Patents by Inventor Shmuel Shaffer

Shmuel Shaffer 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: 8595359
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a particular node in a primary DAG receives a distributed message from distributing nodes, and from this, deterministically selects a distributing node as a distributing parent in a secondary DAG from which distributed messages are to be received. The particular node may then inform the deterministically selected distributing parent that it is being used by the particular node as its distributing parent, and if the selected distributing parent is not the particular node's primary DAG parent, then the primary DAG parent is informed that it need not send distributed messages for the particular node. In another embodiment, a distributing node continues to repeat distributed messages in response to receiving notification that it is being used as a distributing parent, and if a primary DAG parent, prevents the repeating in response to receiving a notification from all of its child nodes that it need not send distributed messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Sandeep Jay Shetty, Jean-Philippe Vasseur
  • Patent number: 8588377
    Abstract: A method for grouping voice messages includes extracting a voice signature from a voice message and tagging the voice message with an identification associated with the voice signature. The method also includes grouping the voice message based on the identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel, Mukul Jain, Sanjeev Kumar
  • Patent number: 8589678
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method can include: receiving rules in an interoperability server, the rules being related to access control for an endpoint coupled to a variable source content stream via a multicast network; and sending to the endpoint using in-band controls of the variable source content stream via the multicast network: a description of content streams available for selection by the endpoint; a procedure for selecting an available content stream; and permission for accessing the selected content stream, the permission being based on the rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Christenson, Eric Cozzi, Saad Malik, Rajesh Basawa, Leonard Brzezinski, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20130301813
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to process an incoming message is described. The method may comprise, at a recipient system, receiving an incoming message from a message communicator and automatically analyzing message content to identify a keyword included in the message content. Thereafter, a predefined action associated with the keyword may be identified and the action may be performed. In an example embodiment, the predefined action may be a priority with the message, alerting an intended recipient of the message, routing the message to the intended recipient, paging the intended recipient, emailing the message to the intended recipient, sending an SMS message to the intended recipient, or the like. In an example embodiment, a user/owner of a mailbox may search a message database to identify incoming messages which includes the search term in the message content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Alan D. Gatzke, Labhesh Patel, Mukul Jain
  • Patent number: 8583978
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of distributing a multicast message in a wireless mesh network includes receiving a multicast message from a parent node of an intermediate node. The method includes transmitting the multicast message to child nodes of the intermediate node. The method includes storing the multicast message in a cache at the intermediate node. The method includes intercepting an acknowledgement message from each acknowledging child node within an acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes accessing information indicating a population of the child nodes to which the multicast message transmission was directed. The method includes comparing the acknowledging subset of the child nodes with the population of the child nodes. The method includes identifying a non-acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes retransmitting the multicast message to the non-acknowledging subset of the child nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Jean-Philippe Vasseur, Sandeep Jay Shetty
  • Patent number: 8570909
    Abstract: A method for providing an indication of a communication includes facilitating communications between a plurality of endpoints within each of a plurality of virtual talk groups. The method also includes monitoring the communications between the plurality of endpoints within each of the plurality of virtual talk groups. The method further includes, upon detecting a first communication within a first virtual talk group of the plurality of virtual talk groups, activating a first indicator. The first indicator indicates the detection of the first communication. The method also includes, upon the occurrence of a first deactivating event, deactivating the first indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Steven L. Christenson, Larry R. Metzger, Chanh N. Vuong, Deon J. Chatterton, Byron G. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8572170
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing a message to be left for an expected user of a network application are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes determining when a first user has requested access to a first application, and determining if there is a message for the first user when it is determined that the first user has requested access to the first application. The method also includes informing the first user of the message if it is determined that there is the message for the first user, as well as providing the first user with access to the first application after informing the first user of the message and after the first user acknowledges that the first user has been informed of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel, Joseph Khouri
  • Patent number: 8559972
    Abstract: A method for automatically identifying wireless signal quality of a region includes receiving signal quality information associated with wireless signals received by each of a plurality of mobile endpoints and receiving location information identifying locations of each of the plurality of mobile endpoints. The method also includes, based on the received signal quality information and the received location information, identifying a first region of an area, the first region having a first signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel
  • Patent number: 8553067
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for receiving multimedia from a plurality of endpoints participating in a conference session, including multimedia from an endpoint that was muted during the conference session. A muting state is detected at a particular endpoint during the conference session and the multimedia from the particular endpoint is recorded even though it is not forwarded and rendered to the other endpoints during the conference session. Information associated with the multimedia data for the conference session is stored to indicate the time period during which the muting state was detected at the particular endpoint. Techniques are also provided for granting access at a later time to the stored multimedia data for conference session, including access controls to the muted multimedia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Jochen Weppner, Shantanu Sarkar, Mukul Jain
  • Patent number: 8548156
    Abstract: A method for automatic call distribution includes receiving an incoming call for distribution through an automatic call distributor and identifying an agent to handle the incoming call. The method includes transitioning the agent to a transition state to reserve the agent for handling the incoming call. The transition state prevents the agent from participating in a lower priority call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Joseph F. Khouri, Gebran G. Chahrouri, Labhesh Patel
  • Patent number: 8547856
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: a status detector configured to determine a status associated with an input stream; a parameter controller configured to adjust a parameter in response to a change in the status; and a rendering controller configured to receive the input stream, and to provide a rendered stream in response to the input stream and the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Maximilian Spring, Shmuel Shaffer, Eric Cozzi, Steven Christenson
  • Publication number: 20130253732
    Abstract: A method for intelligently managing a transportation network is provided. The method includes providing a roadside apparatus to communicate with vehicle nodes associated with vehicles in a transportation network, the vehicle nodes being in a range of control of the roadside apparatus. Based on real-time location and direction information received from a particular vehicle node associated with a particular one of the vehicles, a specific neighboring roadside apparatus whose range of control is next to be entered by the particular vehicle is identified. Handover information is communicated to the specific neighboring roadside apparatus, and the particular vehicle node is communicatively connected to the specific roadside apparatus before disconnection from the roadside apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Labhesh Patel, Sanjeev Kumar, Shmuel Shaffer, Mukul Jain, Randall Paul Joseph Ethier
  • Patent number: 8538708
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining information relating to a steady state operation of a portion of an electrical network, the electrical network including a plurality of components, the information being obtained from the plurality of components while the portion of the electrical network is operating at steady state, wherein the information is obtained through a communications network that at least partially overlays the electrical network. The method also includes detecting a fault in the electrical network, isolating the location of the fault, and restoring the electrical network. The fault is detected by at least a first component of the plurality of components. Restoring the electrical network includes determining when the first component owns the fault. Determining when the first component owns the fault includes at least processing the information obtained from the plurality of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Navindra Yadav, Shmuel Shaffer, Nitin Nayar
  • Patent number: 8537743
    Abstract: A method is provided that accesses a priority and a multimedia stream to be transmitted. The priority then is embedded within the multimedia stream. The multimedia stream thereafter is transmitted. Another method is provided that receives the multimedia stream that includes the priority. Here, another priority is accessed and both priorities are compared. The control of multimedia stream transmissions to other communication devices is based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Prakash Barave, Shmuel Shaffer, Steven L. Christenson, Marcelo Oliveira
  • Patent number: 8539362
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for inserting an included message into an e-mail message, wherein the e-mail message is transferred through a unified messaging solution have been provided. In one embodiment, the unified messaging solution detects transmission of a voice mail message as the e-mail attachment. The voice mail message is received by a system that facilitates the transfer of the e-mail message. The system associates the included message with the voice mail message. The included message is inserted into the e-mail message. The system sends the e-mail message along with the included message and the attached voice mail message to an intended user. In a preferred embodiment, the included message is an advertising message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Labhesh Patel, Shmuel Shaffer, Alan Gatzke, Mukul Jain
  • Publication number: 20130230152
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an example method is provided for echo mitigation in a conference call. In this method, a test audio signal is transmitted to a conference endpoint and as a result, an echo associated with the transmittal of the test audio signal is received. One or more parameters of the echo are then identified and an echo mitigation process is selected from multiple echo mitigation processes based on the identified parameters. The selected echo mitigation process is then applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Frauenthal, Michael P. O'Brien, Michael Anthony Ramalho, Gary Alan Skrabutenas, Shmuel Shaffer, Steven L. Christenson
  • Patent number: 8526784
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for performing actions with media information using a digital video recorder is provided. In one embodiment, a user may mark a media segment in media using a digital video recorder. Characteristics for the media segment are then determined. A second media segment in second media may then be determined. For example, the second media segment may have similar characteristics to the first media segment. In one example, an advertisement that is similar to the advertisement marked as the first media segment may be determined. An action may then be performed with the second media segment. For example, the second media segment may be removed from the second media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mukul Jain, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8520676
    Abstract: A multicast message may be distributed by receiving, at a first node in a multicast network, a multicast message from a parent node of the first node. The multicast message is transmitted to child nodes of the first node in the multicast network. A population of the child nodes to which the multicast message was transmitted is accessed and acknowledgement messages which reveal child nodes that are among an acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes of the first node are received. Child nodes revealed by the received acknowledgement messages are compared with child nodes determined to be among the population of child nodes to which the multicast message is expected to be received. Based on results of the comparison, a compressed non-acknowledging subset is identified and transmitted to the parent node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Jean-Philippe Vasseur, Sandeep Shetty
  • Patent number: 8515027
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for recalling voicemail messages from remote voicemail systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for recalling a voicemail message from a target mailbox can include: accessing a voicemail system by a caller using a device; authenticating the caller using speaker verification; and deleting the voicemail message from the target mailbox. The target mailbox owner can be a member of the voicemail system, while the caller can be a non-member of that voicemail system. The device may be configured to support a telephony user interface (TUI), for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Mukul Jain, Sanjeev Kumar, Labhesh Patel
  • Patent number: 8503309
    Abstract: A parent node in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a computer network may detect congestion from its child nodes. In response, the parent node may determine particular child nodes to expel from the parent node based on the congestion, and notifies the expelled child nodes that they must detach from the parent node in response to dynamically detecting congestion (e.g., to find a new parent, excluding the parent node and optionally any nodes in the vicinity). In another embodiment, a child node receives a detach request packet from a current parent node that indicates that the child node is expelled from using the current parent node. In response, the child node triggers a new parent selection to select a new parent node that specifically excludes the current parent node (e.g., and optionally any nodes in the parent's vicinity).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Vasseur, Shmuel Shaffer