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).

  • Method and apparatus to process an incoming message
    Patent number: 8503624
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Alan D. Gatzke, Labhesh Patel, Mukul Jain
  • System for utilizing predictive energy consumption
    Patent number: 8494685
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a first time that is associated with a first demand amount for a resource. The method also includes providing the resource to a device such that the device changes an area temperature from a first temperature to approximately a second temperature that is reached at approximately the first time. The resource is withheld from the device when the second temperature is approximately reached at approximately the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shmuel Shaffer
  • System and method for providing data channel management in a network environment
    Patent number: 8495142
    Abstract: An example method can include establishing a session involving a first end user, the first end user is included in a virtual talk group, which includes at least one other end user. A media source is provided for the session. The method also includes initiating a request for a second end user to join the session, the second end user is added to the virtual talk group. A mobile device being used by the first end user controls which data from the media source is to be sent to the second user during the session. An internet protocol (IP) address associated with the media source is withheld from communications sent to the second user. In more detailed embodiments, a control channel can be established between the mobile device and a server, the control channel managing data being sent to end users in the virtual talk group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Amit Barave, Mukul Jain
  • Supporting communication among endpoints in a geographical area
    Patent number: 8494548
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request message from a requesting endpoint, where the request message requests a communication session corresponding to an area. An area-based group comprising one or more endpoints associated with the area is identified. The area-based group allows the endpoints to communicate with each other in the communication session. The requesting endpoint is added to the area-based group to allow the requesting endpoint to communicate with the one or more endpoints in the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Ramanathan T. Jagadeesan, Bich T. Nguyen, Gregory D. Pelton, Labhesh Patel
  • System and method for providing presence based trunking in a network environment
    Patent number: 8489134
    Abstract: A method is provided in one example implementation and the method includes interacting, via a first communication resource manager located in a first domain, with a second communication resource manager located in a second domain. The method further includes determining whether to establish a link for multicasting between users in the first domain and users in the second domain, and the link between the domains is established based on presence data of at least one user in the first domain and at least one user in the second domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zeeshan Khan, Keith Edmund O'Brien, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Method and system for recording automatic call distributor calls
    Patent number: 8488775
    Abstract: A method for recording automatic call distributor calls includes receiving from a caller a call for distribution to one of a plurality of agents and distributing the call to a first agent of the plurality of agents for handling. The method includes creating a call signature associated with the call for recording verification and recording communications of the call to a recording file. The method also includes embedding the call signature in the recording file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel, Robert T. Bell, Shantanu Sarkar
  • System and method for providing three dimensional imaging in a network environment
    Patent number: 8477175
    Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving data indicative of a personal position of an end user and receiving image data associated with an object. The image data can be captured by a first camera at a first angle and a second camera at a second angle. The method also includes synthesizing the image data in order to deliver a three-dimensional rendering of the object at a selected angle, which is based on the data indicative of the personal position of the end user. In more specific embodiments, the synthesizing is executed by a server configured to be coupled to a network. Video analytics can be used to determine the personal position of the end user. In other embodiments, the method includes determining an approximate time interval for the synthesizing of the image data and then delaying audio data based on the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Guido Jouret
  • Method and system for communicating media based on location of media source
    Patent number: 8472418
    Abstract: A method for communicating media based on location of media source includes receiving communications from a plurality of endpoints. Each communication comprises a media message and location information identifying a location of its transmitting endpoint. The method includes receiving a selection of a geographical area and comparing the location information of each communication with the selected geographical area. The method also includes presenting to a user each message received from each endpoint of the plurality of endpoints located within the selected geographical area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Shah Talukder, Kittur V. Nagesh, Douglas J. Hall, Larry R. Metzger, Yogesh Kalley
  • System and method for managing electric vehicle travel
    Patent number: 8457821
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a power management module configured to receive data associated with travel being proposed by an end user of an electric vehicle. The power management module is configured to suggest a starting time for the travel based on time of use (ToU) rates for electricity consumption and a current level of power in the electric vehicle. In more specific embodiments, the data associated with the travel includes a starting location, an ending location, and a proposed drive time. In other embodiments, the power management module is further configured to interface with a mapping tool in suggesting the starting time for the end user. The power management module can be configured to obtain the ToU rates from a utility, and the ToU rates are provided as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shmuel Shaffer
  • Negotiated parent joining in directed acyclic graphs (DAGS)
    Patent number: 8447849
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a node may request to join a parent node in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a computer network, and may notify the parent node of a load associated with the request, and whether the node has any other parent node options. The response received from the parent node may be either an acceptance or a denial (based on the load and other parent node options), where in the case of an acceptance, the node may join the parent node in the DAG. Alternatively, in response to a denial, in one embodiment, the node may perform load shedding to become acceptable to the parent node. In another embodiment, a node receiving a join request from a child node may determine an impact associated with allowing the child node (and its load) to join the receiving node in the DAG prior to returning an acceptance or denial, accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Jean-Philippe Vasseur, Sandeep Jay Shetty
  • Apparatus and method for allocating call resources during a conference call
    Patent number: 8442196
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating call resources during a conference call are disclosed. A conference call between a plurality of clients is conducted on a first conference call. The clients communicate media streams to the first conference call for mixing. A media gateway identifies a second call resource to conduct the conference call and mix the media streams, and transfers the conference call from the first call resource to the second call resource without suspending a plurality of mixed media streams received by the clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Shantanu Sarkar
  • Method and system for transferring an automatic call distributor call
    Patent number: 8442208
    Abstract: A method for transferring an automatic call distributor call includes receiving from a caller a call for distribution to one of a plurality of agents and distributing the call to a first agent of the plurality of agents for handling. The method includes receiving a transfer request to transfer the call to a supervisor and selecting an available supervisor to receive the call. The available supervisor comprises a supervisor not in an uninterruptible state. The method includes transferring the call to the selected available supervisor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Balaji Sundara, Labhesh Patel, Denise G. Caballero-McCann
  • System and Method for Computer Originated Audio File Transmission
    Publication number: 20130114621
    Abstract: A system and method for computer originated audio file transmission includes a server having a communications module operable to communicate with a terminal unit. The server may also include a storage module operable to store at least one file. A processor may be provided to separate the file into a plurality of packets. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is operable to send an initial burst of packets to the terminal unit, wherein the initial burst of packets includes at least two of the plurality of packets. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is further operable to send additional packets of the plurality of packets at a predetermined rate, until each of the plurality of packets has been sent to the terminal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel
  • Techniques for integrating instant messaging with telephonic communication
    Patent number: 8438235
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and techniques for escalating an instant messaging (IM) session between two or more users to an audio session so that a communication device (by one or more users) that will optimize the audio session is selectively and intelligently utilized. In one embodiment, if an IP (Internet Protocol) phone is connected to the computer on which an IM session is being escalated, the IP telephone may be used instead of the computer device's own soft telephone so as to maximize audio clarity and quality. In another embodiment, a user's cell phone may be utilized for a mobile user who is using a laptop that is not coupled to an IP telephone or who is communicating from a hotel room in which a telephone call is typically more expensive than a cell phone call. Numerous embodiments for optimizing such audio sessions are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel, Shmuel Shaffer, Cullen F. Jennings
  • System for disambiguating voice collisions
    Patent number: 8432834
    Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques for processing voice collisions are provided. A voice collision of two or more voice streams associated with two or more speakers is determined. The voice collision of the two or more voice streams is dynamically disambiguated. The two or more voice streams are then rendered such that the voice collision is disambiguated. The voice collision may be disambiguated using spatial relocation, buffering, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Steven Christenson
  • Mobile device safety
    Patent number: 8432275
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an automatic warning system that warns users of personal mobile devices (such as cellular telephones and portable music players) when they enter or are near the threshold of a hazardous area while using their mobile device. In an example embodiment, the mobile device is automatically paused upon entering a street and resumes when the user has crossed the street. In a cellular telephone embodiment, calls are automatically put on hold upon entering the hazardous area, optionally the other parties to the call are informed of the reason for the hold, and the call is automatically resumed when all parties have left the hazardous area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Labhesh Patel, Sanjeev Kumar, Shmuel Shaffer, Mukul Jain
  • System and method for controlling computer originated audio file transmission
    Patent number: 8429211
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling computer originated audio file transmission includes a server having a communications module operable to communicate with a terminal unit over a path of communication. The server may also include a storage module operable to store at least one file. A processor may be provided to separate the file into a plurality of packets. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is operable to establish a control channel between the server and the terminal unit. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the control channel may include an out of band channel with regard to the path of communication. Commands may be transmitted over the control channel using the VoIP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel
  • Echo mitigation in a conference call
    Patent number: 8428247
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Frauenthal, Michael P. O'Brien, Michael A. Ramalho, Gary A. Skrabutenas, Shmuel Shaffer, Steven L. Christenson
  • COMMUNICATION NETWORK TOPOLOGY MANAGEMENT BASED ON AN ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC GRID TOPOLOGY
    Publication number: 20130091258
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer determines a grid topology of an electric grid based on one or more electric grid configuration description files, and also determines a network topology of a computer network used to provide communication to grid devices of the electric grid. By assessing whether the network topology is configured to meet one or more communication requirements of the grid topology (e.g., initially and/or through monitoring for grid changes), the computer may trigger a corrective action (e.g., alarm or reconfiguration) in response to the network topology not being configured to meet the one or more communication requirements of the grid topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Jun Zha
  • Affecting node association through load partitioning
    Patent number: 8406153
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a node may request to join a parent node in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a computer network, and may also notify the parent node of a load associated with the request and whether the node has any other parent node options. The requesting node may then receive a response from the parent node that is either an acceptance or a denial. While the node may join the parent node in response to an acceptance, if a denial is received, the node may divide the load into first and second portions, and may re-request to join the parent node with the load of the first portion. In this manner, by partitioning the load, a load balancing mode of operation across multiple is parents in a DAG is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Vasseur, Shmuel Shaffer, Sandeep Shetty