recipient. If the recipient device is not MMS-enabled and the MMS message contains only audio content, the message is conveyed to a message server, where the audio content is transcoded and stored in an IVR system or other location accessible to the recipient. If the intended recipient device supports the SMS protocol, an SMS notification alerting the recipient to the arrival of a new message is transmitted. If the recipient device is neither MMS- nor SMS-enabled, the recipient can be alerted of the receipt of an MMS message by voicemail, email, instant message, page, or another medium able to effect delivery. The notification includes instructions for accessing the message from the IVR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Ruf, Konstantin Othmer, Sani El-Fishawy
  • Patent number: 8565836
    Abstract: A recipient activates or deactivates user alerts associated with the receipt and/or availability of communications using rules in an alert profile stored on a device, a server, or a location accessible to the server. In one embodiment, the device can implement the rules when a communication is received and/or available. If an alert is activated, the device renders the alert. If the alert is deactivated, the device does not render the alert unless and until the alert is activated. In another embodiment, the server can implement the rules. If the alert is activated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server also transmits alert-rendering instructions, whereupon the device can render the alert as specified in the instructions. If the alert is deactivated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server does not transmit the instructions unless and until the alert is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8548433
    Abstract: Voice messaging services are used to provide messages for recipients associated with terminated network-based instant connect communication sessions. A first device engages in a communication session with a second device. The communication session between the two devices terminates and the first device records locally a voice message addressed to the second device. The message may be stored on the first device and transmitted to the second device after another communication session is established between the two devices. Alternately, the voice message may be transmitted to a message server and forwarded to the second device at a later time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8467503
    Abstract: Managing voice messages across multiple voicemail systems. A server acts as a gateway and interacts with multiple voicemail systems and with multiple user devices. The server can retrieve voice messages from one voicemail system and transmit the retrieved voice messages to another separate voicemail system without user assistance. The voice messages are transcoded as necessary. The server also enables a recipient to generate a reply voice message that can be delivered to the original sender's device or delivered to the sender in another manner, such as a Vnote, SMS or an email.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8391447
    Abstract: Managing shared voice messages across the multiple voice messaging systems of the various recipients of a message. A server may act as a gateway and may interact with the multiple voice messaging systems and multiple user devices of the recipients. The server may retrieve voice messages from the sender voice messaging system and may transmit the voice message to the disparate voice messaging systems of the recipients with or without user assistance. The voice messages may be transcoded as necessary. The server then may determine the status of the voice message in the voice messaging systems of the recipients and may update the message status in the sender's and the recipients' voice message systems accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8392392
    Abstract: Search requests may be initiated by a wireless communication device and performed by a voice request broker (VRB). The VRB may evaluate the applicability of various criteria and may select at least one search engine to process the search request according to the applicable criteria. The VRB may transmit the search request to the at least one search engine and the at least one search engine may return a list of one or more results. The VRB may evaluate the applicability of various criteria and may re-sort the results according to applicable criteria. The VRB may transmit the re-sorted results to the wireless communication device from which the search request is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc
    Inventor: Michael P. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20130012170
    Abstract: Voice messaging services are used to provide messages for recipients associated with terminated network-based instant connect communication sessions. A first device engages in a communication session with a second device. The communication session between the two devices terminates and the first device records locally a voice message addressed to the second device. The message may be stored on the first device and transmitted to the second device after another communication session is established between the two devices. Alternately, the voice message may be transmitted to a message server and forwarded to the second device at a later time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20120276878
    Abstract: A recipient activates or deactivates user alerts associated with the receipt and/or availability of communications using rules in an alert profile stored on a device, a server, or a location accessible to the server. In one embodiment, the device can implement the rules when a communication is received and/or available. If an alert is activated, the device renders the alert. If the alert is deactivated, the device does not render the alert unless and until the alert is activated. In another embodiment, the server can implement the rules. If the alert is activated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server also transmits alert-rendering instructions, whereupon the device can render the alert as specified in the instructions. If the alert is deactivated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server does not transmit the instructions unless and until the alert is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE INC.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20120275578
    Abstract: Managing shared voice messages across the multiple voice messaging systems of the various recipients of a message. A server may act as a gateway and may interact with the multiple voice messaging systems and multiple user devices of the recipients. The server may retrieve voice messages from the sender voice messaging system and may transmit the voice message to the disparate voice messaging systems of the recipients with or without user assistance. The voice messages may be transcoded as necessary. the server then may determine the status of the voice message in the voice messaging systems of the recipients and may update the message status in the sender's and the recipients' voice message systems accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8239647
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing data backup of a communication device. Data backup can occur automatically or manually. A data backup status indicator is displayed on the communication device indicating the current status of the data backup. The user can select the data backup status indicator to obtain additional information about the status of the data backup service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Stocklein, Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8233943
    Abstract: A recipient activates or deactivates user alerts associated with the receipt and/or availability of communications using rules in an alert profile stored on a device, a server, or a location accessible to the server. In one embodiment, the device can implement the rules when a communication is received and/or available. If an alert is activated, the device renders the alert. If the alert is deactivated, the device does not render the alert unless and until the alert is activated. In another embodiment, the server can implement the rules. If the alert is activated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server also transmits alert-rendering instructions, whereupon the device can render the alert as specified in the instructions. If the alert is deactivated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server does not transmit the instructions unless and until the alert is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20120117346
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing data backup of a communication device. Data backup can occur automatically or manually. A data backup status indicator is displayed on the communication device indicating the current status of the data backup. The user can select the data backup status indicator to obtain additional information about the status of the data backup service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Carl J. Stocklein, Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 8122211
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing data backup of a communication device. Data backup can occur automatically or manually. A data backup status indicator is displayed on the communication device indicating the current status of the data backup. The user can select the data backup status indicator to obtain additional information about the status of the data backup service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Core Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Stocklein, Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20110106942
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for transmitting a data collection profile from a server in connection with a telecommunications network that includes multiple devices. The data collection profile controls which devices should collect data, the condition under which certain data is desired, and when the data is to be returned. The data collection profile is provided to devices which collect data in accordance with the data collection profile. Finally, the collected data is received by a service platform for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CARRIER IQ, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE ROSKOWSKI, DAVID KOLM, MICHAEL P. RUF, JAMES R. JAQUET, KONSTANTIN OTHMER
  • Publication number: 20100329434
    Abstract: Managing voice messages across multiple voicemail systems. A server acts as a gateway and interacts with multiple voicemail systems and with multiple user devices. The server can retrieve voice messages from one voicemail system and transmit the retrieved voice messages to another separate voicemail system without user assistance. The voice messages are transcoded as necessary. The server also enables a recipient to generate a reply voice message that can be delivered to the original sender's device or delivered to the sender in another manner, such as a Vnote, SMS or an email.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: 7747265
    Abstract: A communication session between a wireless communication device and one or more recipient communication devices is initiated in response to user input received at a separate computing device. The intended parties of the call are identified at the computing device in response to the user input. Once the intended parties have been identified, the calling instructions are generated and transmitted to the wireless communication device or a server, which cause a call to be initiated between a wireless communication device and one or more recipient communication devices. This allows a caller to utilize the functionality and resources available on a computer to initiate a call, while enabling the caller to utilize the functionality and resources available on the caller's wireless communication device to engage in and complete the call, without requiring the caller to communicate through the telephony applications of a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Core Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Ruf
  • Patent number: RE45884
    Abstract: A chat interface allowing a user to exchange haptic chat messages with other users in a chat session over a computer network. A chat interface can be displayed by a local computer and receives input data from a user of the local computer, such as text characters or speech input. The input data provides an outgoing chat message that can include sent force information. The outgoing chat message is sent to a remote computer that is connected to the local host computer via a computer network. The remote computer can display a chat interface and output a haptic sensation to a user of the remote computer based at least in part on the force information in the outgoing chat message. An incoming message from the remote computer can also be received at the chat interface, which may also include received force information. The incoming chat message is displayed on a display device to the user of the local computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Evan F. Wies, Dean C. Chang, Michael P. Ruf