Patents by Inventor Wallace F. Smith

Wallace F. Smith 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: 9485352
    Abstract: A system and method for recording analog signals exchanged between a telephone device and a VoIP device, capturing packets exchanged between the VoIP device and an IP network, determining analog time values corresponding to analog characteristics of the analog signals, determining digital time values corresponding to digital characteristics of the packets, determining a common reference time for the analog time values and digital time values and determining a processing delay based on the analog time values and the digital time values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: AT & T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Ramsden, Wallace F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160014269
    Abstract: A system and method for recording analog signals exchanged between a telephone device and a VoIP device, capturing packets exchanged between the VoIP device and an IP network, determining analog time values corresponding to analog characteristics of the analog signals, determining digital time values corresponding to digital characteristics of the packets, determining a common reference time for the analog time values and digital time values and determining a processing delay based on the analog time values and the digital time values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: David RAMSDEN, Wallace F. SMITH
  • Patent number: 9160842
    Abstract: A system and method for recording analog signals exchanged between a telephone device and a VoIP device, capturing packets exchanged between the VoIP device and an IP network, determining analog time values corresponding to analog characteristics of the analog signals, determining digital time values corresponding to digital characteristics of the packets, determining a common reference time for the analog time values and digital time values and determining a processing delay based on the analog time values and the digital time values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP.
    Inventors: David Ramsden, Wallace F. Smith
  • Patent number: 9008326
    Abstract: The performance of an echo canceller is assessed using a) a test signal launched from originating test equipment and b) a simulated echo of the test signal launched from terminating test equipment. The launch of the simulated echo signal is timed in such a way that it arrives at the tandem echo canceller(s) at a particular point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal, at the tandem echo canceller(s), when the tandem echo canceller(s) is (are) not able to cancel the simulated echo signal. The latter thus arrives uncanceled at the target echo canceller. The launch of the simulated echo signal is further timed in such a way that it arrives at the target echo canceller at a point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal, at the target echo canceller, when the target echo canceller is able to cancel the simulated echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James H. James, Wallace F. Smith, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130322282
    Abstract: A system and method for recording analog signals exchanged between a telephone device and a VoIP device, capturing packets exchanged between the VoIP device and an IP network, determining analog time values corresponding to analog characteristics of the analog signals, determining digital time values corresponding to digital characteristics of the packets, determining a common reference time for the analog time values and digital time values and determining a processing delay based on the analog time values and the digital time values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: AT & T Intellectual Property I, LP.
    Inventors: David RAMSDEN, Wallace F. Smith
  • Patent number: 8503311
    Abstract: A system and method for recording analog signals exchanged between a telephone device and a VoIP device, capturing packets exchanged between the VoIP device and an IP network, determining analog time values corresponding to analog characteristics of the analog signals, determining digital time values corresponding to digital characteristics of the packets, determining a common reference time for the analog time values and digital time values and determining a processing delay based on the analog time values and the digital time values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: AT & T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Ramsden, Wallace F. Smith
  • Patent number: 8391126
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing echo cancellation are disclosed. For example, the method receives via an echo canceller a first audio signal directed towards an endpoint device, and adds an inserted signal to the first audio signal directed towards the endpoint device. The method determines if a second audio signal being received from the endpoint device comprises the inserted signal, and cancels at least a portion of the second audio signal that is associated with the first audio signal, if the inserted signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James James, David B. Ramsden, Wallace F. Smith
  • Patent number: 8295501
    Abstract: The performance of an echo canceller is assessed using a) a test signal launched from originating test equipment and b) a simulated echo of the test signal launched from terminating test equipment. The launch of the simulated echo signal is timed in such a way that it arrives at the tandem echo canceller(s) at a particular point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal, at the tandem echo canceller(s), when the tandem echo canceller(s) is (are) not able to cancel the simulated echo signal. The latter thus arrives uncanceled at the target echo canceller. The launch of the simulated echo signal is further timed in such a way that it arrives at the target echo canceller at a point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal, at the target echo canceller, when the target echo canceller is able to cancel the simulated echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James H James, Wallace F. Smith, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110149815
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing echo cancellation are disclosed. For example, the method receives via an echo canceller a first audio signal directed towards an endpoint device, and adds an inserted signal to the first audio signal directed towards the endpoint device. The method determines if a second audio signal being received from the endpoint device comprises the inserted signal, and cancels at least a portion of the second audio signal that is associated with the first audio signal, if the inserted signal is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: James James, David B. Ramsden, Wallace F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7899639
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an echo measurement device having a controller to transmit a test signal in a communication path which is looped back at an end point identified as having an echo problem. The test signal can be transmitted at a remote location from the end point. The test signal can be represented by a limited burst signal of one or more frequencies operating outside a range of an operating frequency of an echo canceller deactivation signal transmitted in the communication path. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP.
    Inventors: Wallace F. Smith, James Herbert James, David Beaumont Ramsden
  • Publication number: 20100150363
    Abstract: The performance of an echo canceller is assessed using a) a test signal launched from originating test equipment and b) a simulated echo of the test signal launched from terminating test equipment. The launch of the simulated echo signal is timed in such a way that it arrives at the tandem echo canceller(s) at a point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal thereat that the tandem echo canceller(s) is (are) not able to cancel the simulated echo signal. The latter thus arrives uncanceled at the target echo canceller. The launch of the simulated echo signal is further timed in such a way that it arrives at the target echo canceller at a point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal thereat that the target echo canceller IS able to cancel the simulated echo signal. As a result, any residual echo received at the originating test equipment is a measure of the performance of the target echo canceller exclusive of the performance of the tandem echo canceller(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: James H. James, Wallace F. Smith, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100142513
    Abstract: A system and method for recording analog signals exchanged between a telephone device and a VoIP device, capturing packets exchanged between the VoIP device and an IP network, determining analog time values corresponding to analog characteristics of the analog signals, determining digital time values corresponding to digital characteristics of the packets, determining a common reference time for the analog time values and digital time values and determining a processing delay based on the analog time values and the digital time values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: David Ramsden, Wallace F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7516033
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying echo sources in a communication path. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an echo measurement device (EMD) having a transmit module to transmit an echo canceller deactivation signal in a communication path of the communication system, wherein the echo canceller deactivation signal deactivates one or more echo cancellers in said communication path. The transmit module can also transmit a test signal in the communication path which is looped back at an end point identified as having an echo problem, wherein the test signal is transmitted at a remote location from the end point. The EMD can further include a detection module to detect one or more echo signals associated with the test signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Wallace F. Smith, James H. James, David B. Ramsden
  • Patent number: 7251213
    Abstract: A method of measuring echo path delay in a circuit having echo cancellers after enabling an echo signal to pass through the echo cancellers. The known time for a given echo canceller to disable is subtracted from the overall test signal duration. This quantity can be subtracted from the overall echo duration to compute the echo path delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Bing Chen, Wallace F. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7003098
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring the signal transmission time through a network link bounded by at least one echo canceller. The method generally includes the steps of determining a signal transmission time (tA) along a network path including the network link bounded by the echo canceller between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, transmitting a test signal from the first endpoint to the second endpoint through the network path, transmitting an echo signal which simulates the test signal from the second endpoint to the first endpoint through the network path, measuring a minimum time delay between transmission of the test signal and transmission of the echo signal which causes the echo canceller to cancel the echo signal and calculating the signal transmission time through the network link bounded by the echo canceller based on the measured minimum time delay and the determined network path signal transmission time (tA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Wallace F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040228473
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring the signal transmission time through a network link bounded by at least one echo canceller. The method generally includes the steps of determining a signal transmission time (tA) along a network path including the network link bounded by the echo canceller between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, transmitting a test signal from the first endpoint to the second endpoint through the network path, transmitting an echo signal which simulates the test signal from the second endpoint to the first endpoint through the network path, measuring a minimum time delay between transmission of the test signal and transmission of the echo signal which causes the echo canceller to cancel the echo signal and calculating the signal transmission time through the network link bounded by the echo canceller based on the measured minimum time delay and the determined network path signal transmission time (tA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: AT& T Corporation
    Inventor: Wallace F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040052220
    Abstract: A method of measuring echo path delay in a circuit having echo cancellers after enabling an echo signal to pass through the echo cancellers. The known time for a given echo canceller to disable is subtracted from the overall test signal duration. This quantity can be subtracted from the overall echo duration to compute the echo path delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Bing Chen, Wallace F. Smith