Patents by Inventor Stephen Opferman

Stephen Opferman 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).

  • Publication number: 20240086252
    Abstract: The present technology relates to improving computing services in a distributed network of remote computing resources, such as edge nodes in an edge compute network. In an aspect, the technology relates to a method that includes aggregating historical request data for a plurality of requests, wherein the aggregated historical request data a time of the request, a location of a device from which the request originated, and/or a type of service being requested. The method also incudes training a machine learning model based on the aggregated historical request data; generating, from the trained machine learning model, a prediction for a type of service to be request; identifying an edge node, from a plurality of edge nodes, based on a physical location of the edge node; and based on predicted service, allocating computing resources for the computing service on the identified edge node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Felipe Castro, Stephen Opferman, Kevin M. McBride
  • Patent number: 11930438
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services. In some embodiments, a computing system might receive, from one or more first sensors and one or more second sensors, first operational states of fixed broadband network nodes and second operational states of wireless network nodes, respectively. The computing system might analyze the received first and second operational states, might determine an optimal network pathway and/or an optimal network backhaul pathway, and might establish the optimal network pathway and/or the optimal network backhaul pathway, through a determined combination of fixed and wireless network nodes, thereby implementing the combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Schwengler, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11910056
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to content delivery using distributed ledger and AI-based transcoding technologies. In examples, content is received by a content distribution network (CDN) from a content source. The content may be in a lower-quality or different format than is distributed via the CDN. Accordingly, a transcoding model is identified and used to transcode the content. Multiple transcoding models may be used for different content parts to adapt to changing content types (e.g., a sports subpart, an advertising subpart, etc.). Transcoding may occur at edge nodes, such that the original content is transmitted within the CDN, thereby conserving resources. Additionally, transcoded content may be cached, such that the content need not be transcoded in response to every request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman
  • Publication number: 20240046278
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to the optical identification of telecommunications equipment. In examples, a user interacts with an application to capture image data relating to a device according to instructions presented to the user. The application may further generate metadata, such as user responses to one or more questions. The image data and/or metadata are evaluated using a machine learning model to generate an equipment classification for devices pictured therein. The data may also be used to generate an equipment configuration for the device, as well as an operational state (e.g., based on one or more indicators present on the device, log data, etc.). Accordingly, such information may be used to update a pre-existing inventory record for the device, or generate a new inventory record. In other examples, such information is used to generate one or more predicted issues and associated actions to troubleshoot the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Storey, Clyde David Cooper, Carlos Santiago, Ron Lewis, Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11895165
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for providing an in-line AI virtual assistant are provided. A system includes a session border controller coupled to an end-user device, and a session initiation protocol stack. The session initiation protocol stack includes a processor, and non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions executable by the processor to: receive, from the session border controller, a call invite request; provision, via the AI virtual assistant service, an AI virtual assistant instance in response to the call invite request; and join the AI virtual assistant instance to a call with the end-user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman, Felipe Castro, Jeff Leonard
  • Publication number: 20240022574
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing data and source validation for equipment output data and/or for equipment failure predict. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might retrieve and analyze the first data to determine whether the first data can be trusted. If so, the computing system might send the first data to the requesting device. If not, the computing system might send a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing a copy of the first data. In response to the blockchain system identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive the identified blockchain; might abstract the block containing the copy of the first data from the identified blockchain; might abstract the first data from the block; and might send the first data to the requesting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Kevin M. McBride, William O'Brien, JR., Stephen Opferman
  • Publication number: 20230394059
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing off-chain functionality for data contained in blocks of blockchain. In various embodiments, a computing system might assemble data extracted from each block of a first block(s) of a first instance of a blockchain in a generated first file(s), the assembled data being organized to mirror how the data is organized and stored in the first block(s); might store, in a secure database, the first file(s), the first file(s) being configured to be content-searchable, content-sortable, and/or content-filterable; might generate a second instance of the blockchain, which contains one or more second blocks, the one or more second blocks each containing the hash value of each corresponding first block(s), without containing the data contained in each block of the first block(s); and might store, in a distributed peer data storage system of the blockchain system, the generated second instance of the blockchain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Opferman, William R. Benassi, James P. Gately
  • Patent number: 11829800
    Abstract: The present technology relates to improving computing services in a distributed network of remote computing resources, such as edge nodes in an edge compute network. In an aspect, the technology relates to a method that includes aggregating historical request data for a plurality of requests, wherein the aggregated historical request data a time of the request, a location of a device from which the request originated, and/or a type of service being requested. The method also incudes training a machine learning model based on the aggregated historical request data; generating, from the trained machine learning model, a prediction for a type of service to be request; identifying an edge node, from a plurality of edge nodes, based on a physical location of the edge node; and based on predicted service, allocating computing resources for the computing service on the identified edge node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Felipe Castro, Stephen Opferman, Kevin M. McBride
  • Patent number: 11805465
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services. In some embodiments, a computing system might receive, from one or more first sensors and one or more second sensors, first operational states of fixed broadband network nodes and second operational states of wireless network nodes, respectively. The computing system might analyze the received first and second operational states, might determine an optimal network pathway and/or an optimal network backhaul pathway, and might establish the optimal network pathway and/or the optimal network backhaul pathway, through a determined combination of fixed and wireless network nodes, thereby implementing the combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Schwengler, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11800426
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services. In some embodiments, a computing system might receive, from one or more first sensors and one or more second sensors, first operational states of fixed broadband network nodes and second operational states of wireless network nodes, respectively. The computing system might analyze the received first and second operational states, might determine an optimal network pathway and/or an optimal network backhaul pathway, and might establish the optimal network pathway and/or the optimal network backhaul pathway, through a determined combination of fixed and wireless network nodes, thereby implementing the combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Schwengler, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11798005
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to the optical identification of telecommunications equipment. In examples, a user interacts with an application to capture image data relating to a device according to instructions presented to the user. The application may further generate metadata, such as user responses to one or more questions. The image data and/or metadata are evaluated using a machine learning model to generate an equipment classification for devices pictured therein. The data may also be used to generate an equipment configuration for the device, as well as an operational state (e.g., based on one or more indicators present on the device, log data, etc.). Accordingly, such information may be used to update a pre-existing inventory record for the device, or generate a new inventory record. In other examples, such information is used to generate one or more predicted issues and associated actions to troubleshoot the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Storey, Clyde David Cooper, Carlos Santiago, Ron Lewis, Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11800427
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services. In some embodiments, a computing system might receive, from one or more first sensors and one or more second sensors, first operational states of fixed broadband network nodes and second operational states of wireless network nodes, respectively. The computing system might analyze the received first and second operational states, might determine an optimal network pathway and/or an optimal network backhaul pathway, and might establish the optimal network pathway and/or the optimal network backhaul pathway, through a determined combination of fixed and wireless network nodes, thereby implementing the combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (“SON”) for provisioning of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Schwengler, Stephen Opferman
  • Publication number: 20230336565
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a telemetry hub, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a telemetry hub that obtains sensor data from a plurality of sources and that determines one or more first actions to take in response to receiving the first sensor data. In operation, a telemetry hub might receive first sensor data from one or more sensors. The telemetry hub may determine whether the first sensor data can be trusted and whether the first sensor data is valid. Based on a determination that the first sensor data can be trusted and is valid, the telemetry hub might analyze the first sensor data to determine one or more first actions to take. The telemetry hub might then implement the one or more first actions based at least in part on the analysis of the first sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. McBride, Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman, Hunter Rudd, James E. Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20230327947
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for network data plane management are provided. A system includes a host machine that includes a database, processor, and non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions executable by the processor to obtain, via the database, a network configuration, spawn a container according to the network configuration, wherein the container is configured, based on the network configuration, to be coupled to a network overlay via a network interface, receive, via the network interface, incoming data associated with the container, the incoming data having attached one or more attached network data attributes, and identify, via the database, the attached one or more network data attributes attached to the incoming data as one or more network data attributes of the network data model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Ronald A. Lewis, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11777951
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing data and source validation for equipment output data and/or for equipment failure predict. In various embodiments, in response to receiving a first request for first data that is output by first equipment, a computing system might retrieve and analyze the first data to determine whether the first data can be trusted. If so, the computing system might send the first data to the requesting device. If not, the computing system might send a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing a copy of the first data. In response to the blockchain system identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive the identified blockchain; might abstract the block containing the copy of the first data from the identified blockchain; might abstract the first data from the block; and might send the first data to the requesting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Kevin M. McBride, William O'Brien, Jr., Stephen Opferman
  • Publication number: 20230291746
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for utilizing blockchain to implement named data networking. In various embodiments, a computing system might determine whether a cache that is communicatively coupled to the computing system contains data that is responsive to a first request received from a user. If so, the computing system might retrieve and send (to the client device) data that is responsive to the received first request. If not, the computing system might send, to a blockchain system, a second request for identifying a blockchain containing a block containing data responsive to the received first request. In response to identifying such a blockchain, the computing system might receive a copy of the identified blockchain; might abstract, from the identified blockchain, the block containing the data responsive to the received first request; might abstract the data from the identified block; and might send the data to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. McBride, Stephen Opferman, Steven M. Casey, William O’Brien, JR.
  • Patent number: 11734296
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing off-chain functionality for data contained in blocks of blockchain. In various embodiments, a computing system might assemble data extracted from each block of a first block(s) of a first instance of a blockchain in a generated first file(s), the assembled data being organized to mirror how the data is organized and stored in the first block(s); might store, in a secure database, the first file(s), the first file(s) being configured to be content-searchable, content-sortable, and/or content-filterable; might generate a second instance of the blockchain, which contains one or more second blocks, the one or more second blocks each containing the hash value of each corresponding first block(s), without containing the data contained in each block of the first block(s); and might store, in a distributed peer data storage system of the blockchain system, the generated second instance of the blockchain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Opferman, William R. Benassi, James P. Gately
  • Publication number: 20230208891
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for providing an in-line AI virtual assistant are provided. A system includes a session border controller coupled to an end-user device, and a session initiation protocol stack. The session initiation protocol stack includes a processor, and non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions executable by the processor to: receive, from the session border controller, a call invite request; provision, via the AI virtual assistant service, an AI virtual assistant instance in response to the call invite request; and join the AI virtual assistant instance to a call with the end-user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman, Felipe Castro, Jeff Leonard
  • Patent number: 11683223
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for network data plane management are provided. A system includes a host machine that includes a database, processor, and non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions executable by the processor to obtain, via the database, a network configuration, spawn a container according to the network configuration, wherein the container is configured, based on the network configuration, to be coupled to a network overlay via a network interface, receive, via the network interface, incoming data associated with the container, the incoming data having attached one or more attached network data attributes, and identify, via the database, the attached one or more network data attributes attached to the incoming data as one or more network data attributes of the network data model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Ronald A. Lewis, Stephen Opferman
  • Patent number: 11683322
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing a telemetry hub, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a telemetry hub that obtains sensor data from a plurality of sources and that determines one or more first actions to take in response to receiving the first sensor data. In operation, a telemetry hub might receive first sensor data from one or more sensors. The telemetry hub may determine whether the first sensor data can be trusted and whether the first sensor data is valid. Based on a determination that the first sensor data can be trusted and is valid, the telemetry hub might analyze the first sensor data to determine one or more first actions to take. The telemetry hub might then implement the one or more first actions based at least in part on the analysis of the first sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. McBride, Steven M. Casey, Stephen Opferman, Hunter Rudd, James E. Sutherland