Patents Issued in October 2, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080240342
    Abstract: The application of CSCT to baggage inspection necessitates a large field of view, resulting in a large gantry that has to sustain large centrifugal forces. Accordingly, various CSCT geometries are described which enable smaller gantry sizes. In particular, a CSCT scanner comprising a detector unit that is not focus-centred is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Axel Thran, Jens-Peter Schlomka
  • Publication number: 20080240343
    Abstract: A portable tomosynthesis imaging system is disclosed that includes a portable X-ray source assembly and a portable detector assembly. The source assembly may be coupled to a portable power supply and controller such that multiple projection X-ray images may be obtained at a site that is not accessible by conventional tomosynthesis imaging systems. Image data may be transmitted from the detector by wired or wireless communication. Tomosynthesis image reconstruction may be performed locally at the portable system or remotely by the transmission of raw or filtered image data from the portable system. The portable system is particularly well-suited to field deployment, such as at accident scenes, scenes of natural or other disasters, or in confined clinical settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kadri Nizar Jabri, Renuka Uppaluri, John Michael Sabol, Gopal Biligeri Avinash
  • Publication number: 20080240344
    Abstract: X-ray tomosynthesis device includes a target and a device configured for directing a particle beam of electrically charged particles onto the target which emits X-ray radiation for irradiating a sample to be examined when the electrically charged particles strike the target, in use. The target includes at least one support element on which a plurality of mutually spaced target elements are provided, and each mutually spaced target element only partially covers the at least one support element. A deflection device is provided, and the deflection device is configured for causing the particle beam to be deflected in order to strike the plurality of mutually spaced target elements, in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Alfred Reinhold
  • Publication number: 20080240345
    Abstract: Provided are systems using compression devices for a mammography unit, and methods of using the same, for example, in conjunction with imaging of a patient's breast. The instant mammography units can comprise at least one x-ray transparent inflatable chamber for containing a fluid. When fluid is introduced into the chamber, at least one surface of the chamber expands, breast motion is limited, and the breast and its vasculature are compressed. Fluid may also be released from the chamber, and as the chamber deflates, blood flow to the breast is restored, producing Korotkoff sounds that may be detected by a sound detection device. Sound data may be obtained with respect to both of a patient's breasts, and the sound data from a patient's first breast may be compared with the data obtained from the contralateral breast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Galkin
  • Publication number: 20080240346
    Abstract: A mammographic system as a radiation image capturing apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting a radiation, AEC sensors for detecting the radiation emitted from the radiation source and acquiring radiation image information for exposure control, a mammary gland position identifier for selecting at least one of the AEC sensors for outputting given radiation dose information based on the radiation dose information acquired by the AEC sensors thereby to identify a mammary gland position as a region of interest of a subject, a weighting coefficient allocator for multiplying output signals from the AEC sensors before the mammary gland position is identified by the mammary gland position identifier, by respective weighting coefficients depending on the installed positions of the AEC sensors, and a radiation source controller for controlling the radiation dose applied from the radiation source to the identified mammary gland position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kashiwagi, Hiroki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20080240347
    Abstract: A lens assembly for enhancing the depth of field of a short-wavelength microscopic system is disclosed. The lens assembly includes an objective zone plate lens, an encoding lens, an imaging detector and a decoding component connected to the imaging detector. The objective zone plate lens is oriented to receive short-wavelength radiation that has passed through a sample in a microscopic system. The encoding lens is oriented to receive the short-wavelength radiation that has passed through the objective zone plate lens and encode the radiation to output an encoded short-wavelength radiation. The imaging detector is oriented to receive the encoded short-wavelength radiation and convert it to a digital signal which is subsequently decoded by the decoding component to decode the encoding applied to the short-wavelength radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: JMAR RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Scott H. Bloom
  • Publication number: 20080240348
    Abstract: A method and associated system 300 for delivering intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses variable feathering field splitting for intensity modulated fields of large size. Processor 112 controls a beam-shaping device 106 so that the beam-shaping device splits the radiation beam into a plurality of radiation fields delivered to the patient 102. Processor 112 in cooperation with beam-shaping device 106 implements a variable feathering method which includes the steps of providing an intensity matrix for the treatment of a patient, the intensity matrix having a plurality of rows and columns for spanning a prescribed radiation field including a prescribed field width. The prescribed width is compared to a maximum field width provided by the radiation treatment system. The intensity matrix is split into a plurality of spatially overlapping intensity submatrices when the prescribed width exceeds the maximum field width, wherein the splitting comprises variably feathering the intensity matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc..
    Inventors: Srijit Kamath, Sartaj Kumar Sahni, Jonathan Li, Jatinder Palta, Sanjay Ranka
  • Publication number: 20080240349
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a device for obtaining image data for planning a radiation therapy of a patient. The device includes a CT gantry and a patient positioning unit. The patient positioning unit is designed in such a way that the patient can be brought in space into any desired body position in which the radiation therapy is also carried out. The CT gantry is arranged in a freely moveable fashion in such a way that imaging for the purpose of radiation therapy planning can be carried out in this body position of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Klaus Herrmann, Eike Rietzel, Andres Sommer
  • Publication number: 20080240350
    Abstract: A device 10 for aligning a patient for delivering a plurality of radiation beams comprising a patient support surface 12, a coarse alignment subsystem 14 connected to the patient support surface, and a fine alignment subsystem connected to the patient support surface 16. A method of aligning a patient for delivering a plurality of radiation beams from a plurality of device positions comprising compensating for flexion of a radiation beam delivery device within a gantry during movement of the radiation beam delivery device from a first device position to a second device position by using a set of predetermined data describing the flexion behavior of the radiation beam delivery device so that the target tissue within the patient is placed at the beamline center for the radiation beam delivery device at the second device position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Loma Linda University Medical Center
    Inventor: Michael F. Moyers
  • Publication number: 20080240351
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method of displaying which treatment plan is administered at each fraction of a complete radiotherapy treatment, comprising displaying treatment plans P1 through Pn, receiving an input that designates which plan or multiple plans from plans P1 through Pn will be administered for each treatment day T1 through Tm, and receiving an input that designates an order of administration of the treatment plans for each treatment day T1 through Tm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Joerg Bohsung
  • Publication number: 20080240352
    Abstract: A radiation beam modulator for modulating a radiation beam in a radiation system, includes an array of multiple columns of a radiation modulating fluid or liquid and a height adjuster which adjusts the heights of the multiple fluid columns so that the adjusted columns collectively will form a target radiation modulating profile. In a first embodiment, the modulator includes a bundle of capillaries in which the modulating fluid is conveyed to form the columns. An antagonizing fluid is conveyed into an opposite end of the capillaries to lock the modulating fluid in position between adjustments. In a second embodiment, the modulator includes a bath of the modulating fluid, in which bars can be immersed and retracted to generate the target radiation modulating profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: C-RAD INNOVATION AB
    Inventors: Anders Brahme, Pontus Neildal, Andras Kerek, Bo Haggstrom
  • Publication number: 20080240353
    Abstract: A treatment planning, simulation, and verification system is described. According to one embodiment, a treatment plan and a fluoroscopy data image of a treatment volume are received and the treatment plan is automatically adjusted based on the movement of the fluoroscopy data image. According another embodiment, a system includes a treatment planning component to generate a treatment plan and a simulation component to simulate the execution of the treatment plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Jeremy R. Myles
  • Publication number: 20080240354
    Abstract: A Method for X-ray wavelength measurement and an X-ray wavelength measurement apparatus capable of determining absolute wavelength easily and carrying out wavelength measurement having high precision with a simple structure are provided. The present invention is a Method for X-ray wavelength measurement carried out by using a channel-cut crystal for wavelength measurement (20) in which two opposing cut planes are formed and the lattice constant of which is known, and the method diffracts X-ray in respective arrangements (?, +) and (+, ?) of the channel-cut crystal for wavelength measurement (20), to determine the absolute wavelength of the X-ray from the difference between crystal rotation angles in respective arrangements. This makes the alignment simpler, and, when only a channel-cut crystal suitable for measurement can be prepared, X-ray wavelength measurement can be carried out easily and with high precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Rigaku Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Omote
  • Publication number: 20080240355
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray generating unit which generates X rays, an X-ray detecting unit which detects X rays transmitted through a subject, an X-ray exposure operating unit which is operated by an operator, and a system control unit which controls the X-ray generating unit in order to start the generation of the X rays from the X-ray generating unit at a time point when a heart rate phase of the subject reaches a specified phase after the X-ray exposure operating unit is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Satoru OHISHI
  • Publication number: 20080240356
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating and displaying an image of an object comprising a radiation source and a series of at least two linear detectors capable of resolving incident source radiation spectroscopically spaced therefrom to define a scanning zone therebetween; means to cause an object to move relative to and through the scanning zone in use; an image generation apparatus to generate at least a first image from the output of a first linear detector, a second image from the output of second linear detector, and a third image, such that each such image includes a representation of spectroscopically resolved incident radiation; an image display adapted successively to display at least the first, second and third such images and thus display the monocular movement parallax between the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Max Robinson
  • Publication number: 20080240357
    Abstract: A mobile dual-energy X-ray imaging system is presented. The mobile dual-energy X-ray imaging system is a digital X-ray system that is designed both to acquire original image data and to process the image data to produce an image for viewing. The system has an X-ray source and a portable flat-panel digital X-ray detector. The system is operable to produce a high energy image and low energy image, which may be decomposed to produce a soft tissue image and a bone image for further analysis of the desired anatomy. The system is disposed on a carrier to facilitate transport. The imaging system has an alignment system for facilitating alignment of the flat-panel digital detector with the X-ray source. The imaging system also comprises an anti-scatter grid and an anti-scatter grid registration system for removing artifacts of the anti-scatter grid from images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kadri Nizar Jabri, Gopal Biligeri Avinash, John Michael Sabol, Renuka Uppaluri
  • Publication number: 20080240358
    Abstract: A power system and method for supplying power to a wireless X-ray detector utilizes a detachable handle for a wireless X-ray detector. The handle carries a battery which, when the detachable handle is coupled to a wireless X-ray detector, provides the wireless X-ray detector with a mobile supply of power. A detachable handle charging station may recharge a plurality of detachable handles, providing a swappable supply of power for a wireless X-ray detector. Charging stations for such handles, or for entire detectors are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Michael John Utschig, Jacob Robert Bauer, Fred Kleytman, Donald Earl Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20080240359
    Abstract: In a first rolling bearing of this X-ray tube apparatus, an ion nitriding layer is formed on a raceway surface of an inner ring, and an ion nitriding layer is formed on a raceway surface of an outer ring. As the results, surface hardness of the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surface of the outer ring is enhanced, and abrasion resistance can be improved. On the other hand, in a second rolling bearing, an ion nitriding layer and a diamond-like carbon film are successively formed on a raceway surface of an inner ring, and an ion nitriding layer and a diamond-like carbon film are successively formed on a raceway surface of an outer ring. As the results, the second rolling bearing which is positioned closer to the target has a double hardening structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Otsuka, Toshiyuki Saito, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080240360
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed for placing markers on digital radiographic images, such as projection X-ray and tomosynthesis images. A tag encoding data is disposed on or near a component of a radiographic imaging system, such as on a digital detector. The tag is read during an imaging session, and human readable indicia for the marker is generated that can be permanently included in the resulting images or displayed when desired, such as in an overlay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Kadri Nizar Jabri
  • Publication number: 20080240361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a registering device for registering an object in at least two dimensions featuring an x-ray transmitter and a detector for the x-rays arranged in a registering plane. The registering device also features a positioning device connected to the detector and the transmitter in such a way that the detector can register x-rays which are transmitted through the object onto the registering plane in differing spatial orientations of the projection axis. The registering device comprises an image reproduction unit to reproduce the data set and an input for a body signal representing an organ movement of the object. The registering device associatively moves the x-ray transmitter or the detector as a function of the body signal so that the projection axis follows the organ movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Klaus Klingenbeck-Regn
  • Publication number: 20080240362
    Abstract: The present invention provides an X-ray radiography apparatus constructed so as to be capable of moving an X-ray generator to as low a position as possible. A X-ray radiography apparatus is of the X-ray radiography apparatus that includes a table which has a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction, and which includes a first X-ray detector and is capable of placing a subject thereon, an X-ray generator that applies X rays to the subject placed on the table, and an X-ray generator moving device that moves the X-ray generator in the longitudinal direction of the table and upward and downward directions thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Aimin Yu, Xiumin Liu, Jia Chen
  • Publication number: 20080240363
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device, in which an X-ray source and an X-ray detector are attached, in an opposed arrangement oriented toward a rotational axis, to a common holder capable of rotating about the rotational axis. To simplify the design of the X-ray device, it is proposed that the holder is attached to the hand of a robot displaying six axes of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Albert Grebner, Herbert Kemeth, Winfried Lurz, Manfred Schonborn
  • Publication number: 20080240364
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing quality assurance on a radiation treatment delivery system includes a housing, a target region, and alignment protrusions. The housing is penetrable by a radiation beam of a radiation source of the radiation treatment delivery system and translucent to an image guidance system of the radiation treatment delivery system. The target region is disposed within the housing and contrasts with the housing when imaged by the image guidance system. The alignment protrusions are disposed on the housing for aligning a film insert relative to the target region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: William T. Main, Chris B. Charlton
  • Publication number: 20080240365
    Abstract: The provision of calibration information for a given high energy-based scanner having a plurality of detectors can comprise forming (103) detector-level calibration information for that scanner. This can comprise calculating (201) a theoretical trajectory as pertains to relative movement as between the plurality of detectors and a calibration object as a function of known geometry parameters for this particular scanner and then causing (202) relative movement as between this plurality of detectors and a calibration object to develop a corresponding observed trajectory for the calibration object. These teachings then provide for determining (203), for each of at least some of the plurality of detectors, a value that corresponds to a difference between the theoretical trajectory and the observed trajectory to thereby provide the detector-level calibration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin Holt, Charles R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20080240366
    Abstract: A method for the correction of lag charges in a flat-panel X-ray detector makes it possible, for each integration phase of the detector, to determine an initial read phase situated just before said integration phase. The method of the invention enables the measurement, for each integration phase, of the charges present in the detector at the corresponding initial read phase, the production of a lag image from the latent charges measured in the initial read phase and the subtraction of the lag image from the raw image. The use of the measurement of charges enables the direct correction of the lag image in the acquisition without the use of a correction module as in the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Guillaume Bacher, Mylene Roussel, Benjamin Didier Rene Wimille, Mathieu Seval, Julien Georges Heyman
  • Publication number: 20080240367
    Abstract: A system and method for permitting a customer of a telecommunication company, for whom fiber to the premises (FTTP) has been installed, to continue to use the telephone during utility company power failure, by powering both the optical network terminal (ONT) and the customer's telephone(s). The battery backup unit (BBU) maintains telephone usage for a pre-determined period of time after power failure, e.g., two hours, consistent with duration of most utility company power outages. This permits non-interrupted telephone service for most outages and, after that period of time, if utility company power has not been restored, the BBU provides power in order to provide telephone service only on demand by the customer, for up to approximately two more cumulative hours of usage. At the end of each usage on demand, the BBU powers the telephone for approximately five more minutes to permit return phone calls, if any, after which telephone service is shut off until any next usage on demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: VERIZON SERVICES CORP.
    Inventor: Stanley J. Wynman
  • Publication number: 20080240368
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing bridge tap detection are described. One embodiment is a method which comprises receiving an echo signal for a loop under test where the echo signal is a per-port calibrated echo response obtained using frequency domain reflectometry single-ended line testing (FDR-SELT). The method further comprises analyzing the echo signal to determine whether differentiating features are present in the per-port calibrated echo signal in order to determine whether the loop under test is a bridge tapped loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: CONEXANT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Duvaut, Amitkumar Mahadevan, Vaibhav Dinesh
  • Publication number: 20080240369
    Abstract: A method for generating reliability tests for a telephone system is based upon sampling an orthogonal array which covers various combinations of test parameters. Field data is collected of actual telephone activity on a telephone system. The field data is evaluated so as to determine call-mix characteristics. Probabilistic weights for the different call-mix characteristics are obtained, and then the probabilistic weights are used to sample the test case scenarios generated in the orthogonal array which have the same call-mix characteristics. These test case scenarios are used to run tests on the telephone system. These tests are preferably performed using automated test scripts. After the test data is collected, reliability metrics are calculated from the test data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: James J. ALLEN, Janet Kenny, John Yeager, Muharrem Umit Uyar, Linda Yeager
  • Publication number: 20080240370
    Abstract: Described is automatically testing the quality of an audio coupling between juxtaposed first and second digital telephones, e.g., VoIP telephones, such as to quantitatively determine the quality of audio echo cancellers in those digital telephones. An analyzer receives timestamps from a first telephone and second telephone during a calling session, including timestamps for when the second telephone initially provides audio (e.g., speech) to the first telephone, when the first telephone initially detects sound, when the first telephone initially provides audio to the second telephone, and when the second telephone initially detects sound. The analyzer uses the relative timing of the timestamps and the speech recognizer's outcome to determine whether the audio coupling is experiencing interference or echo. When the audio includes speech, a confidence level corresponding to accuracy of speech recognition also may establish the audio coupling's quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kuansan Wang, Nirav Girish Shah
  • Publication number: 20080240371
    Abstract: A system receives an emergency call, a local exchange carrier (LEC) charge number, and Calling Party Number (CPN) from a user device, and overrides the LEC charge number with the CPN for Automatic Number Identification (ANI) determination purposes. The system also determines the ANI of the user device based on the CPN, receives an address associated with the user device based on the ANI, and provides the emergency call and the address to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Verizon Services Organization Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. GRAY
  • Publication number: 20080240372
    Abstract: In an alarm system, outgoing calls representing a sensed alarm condition are routed to one of several communications networks. The calls are routed by first initiating a telephone call to a defined number, in response to sensing the alarm condition, and then selecting one of plurality a plurality of available networks based on called number information. A communication over the chosen network is placed to signal the alarm condition. Routing may be performed at an interface module in communication with a conventional alarm panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephan Frenette
  • Publication number: 20080240373
    Abstract: Communicating an audio message to a listener of an audio player device. An audio message file is generated at a workstation and sent to the audio player device via a network. In response to receipt of the audio message file, the audio player device halts play of a song or other audio content that was being played by the audio player device at a time of receipt of the audio message file, and plays the audio message file. Alternately, the audio player device plays the audio message file after completion of play of the song or other audio content that was being played by the audio player device at a time of receipt of the audio message file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert D. Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20080240374
    Abstract: A method for managing communications between a customer and a contact center is provided. The communication may include voice data, interactive response data and web interaction data. Upon the receipt of an interaction identifier, related conversation data is located. Following the location of the related conversation data, the conversation data is organized sequentially. The organized conversation data may then be analyzed and distress data, behavioral assessment data and event data may be determined, either for each individual interaction segment or the entire combined experience. Following the analysis, the organized conversation data may then transfer the organized conversation data to a portal for display to a user. Further, the associated statistics can be viewed in reporting within the portal or systematically extracted from the system for further analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kelly Conway, Douglas Brown, Roger Warford, David Gustafson, Christopher Danson
  • Publication number: 20080240375
    Abstract: A signaling-based processing method is presented, which is based on the influence of early media (a ring back tone or a voice notice before a session is established) from multiple called participants on the calling participant in SIP FORK-based voice service, which ensures the calling participant not to receive early media of multiple called participants at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Jian Chen
  • Publication number: 20080240376
    Abstract: A method for automatically routing a telephonic communication to at least one of a plurality of communication destination addresses is provided. The method is implemented by a computer readable medium having a plurality of code segments. The method comprises the step of receiving customer identifier and communicating with a customer history database configured to store historic data. The method also includes determining whether the received customer identifier corresponds to a stored customer identifier in the customer history database. Historic data corresponding to the stored customer number is identified based on the comparison of the received customer identifier and the stored customer identifier. The telephonic communication is associated with a predetermined communication destination based on the identified historic data. The associated communication data is transmitted to a switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kelly Conway, Christopher Danson, Douglas Brown
  • Publication number: 20080240377
    Abstract: A voice dialing method and apparatus for simplifying voice dial is provided. The voice dialing method includes receiving a speech in a voice recognition mode, extracting characters from the speech, translating the characters into corresponding numerals, and dialing a phone number on the basis of the numerals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung Chul Lee
  • Publication number: 20080240378
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method in which voicemail or other media messages together with their text transcriptions are sent as digital messages to the user's phone. In one embodiment, voicemail message is recorded remotely from a user's mobile device. The voicemail message is converted to both a text version and a digitized version. Both versions are then communicated to the user's device via a messaging channel. The user then can selectively retrieve either the text version for visual display or the digitized version for audible presentation. If desired, the user can retrieve both versions concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Intervoice Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Ruth Y. Pollock, Kieron Hudson
  • Publication number: 20080240379
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer-code for electronically retrieving and presenting information are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, information is retrieved and presented in accordance with at least one feature of electronic media content of a multi-party conversation. Optionally, the multi-party conversation is a video conversation and at least one feature is a video content feature. Exemplary features include but are not limited to speech delivery features, key word features, topic features, background sound or image features, deviation features and biometric features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Ariel Maislos, Ruben Maislos, Eran Arbel
  • Publication number: 20080240380
    Abstract: Systems, methods and software product control voicemail transcription from a communication device. An audio mode is monitored within the communication device to determine a change in status between a sound-on mode and a sound-off mode. Automatic transcription of voicemail messages is enabled if the audio mode status transitions from sound-on to sound-off and automatic transcription of voicemail messages is disabled if the audio mode status transitions from sound-off to sound-on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: James Siminoff
  • Publication number: 20080240381
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for propagating contextual data in an audio communication by storing the contextual data obtained from a calling party in an extensible mark-up language formatted text document. A telephone call between a first party and a second party is converted to a session initiation protocol based voice over internet protocol communication, and the stored text document is attached to session initiation protocol messages that control the voice over internet protocol communication. The document is attached to the signaling messages by embedding the text document in a session description payload associated with the session initiation protocol message. The attached document is propagated with the audio communication, including when the signaling messages are used to transfer the audio communication from the second party to a third party or to add one or more addition parties to the audio communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arup Acharya, Maria Rene Ebling, Zon-Yin Shae, Edith Helen Stern, Dinesh Verma
  • Publication number: 20080240382
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an audio representation of a name includes providing a list of a plurality of users of a network and respective presence information regarding each of the plurality of users; receiving a request from an endpoint to receive an audio representation of a name of a particular user of the plurality of users, and providing the audio representation to the endpoint. Moreover, the audio representation of the name at least generally approximates a pronunciation of the name as pronounced by the particular user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Fujita-Yuhas
  • Publication number: 20080240383
    Abstract: A system may receive a telephone call request for a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) user. The telephone call request omits a name of a calling party. The system may further determine if the VoIP user has a calling party name feature enabled and obtaining, when the VoIP user has a calling party name feature enabled, the name of the calling party from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) based repository of calling party names.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Verizon Services Corp.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. FRONCZAK, Jeffrey R. Evans
  • Publication number: 20080240384
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to present presence information are disclosed. An example method includes requesting presence information associated with a first user, receiving the presence information from the first user, receiving information from a monitoring sensor associated with the first user, and sending a first message indicating that a communication session is permissible when the presence information and the information from the monitoring sensor indicates that a communication session is permissible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Lalitha Suryanarayana, Michael Grannan
  • Publication number: 20080240385
    Abstract: Techniques for providing presence services to black phones are described herein. According to one embodiment, a call is received from a caller party to a called party, where the call is originated from a POTS device that is not capable of handling IMS protocols. In response to the call, a presence service provider is used to retrieve presence information about the called party using the IMS protocols, where the presence information indicates a current presence state of the called party. Then the current presence state of the called party is announced to the caller party by playing a prerecorded voice message representing the current presence state of the called party. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Vladimir Mikhailov
  • Publication number: 20080240386
    Abstract: A network system may include a first communication device, a second communication device composed separately from the first communication device and an address database. The first communication device may include a first access device. The first access device may be capable of accessing a network address. The address database may store the network address accessed by the first access device. The second communication device may include a telephone device, an address acquisition device and a second access device. The address acquisition device may acquire the network address from the address database in a case where the telephone device receives an incoming call. The second access device may be capable of accessing the network address acquired by the address acquisition device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Yanagi
  • Publication number: 20080240387
    Abstract: A communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus comprises: a detection sensor for detecting a human body; a mode setting unit which sets a notification mode to a normal mode or a quiet mode; a sound notification unit which has a plurality of volume levels, and which conveys notification information by a sound; and a sound controller which controls the sound notification unit to convey the notification information at a volume according to the notification mode set by the mode setting unit and a result of the detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Suzuyo Murai
  • Publication number: 20080240388
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method provides a user with a prepaid account with a predetermined number of units for language interpretation service. Further, the method provides a live language interpretation service, through a telephone call, to the user. In addition, the method deducts one or more units from the predetermined number of units in the prepaid account based on a duration of the telephone call in addition to any units deducted by a telephone service provider for telephone service based on the duration of the telephone call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Craig Michael Surette
  • Publication number: 20080240389
    Abstract: A method of projecting information about a user from a device associated with the user to at least one device associated with a group of friends, comprising: receiving from the user a set of contacts, storing the set of contacts in the device associated with the first user; permitting the user to define a group of friends, wherein the group of friends comprises members of the first set of contacts; and storing the first group of friends. User information to be projected to the group of friends is received, device contact information from the set of contacts for each member of the group of friends is retrieved from the device and used to transmit the information to the group of friends; and, confirmation that the information has been associated with the user is received from at least a subset of the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Cellfish Media, LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Gaume, Julien Milelberg
  • Publication number: 20080240390
    Abstract: Summary The discussion unit (10) for use in a conference system is disclosed, which is adapted to be connected to at least one second discussion unit (10). The discussion unit (10) comprises an essentially closed casing (410) and at least one exchangeable portion (420). The at least one exchangeable portion (420) is removably mounted to the casing (410) and at least partially covers at least one outside part (424, 412) of the casing (410). The invention allows for an easy first installation of the exchangeable portion (420). Nevertheless, after installation, the exchangeable portion (420) is difficult to remove by a user (preventing unintended removal or removal by vandalism or “play instinct”), but allowing for an easy exchange of the exchangeable portion (420) by an installer and/or a service technician.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Marc Van Loon, Gerard Boersen, Ko Van Bruinessen, Martien Kas, Ruud De Wit, Ad Hermans
  • Publication number: 20080240391
    Abstract: Client terminals of participants of a conference, connected to a network, and a server connected to the client terminals are used to authenticate and confirm the participants of the conference. After successful authentication, a telephone line is set among telephone sets of the participants to hold the conference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NEC INFRONTIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuo NISHIDE