Patents Issued in July 24, 2007
  • Patent number: 7248681
    Abstract: Real time detection of the fraudulent use of a telecommunications network is accomplished by analyzing data for each call that is occurring within the network. A signal protocol receiver is used to collect signaling protocol for each call that is occurring within the network. The Signaling protocol data is collected, decoded and formatted into call information records (CIRs). The CIRs contain various operator specified parameters for each call that is occurring within the network. The CIRs are compared to operator defined thresholds. If any of the CIRs exceeds the thresholds, an alert is generated. The alerts are stored in a database where the operator can analyze them and take the appropriate corresponding action to resolve the alert. The alerts and the CIRs are archived in a database so that trends of fraudulent use can be detected and prevented. This method of fraud detection provides for the effective analyzation of every call that is occurring within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
    Inventors: Judy Lynn Betts, Michael Joseph Hatlak, Michael Joseph McGuire
  • Patent number: 7248682
    Abstract: A dial string is received from a session application that interfaces with a packet-based or circuit-switched system such as VoIP, PSTN, PBX, etc. Regular expression match patterns are compared with the input dial string. The dial plan mapper identifies one of the match patterns providing a longest match with the dial string and outputs call configuration information associated with the identified match pattern. The configuration information contains call parameters necessary for establishing the telephone call with the call destination. The configuration information format allows the dial plan mapper to specify any one of the wide variety of different session protocols that may be associated with a particular call destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David P. Oran
  • Patent number: 7248683
    Abstract: One or more elements in a telecommunications network (10, 10? and 10?) receive a call hold-initiating message when a first party places a second party to the call on hold, and in doing so, triggers a call hold event in the network. In response to the call hold-initiating message, the network element may take one or more actions, including releasing one or more network resources and/or providing a service to the second party during the period the call remains on hold. Upon resumption of the call, the network will re-acquire the resources that had been previously released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Frederick Murray Burg, Mark Jeffrey Foladare, Tung-Hai Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7248684
    Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network (102) and a multimedia server (104) operably coupled to the network. The multimedia server (104) is adapted to manage a multimedia conference and includes a memory (103) for storing selectable portions of the multimedia conference. The system further includes one or more client devices (122) operably coupled to the network and adapted to set recording cues for choosing portions of said multimedia conference for playback. The multimedia server or clients may include a voice recognition system (216) for transcribing audio portions of the conference. The voice recognition system may further be used to detect instances of the recording cues. In addition, in certain embodiments, the system provides for a moderator or participants to the conference an ability to adjust relevance probabilities generated upon recognition of the cues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Rami Caspi, William J. Beyda
  • Patent number: 7248685
    Abstract: Three-way call detection is an important component of correctional facility telephone equipment because it helps restrict calling access by certain persons to certain restricted telephone numbers. Various three-way call detection methods exist, but all of these implementations suffer from one major limitation-the detection accuracy is not as high as is desired by the industry. The present invention improves detection accuracy, using “steganography.” Steganography involves hiding one set of data or signals within another signal or carrier in such a way that its presence is typically imperceptible to the human ear, and potential even the originator of the carrier signal. The present invention involves a device that connects to a telephone, either at the line or the handset interfaces, and produces a known signal that is steganographically hidden within the user's normal voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Inmate Telephone, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Martin
  • Patent number: 7248686
    Abstract: A system and method of routing calls made to a called party Universal Access Phone Number (UAPN) in a telecommunications network is provided. The method includes determining the time the call is made, determining the day the call is made, selecting a time/day-phone number for a destination phone number based on the time the call is made and the day the call is made, and routing the call to the called party terminal using the destination phone number. The system selects a time/day-phone number for a destination phone number based on the time the call is made and the day the call is made, and routes the call to the called party terminal using the destination phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Mahajan, Deborah Lewandowski Barclay, David S. Benco, Thomas Lee McRoberts, Raymond Leroy Ruggerio
  • Patent number: 7248687
    Abstract: A method and system for outbound dialing of contacts and collecting call information in which one or more customers are allowed to submit records from the customers' mainframes for a plurality of contacts to be called for the customers via a dialing mode of a hosted software system for sending event-driven alert messages. Based on the records submitted by the customers, the dialing mode of the hosted software system initiates calls to the contacts, and when and if a right-party contact is reached for a particular customer, the call is delivered from the dialing mode to an agent at one of a plurality of call centers of the particular customer according to predefined agent selection rules for outbound call routing. In addition, data regarding the call to the contact is collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ambrose, Rich Clow, Rich Feight, Jim L. Muir
  • Patent number: 7248688
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling a virtual physician office (VPO) that uses a network-based physician practice application and leverages the assets of a shared, communications network of legacy systems. A data connection is established with a rule-based application dataserver of a telecommunications network facility to control access, sharing, notification, security, and/or management of electronic healthcare communications. Typically, the rule-based application dataserver is associated with a central office (“CO”), a mobile telephone switching center (“MTSO”), or a combination CO/MTSO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Wellons, Diane Brown Turcan
  • Patent number: 7248689
    Abstract: This invention provides a display device that can be updated via a communications network. In an improved version the advertising material used to update the device depends upon a called number dialled on a telephone which is associated with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: British Telecommunications, public limited company
    Inventor: Richard C Wilson
  • Patent number: 7248690
    Abstract: A voice signal clipping circuit comprising, an amplifier which amplifies an input voice signal to a permissible level and a clipper which clips an amplitude component in excess of the permissible level from an output signal from the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Uto, Toshiaki Takahashi, Takeshi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7248691
    Abstract: A hashing structure including multiple sub-hashes is used to determine whether an input value matches one or more of multiple target values. These values can be of any form, such as security identifiers in an access control system. To make the determination, a hash key is obtained from the input value and multiple sub-hash indexes (one for each of the multiple sub-hashes) are generated based on the key. Values are identified from the multiple sub-hashes by indexing into the sub-hashes using respective ones of the sub-hash indexes. These values are then combined to generate a resultant hash value. Each of the multiple target values corresponds to one of multiple portions of the resultant hash value. If the portion corresponding to one of the target values has a particular value, then that target value is a likely match and is compared to the input value to determine if indeed the two match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bhalchandra S. Pandit, Robert P. Reichel, Jeffrey B. Hamblin, Kedarnath A. Dubhashi
  • Patent number: 7248692
    Abstract: In a method of determining a pair of numbers comprising a first number and a second number, in which the first number may be a first key and the second number may be a second key of an encryption system and the second number is the multiplicative inverse with respect to a modulus of the first number, said modulus being equal to the product of a first prime number and a second prime number, the first number is selected first. Thereafter, a first sub-number for the second number is computed as a multiplicative inverse of the first number with respect to a first sub-modulus that is equal to the first prime number minus 1 divided by the greatest common divisor of the first prime number minus 1 and the second prime number minus 1. Then, a second sub-number for the second number is computed as multiplicative inverse of the first number with respect to a second sub-modulus that is equal to the second prime number minus 1, with said first sub-modulus and said second sub-modulus being relatively prime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Seifert
  • Patent number: 7248693
    Abstract: An Internet-based printing system allows for the distribution and printing of documents and images in a secure, controlled manner. The system includes a secure printer that receives, decrypts and prints documents supplied by a document server. Security of the system is realized by an aggregate of a secure communication protocol, smart card technology and the computational infeasibility of breaking a public key cryptographic system. The system may be used for electronic commerce, in which copies are made on a “pay-per-print” basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Tretter, Thomas D. Kite, Qian Lin, Hugh P. Nguyen, Ping Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 7248694
    Abstract: Methods for providing a receiver subsystem with access via a clearing house subsystem to a content item broadcast from a content provider subsystem. A method includes generating the request for access in the receiver subsystem, and employs a content key, a blocking nonce, a public key of a public-private key pair, a public key encrypted content key, and a double encrypted content key. The method may also include, in the receiver subsystem, encrypting the request for access based on the private key of the public-private key pair. Provides apparatus for providing access to a broadcast content item. A receiver subsystem is arranged to generate the request for access. In an example embodiment the receiver subsystem is arranged to encrypt the request for access based on the private key of the public-private key pair. Provides a receiver subsystem, a content provider subsystem, and a clearing house subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk Husemann, Michael Nidd
  • Patent number: 7248695
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting quantum and classical signals over an optical network are disclosed, wherein the quantum signal wavelength either falls within the classical signal wavelength band, or is very close to one of the classical signal wavelengths. The system includes a deep-notch optical filter with a blocking bandwidth that includes the quantum signal wavelength but not any of the classical signal wavelengths. The deep-notch optical filtering is applied to the classical signals prior to their being multiplexed with the quantum signals to prevent noise generated by the classical signals from adversely affecting transmission of quantum signals in the transmission optical fiber. Narrow-band filtering is also applied to the quantum signals prior to their detection in order to substantially exclude spurious non-quantum-signal wavelengths that arise from non-linear effects in the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: MagiQ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Craig Beal, Michael J. LaGasse
  • Patent number: 7248696
    Abstract: The present invention provides data encryption for a differential bus employing transitional coding. The present invention maps, encodes and encrypts input data as a logic status for a given bus transfer cycle. The mapping, encoding and encrypting of the input data changes from bus transfer cycle to bus transfer cycle. The mapping, encoding and encrypting is a function of a pseudo-random number. A logic status is differentially transmitted from a bus transmitter to a bus receiver, to be mapped, decrypted and decoded as the corresponding output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David John Craft, Charles Ray Johns
  • Patent number: 7248697
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for scrambling and descrambling data wordwise in an optical disk system are provided. The apparatus includes a bit storing means which stores at least 15 bits, and a calculating means which calculates first through fifteenth bits of the bit storing means in parallel during one clock cycle and inputs the results of the calculation back into the bit storing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Woong Kim, Soo-Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 7248698
    Abstract: A system for generating pseudorandom codes using a register which contains an identification of the code tree leg of the desired code and a counter which outputs a successive binary sequence. The output from the counter is bit-by-bit ANDed with the output of the register, and those outputs are XORed together to output a single bit. As the counter is sequenced, each count results in a different bit that is output from the XOR gate, resulting in the desired code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Edward L. Hepler
  • Patent number: 7248699
    Abstract: Prior methods of encryption can be broken by sufficiently powerful decryption techniques. The present invention provides a method of making decryption practically extremely difficult. It involves having synchronized processors continuously calculate a defined pseudo-random number and communicate the message by adding it to the sequentially continuously calculated number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Blair Yochim
  • Patent number: 7248700
    Abstract: In a device for calculating a result of a modular exponentiation, the Chinese Residue Theorem (CRT) is used, wherein two auxiliary exponentiations are calculated using two auxiliary exponents and two sub-moduli. In order to improve the safety of the RSA CRT calculations against cryptographic attacks, a randomization of the auxiliary exponents and/or a change of the sub-moduli are performed. Thus, there is a safe RSA decryption and RSA encryption, respectively, by means of the calculating time efficient Chinese Residue Theorem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Seifert, Joachim Velten
  • Patent number: 7248701
    Abstract: A method of acoustically rendering a virtual environment is described. The method includes receiving a subset of polygons derived for an acoustic display from a set of polygons generated for a graphical display. Acoustic reflections are determined from a sound source that bounce off of polygons in the subset of polygons to a listener position in the virtual environment. It is determined whether a polygon in the subset of polygons causes an occlusion of the sound source at the listener position, and a play list of sounds is generated based on the reflections and occlusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Creative Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan Gerrard, Nam Do
  • Patent number: 7248702
    Abstract: A system for enhancing sound quality comprising a filter that square roots the instantaneous amplitude of frequencies in an input signal for generating artificial harmonics corresponding to said frequencies. The system can comprise an automatic level control that momentarily boosts the amplitude of artificially generated harmonics to emphasize attack transients occuring within the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas Nelson Packard
  • Patent number: 7248703
    Abstract: A system (400) for reducing non-acoustic noise includes a primary sensor (420), at least one secondary sensor (410), a filter (415), and a summation unit (425). The primary sensor (420) measures pressure and produces a primary pressure signal. The at least one secondary sensor (410) measures pressure and produce a secondary pressure signal. The filter (415) processes the secondary pressure signal to produce a filtered pressure signal. The summation unit (425) subtracts the filtered pressure signal from the primary pressure signal to reduce non-acoustic noise in the primary pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: BBN Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Heine, Istvan L. Ver, William B. Coney, Robert D. Preuss
  • Patent number: 7248704
    Abstract: The device for the active sound attenuation of a sound signal propagated in a duct comprises: at least first sensor means for a first sound signal, attenuation actuating means supplying an active sound attenuation signal in response to a selected control signal, an electronic control means generating the active sound attenuation signal for the actuating means. The first sensor means and the actuating means are arranged completely inside the duct opposite one another and at a selected distance from the casing of the duct, the axis of symmetry of the radiation of the actuating means and the axis of symmetry of the first sensor means are substantially parallel to the direction of propagation of the sound signal in the duct, and the actuating means are arranged upstream of the first sensor means in the direction of propagation of the sound signal in the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Technofirst, Aldes Aeraulique
    Inventors: Christian Carme, Virginie Delemotte, Pierre Chaffois, Patrick Damizet
  • Patent number: 7248705
    Abstract: A headphone set has a pair of headphone assemblies for engagement over the ears, each with a cushion and an active noise reduction circuit for reducing noise. A sound conditioning circuit stores various conditioning sounds for the user and an external sound source amplifier in the set is for connection to an external source of sound for supplying sound from the external source to the user. A power supply powers the set and switches are provided for selecting between modes of operation for supplying no sound to the user with no active noise reduction, for supplying no sound to the user with active noise reduction, for supplying the at least one conditioning sound to the user and for supplying sound from the external sound source to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Van Hauser LLC
    Inventor: Steven Mishan
  • Patent number: 7248706
    Abstract: An audio-signal detecting device to be disposed in a user's earmuffs for protecting his eardrums against noise of high-decibel level is comprised of a receiving unit, a first audio-signal amplifying unit, a second audio-signal amplifying unit, a peak-detecting and inverting unit, a first amplifying unit, a peak-detecting unit, a first switch, a delay unit, a second amplifying unit, a second switch, a third switch, an adjusting unit, a third audio-signal amplifying unit, and an output unit. In keeping communicable with outside world, when a noise greater than a predetermined decibel level is detected, this device is supposed to attenuate or reject it temporarily, then, after an RC-constant time period, recover to communicate automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Ching Kuo Chuang
  • Patent number: 7248707
    Abstract: A plug detection circuit. The detected circuit is disposed in an electronics device with an earphone jack, accepting plugs with a plurality of conductive rings. The detection circuit has a plurality of pins, wherein a first pin detects, and outputs a first logic potential, and a second pin detects the potentials at the conductive rings and outputs a second logic potential. The detection circuit determines the type of earphone connected to the earphone jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Chun Peng, Ching-Sung Ho, Su-Hong Tseng, Hsi-Cheng Yeh
  • Patent number: 7248708
    Abstract: An improved noise canceling microphone is provided including robust design features and advanced noise control and speech discrimination convergence characteristics. Two adaptive controllers are used to ensure robust performance in quickly changing acoustic environments ensuring an acceptable minimum performance characteristic. Additionally, a new real-time spectral estimation procedure is applied to a noise canceling communications microphone platform that permits continued and optimal adaptation of non-voice bandwidth frequencies during speech transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 7248709
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the dynamic volume control, an indication that a user desires to input oral data to a system through one or more microphones of the system is received. In response to receipt of the indication, a volume level for audible signals output by one or more speakers of the system is automatically adjusted. In accordance with another aspect of the dynamic volume control, an indication that a communications source is about to output data through one or more speakers of a system is received. In response to receipt of the indication, a volume level for audible signals output by the one or more speakers is automatically adjusted based at least in part on a current volume setting. The volume level for the audible signals can be determined based on one or more of a variety of different parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Russell Falcon
  • Patent number: 7248710
    Abstract: A method is described to operate a hearing device with an input transducer (1), a signal processing unit (2) and an output transducer (4). The method comprises the steps of converting an acoustic input signal into a converted input signal, processing the converted input signal in a main signal path in order to obtain a main output signal, and supplying the main output signal to an output transducer. By processing the converted input signal in a side signal path to obtain a side path output signal, and by superimposing the side path output signal on the main output signal, wherein a group delay of a signal traveling through the side signal path is smaller than a group delay of a signal traveling through the main signal path, the localization problems are eliminated. At the same time, the hearing device according to the present invention can still have a very high performance. In short terms, a “zero-delay-high-performance” hearing device has been created by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Patent number: 7248711
    Abstract: A method for frequency transposition in a communication device Or a hearing device, respectively, is disclosed by transforming an acoustical signal into an electrical signal (s) and by transforming the electrical signal from time domain into frequency domain to obtain a spectrum (S). A frequency transposition is being applied to the spectrum (S) in order to obtain a transposed spectrum (S?), whereby the frequency transposition is being defined by a nonlinear frequency transposition function. Thereby, it is possible to transpose lower frequencies almost linearly, while higher frequencies are transposed more strongly. As a result thereof, harmonic relationships are not distorted in the lower frequency range, and at the same time, higher frequencies can be moved to a lower frequency range, namely to an audible frequency range of the hearing impaired person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro, Olegs Timms, Adam Hersbach, Hugh McDermott, Evert Dijkstra
  • Patent number: 7248712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a base plate for the reception of at least one electronic module, whereby the electronic module is insertable and connectable through an opening or slot respectively within the base plate into said base plate. Thereby a part of the electronic module remains accessible from the insertion side or protrudes to the outside. The base plate preferably consists of recesses in the area of the opening according the cross-section shape of the electronic module and in the area of the recesses guiding elements are provided. Those guiding elements are configured such as the electronic module in its vertical end position in relation to the base plate is laterally insertable into the recess with respect to the opening. Such base plates will advantageously be used for hearing aids or hearing devices respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Bruno Gabathuler
  • Patent number: 7248713
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a microphone for providing an electrical signal representative of a received acoustic signal, a means for filtering the electrical signal and a means for automatic switching. Upon detecting a presence of a magnetic field, the means for automatic switching enables the means for filtering to modify a frequency response of the hearing aid to boost a low frequency gain and reduce a high frequency gain. Such filtering can be used with or without a telecoil. A hearing aid including a telecoil is configured with a preamplifier, a inductive element, and a switch control integrated onto a single common circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Micro Bar Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Bren, Lawrence T. Hagen, Randall W. Roberts, Timothy S. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7248714
    Abstract: The micro-speaker includes a driver unit having a housing, a magnet disposed within the housing forming a radial gap between the magnet and the circumferential walls of the housing, and a magnetic plate disposed on the magnet, a vibration system having a diaphragm and a voice coil where the vibration system is fixed to the drive unit and the voice coil protrudes into the radial gap, and a volatile magnetic fluid in the radial gap about the voice coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ferrotec Corporation
    Inventor: Shiro Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7248715
    Abstract: A digital watermark is embedded through varying pit locations on a data side of a CD, SACD or DVD. In one embodiment, a pattern of pits or data indentations forms a visual design on the data side. A watermark is embedded by slightly varying various pit locations within the visual design. In another embodiment, the varied pit locations are imperceptible or nearly imperceptible to human observation. The digital watermark is used as a counterfeit deterrent and as an identifier. Once extracted, the identifier is used to link to related content via the internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Levy
  • Patent number: 7248716
    Abstract: An imaging system, methodology, and various applications are provided to facilitate optical imaging performance. The system includes a sensor having one or more receptors and an image transfer medium to scale the sensor and receptors in accordance with resolvable characteristics of the medium. A computer, memory, and/or display associated with the sensor provides storage and/or display of information relating to output from the receptors to produce and/or process an image, wherein a plurality of illumination sources can also be utilized in conjunction with the image transfer medium. The image transfer medium can be configured as a k-space filter that correlates a pitch associated with the receptors to a diffraction-limited spot associated with the image transfer medium, wherein the pitch can be unit-mapped to about the size of the diffraction-limited spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Palantyr Research, LLC, Angkor Technology, LLP
    Inventors: Howard Fein, Andrew G. Cartlidge
  • Patent number: 7248717
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide security for audio or image content are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving audio or image content and steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the audio or image content. The auxiliary information carries or links to permitted usage rights that are associated with the audio or image content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 7248718
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a passing vehicle is disclosed. A video sequence comprising a plurality of image frames is received. Image intensity is measured and image motion is estimated in each image frame. A hypothesis model describing background dynamics is formulated. The measured image intensity and motion estimation is used to determine if the background dynamics has been violated in a given image frame. If the background dynamics has been violated, motion coherency is used to determine whether the violation of the background dynamics is caused by a passing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Corporate Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorin Comaniciu, Ying Zhu, Martin Pellkofer, Thorsten Köhler
  • Patent number: 7248719
    Abstract: The invention as described provides a method and system for tokenless authorization of commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer system. The method comprises the steps of registering a buyer, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account. The method also includes a seller registration step, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account. In a proposal step, the seller offers a proposed commercial transaction to the buyer usually comprising price information. If the buyer accepts the seller's proposal, in an acceptance step, the buyer signals his/her acceptance by adding to the proposed commercial transaction the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample which is obtained from the buyer's person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Indivos Corporation
    Inventors: Ned Hoffman, David Ferrin Pare, Jr., Jonathan Alexander Lee
  • Patent number: 7248720
    Abstract: A method and system generates correlated biometric information by capturing an image of a retinal vessel pattern and simultaneously capturing an image of an iris minutia pattern. Retinal biometric data and iris biometric data are generated from the images. The retinal biometric data and the iris biometric data are then combined or linked to maintain the correlation between the two biometrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Retica Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Muller, Gregory L. Heacock, David B. Usher
  • Patent number: 7248721
    Abstract: A facial image identifying apparatus checks a facial image of a user captured by an image capturing unit such as a camera or the like against facial images of registered users for thereby identifying the user. When the facial image identifying apparatus starts to detect a facial image of an examinee user, it determines whether a situation of the image captured by the image capturing unit is appropriate to detect the facial image. If the situation is judged as being inappropriate, then information representing that the situation is inappropriate is presented to the examinee user. Based on the presented information, the examinee user can make an action to improve the situation of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Sato, Junichi Funada
  • Patent number: 7248722
    Abstract: By employing template matching using a collation image which is obtained by using a proper technique to binarize an input digital image for fingerprint identification, and a plurality of templates which are recorded beforehand, a fingerprint identification apparatus and method determine whether identity is established between the collation image and each of the recorded images from which recorded templates are extracted. Instead of checking positional relationships among all addresses having high degrees of matching detected for each template, positional relationship checking is performed between addresses detected about adjacent templates. This can greatly reduce the number of combinations for matching, and enables rapid processing. The fingerprint identification apparatus and method are resistant to a change in finger shape since they perform processing for physically close templates, compared with the case of performing processing for separate templates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Wada
  • Patent number: 7248723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of correcting inhomogeneities in MR perfusion images of the myocardium of a patient, which perfusion images relate time-sequentially to a preliminary phase which precedes the administration of a contrast medium and to an examination phase which succeeds the administration of the contrast medium, the perfusion images from the examination phase being corrected, in a correction step, for a detected intensity variation of the perfusion images from the preliminary phase, the perfusion images from the preliminary phase being transformed, prior to the correction step, in such a manner that pixels or groups of pixels thereof register with corresponding pixels or groups of pixels of the perfusion images from the examination phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Marcel Breeuwer
  • Patent number: 7248724
    Abstract: A method of quantifying the extent of erythema around a wound of a patient is disclosed. An image (200) is captured that includes the wound, the erythema and surrounding skin. A border of the wound is identified (step 232) and a distance transform is performed (step 234) on an area of the image between the wound border and a boundary of the image to determine bands of pixels (226, 228, 230), wherein the pixels within each band are equidistant from the wound border. A representative value such as average brightness is calculated for each band (step 238), and a threshold level is defined relative to the representative value of the surrounding skin (step 240). The extent of the erythema is then calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Polartechnics Limited
    Inventor: Alexander Gutenev
  • Patent number: 7248725
    Abstract: A method of analyzing an ultrasound image of a target volume having therein at least two types of substances is disclosed. The method comprises: dividing a region-of-interest of the image to a set of mini-segments. The method further comprises, for each mini-segment, calculating at least two representative intensity values, respectively representing the at least two types of substances. The method further comprises applying attenuation corrections to each representative intensity value of at least a subset of the set of mini-segments, so as to map the region-of-interest according to the at least two types of substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ramot At Tel Avia University Ltd.
    Inventors: Gil Zwirn, Solange Akselrod
  • Patent number: 7248726
    Abstract: Radiation image signals representing radiation images of a single object, which have been formed with several kinds of radiation having different energy distributions, are obtained. Energy subtraction processing is performed in accordance with predetermined parameters and on radiation image signal components, which represent corresponding pixels in the radiation images, and a desired tissue pattern embedded in the radiation images is thereby extracted or enhanced. A parameter, which concerns an image density shift quantity over an entire area of an energy subtraction image obtained from the energy subtraction processing, is calculated in accordance with the other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Sasada
  • Patent number: 7248727
    Abstract: A region of interest is selected in an input image, such as a digital or analog image form a mammography apparatus. Display parameters for the input image or a part thereof are determined as a function of the region of interest. The image or a part thereof is displayed using the determined parameters. Choosing display parameters as a function of the region of interest optimizes the display of the possible region of interest without any adjustment by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Elisabeth Soubelet, Serge Muller, Andreas Rick
  • Patent number: 7248728
    Abstract: In an abnormal shadow detecting system, a mammary gland distribution map generating system generates a mammary gland distribution map of each of left and right breasts by dividing an image of each of the left and right breasts into a plurality of ranges according to the density of the image on the basis of image data representing the image, and an extracting system extracts a bilaterally asymmetric range by comparing the ranges of the mammary gland distribution map for one of the left and right breasts with those of the mammary gland distribution map for the other breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Takeo
  • Patent number: 7248729
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method capable of automatically performing the blackening processing of a blank area and/or a scattering area even in a mammograph obtained by radiation imaging. The image processing apparatus includes: a profile data calculating unit for receiving image data obtained by imaging an object to calculate pieces of profile data corresponding to change of brightness among a plurality of pixels; a binarizing unit for binarizing each of the piece of profile data obtained by the profile data calculating unit; a convex closure processing portion for performing convex closure processing on the pieces of profile data binarized by the binarizing unit to extract an outermost profile; and blackening processing means for performing blackening processing the received image data to reduce brightness of pixels in an area out of the outermost profile extracted by the convex closure processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Moyo Sugita
  • Patent number: 7248730
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to discriminate the genuineness of a certified paper by exposing the paper to a light source and transporting the paper through an environment of an alternating-current electromagnetic field. Light detectors detect the light reflected from the paper and the light emitted by a fluorescent ink on the paper and output a waveform corresponding to the intensity of the detected light, reflected light, and the detected emitted light as the paper is scanned. The resulting waveforms are used to discriminate the genuineness of the paper. The fluorescent light and reflected light can be optically split and directed to separate detecting devices. Furthermore, the alternating-current electromagnetic field can be controlled by a voltage controller and configured to be driven only when the sensor detects light from the fluorescent ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
    Inventors: Toru Matsui, Benedikt Ahlers, Anett Bailleu, Roland Gutmann, Frank Kappe