Conferencing Patents (Class 370/260)
  • Patent number: 10148592
    Abstract: Techniques are described for scaling a group of computing resources. A computing resource service receives a scaling policy for use in scaling the group of computing resources. The scaling policy specifies a target level for a resource utilization metric and magnitude-based changes to the group. The computing resource service receives information about a magnitude of a measurement for the resource utilization metric. The computing resource service determines, based at least in part on the scaling policy, one or more changes for the group and initiates the one or more changes in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Solomon Pai, Alison Qing-Ning Truong, Eric Samuel Stone, Ahmed Usman Khalid, Kai Fan Tang
  • Patent number: 10142808
    Abstract: A floor control apparatus and method, the method including receiving, by a media resource function entity, a first floor application message sent by UE, generating, by the media resource function entity, a second floor application message according to the first floor application message, sending, by the media resource function entity, the second floor application message to a mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) server, receiving, by the media resource function entity, a first floor grant message that is in response to the second floor application message and that is sent by the MCPTT server, generating, by the media resource function entity, a second floor grant message according to the first floor grant message, and sending, by the media resource function entity, the second floor grant message to the UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ying Dong, Shaofeng Liu, Haiyue Li, Xiaobin Yang
  • Patent number: 10142472
    Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise a microphone configured to produce audio; a hold control configured to select a connected selection or a hold selection; a processor configured to identify the audio produced during the connected selection as primary audio, and to identify the audio produced during the hold selection as secondary audio; and a transceiver configured to transmit the primary audio and the secondary audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kannappan, Douglas K Rosener
  • Patent number: 10140121
    Abstract: A process that executes client software in a computer, hereinafter client process, starts execution of at least a portion of server software, hereinafter listener. The client process retrieves from the listener, an identifier of a port in the computer, at which the listener waits to receive one or more messages, which may contain commands. The client process connects to a server process in another computer and sends only to the server process, at least a command and client information that includes at least the port identifier of its listener. Any remote computer(s) that may receive and execute the command, use the client information to send back information related to the command, directly to the port identifier of the listener started by the client process. Any messages received at the listener's port identifier are processed, e.g. by displaying any output generated in execution of the command by the remote computer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Sampath Ravindhran, Jonathan Creighton, Khethavath Param Singh, Kannabran Viswanathan, Soo Huey Wong
  • Patent number: 10136266
    Abstract: A communication method implemented on a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communication network includes providing an attachment between a group member of a communication group and a group application server, detecting a detachment between the group member and the group application server, and reestablishing the attachment by the 3GPP communication network. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) may provide the attachment. A Group Communication Service Enabler Application Server (GCSE AS) or a Multipoint Service (MuSe) functionality may detect the detachment. The attachment may be reestablished according to the MuSe functionality. A group communication bearer may have a first priority level for allocating resources to the group communication bearer, and a second priority level for allocating resources to the non-group communication bearer. The second priority level may be different from the first priority level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Saad Ahmad, Guanzhou Wang, Li-Hsiang Sun, Mahmoud Watfa, Pascal Adjakple
  • Patent number: 10135762
    Abstract: A bidirectional group text messaging system is disclosed having a group owner that initiates a group by obtaining a provisioned telephone number, the group owner establishes a list of group members using identifying information for each group member, text messages from any group member are sent to the provisioned telephone number and from that provisioned telephone number sent to each group member, wherein the group members' identifying information is not available to any other group member except the group owner. The group owner may add and delete members at any time. Further, a text message sourced from a group member may be prevented from being sent to the sourcing member. In addition, a billing member can create logic sets to calculate a value prior to the message being transmitted to each group member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffrey E Korrub
  • Patent number: 10135882
    Abstract: In some particular embodiments, DNS servers are operated to maintain consistency of DNS records between the multiple master servers in response to certain types of communication situations. Each master DNS server monitors network connectivity by periodically testing or checking network connections of the master server (e.g., to another server). In one such exemplary context and particular embodiment, a first DNS master server operates by maintaining consistency of DNS records with at least one other DNS server. In this manner DNS records are updated using communications over a network and between the servers. Network isolation is detected and, after other related steps, restoration of connections to the at least one second DNS server is detected, and then queued DNS update requests are sent to the second DNS server. This approach is used to establish consistency of the DNS records between the DNS servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: 8×8, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehdi Salour
  • Patent number: 10123182
    Abstract: A method for merging active group calls includes hosting, at a first Push to talk (PTT) server, a first active group call. A first group of PTT clients participate in the first active group call. The first PTT server receives a request to invite a second group of PTT clients. The request includes an identifier for the second group of PTT clients. The first PTT server sends a first invite message to the second PTT server. The first invite message includes the identifier for the second group of PTT clients. In response to the first invite message, the first PTT server receives a response message. The response message indicates that the second group of PTT clients are participating in the second active group call. The first PTT server hosts a merged PTT group call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Allen, Adrian Buckley
  • Patent number: 10122771
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for routing one or more requests to join or initiate a collaboration conference based on at least an identifier of a requesting device. In one embodiment, a telecommunications network obtains an identifier, such as the telephone number, of a device requesting to join or initiate a collaboration conference. The identifying information is then compared to a database of user accounts maintained by the network. The network may then prompt the user of the requesting device to join a particular conferencing bridge or provide particular conferencing features based on the one or more preferences associated with the user's account. A response to the prompt may be received and then acted upon by the network to connect the requesting device to a collaboration conference and/or provide the one or more conferencing features to the requesting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew James Broadworth, Gregory Thomas Ellison
  • Patent number: 10116765
    Abstract: A needs-matching navigator system and social network facilitator appurtenances including, for a large user plurality, software driven modules residing on electronic communications enabled platforms and devices. Beyond altruistically enhancing flourishing life horizons and life quality metrics, the modules facilitate (A) knowing respective user bias, profile, perspective, wellbeing orientation, and privacy preference; (B) understanding user needs description and wellbeing criteria; (C) finding answer and solutions to the needs by user biased projecting the description onto electronically stored knowledge-bases; (D) matching the user to the answers and solutions; and preferably (E) creating an instant electronic communications interactive community for the respective user, by inverse projecting large subsets of the answers and solutions back onto the large plurality of users; according to said users' profiles and needs descriptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventor: Tuvi Orbach
  • Patent number: 10111054
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling feedback reduction for half-duplex communications is provided. In operation, a crossing of a proximity threshold between a first device and a second device is determined and a feedback reduction operation is enabled based on the determination. The determination is based on a proximity check based on a near field proximity profile. The feedback reduction operation is at least one of reducing a playback volume to a predetermined level and delaying a playback. To delay playback, when a device enters transmit-mode, it may delay the transmission of received voice input. To reduce the playback volume, when a device enters receive-mode, it may reduce a volume of the audio output apparatus to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William Yat Lam Wong
  • Patent number: 10110526
    Abstract: Some implementations can include a computer-implemented method and/or system for a website visitor communication system having an asynchronous one-way outbound (i.e., website to visitor) video channel and an inbound (i.e., visitor to website) text channel. The asynchronous aspect of the outbound video channel can permit a representative for the website (or representative) to carry on multiple chat sessions with different visitors simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Andrew Sheahan
  • Patent number: 10111162
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of controlling network traffic for a user equipment (UE) and a base station (BS). In one of the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a method of controlling network traffic for a UE. The method would include not limited to determining whether to select a target access network, and transmitting a traffic re-direct inform message in response to the selection of the target access network, wherein the traffic re-direct inform message comprises information of the target access network and a traffic flow indicator corresponding to at least one traffic flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Hung-Chen Chen, Ching-Wen Cheng
  • Patent number: 10102858
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for managing a device utilizing user audio communications. The method includes one or more processors identifying an audio communication from a user. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the audio communication from the user does not include an activation command for a listening device, one or more processors determining a location of the user and information associated with the determined location of the user. The method further includes one or more processors determining an action to initiate on a listening device based on the audio communication, the determined information associated with the location of the user, and user preferences. The method further includes one or more processors initiating execution of the determined action on the listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Jeremy R. Fox, Andrew R. Jones, John E. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10097365
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communications. Disclosed are a control method, an apparatus, a server and a terminal device of a telepresence conference. The method comprises: a server receiving a conference control policy message sent by a terminal device that is provided with a management permission; the server, based on geographical location information and role information of a conference control object, determining a media stream message corresponding to the conference control object; and the server controlling the media stream message corresponding to the conference control object based on a media type and a conference estate locking trigger condition of conference control content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yan Liu, Weiwei Yang
  • Patent number: 10091261
    Abstract: Methods and nodes for enabling a teleconference involving multiple peer nodes in a P2P network (502). A first peer node (500) appoints a subset of the peer nodes to act as Floor Control Peers, FCPs, (504) in a floor control overlay by handling floor requests from peer nodes to make input to a floor in the teleconference. The first peer node (500) creates a tree structure (506) of the appointed FCPs which is distributed to the P2P network and can be accessed by a joining peer node to discover a primary FCP in the tree and send floor requests to the primary FCP. A floor chair function (508) is also created in the floor control overlay maintaining a floor record (508a) with information about floor utilization which can be provided to the FCPs. Thereby, joining peer nodes are enabled to join the teleconference and find respective primary FCPs in the floor control overlay based on the tree structure, and to make input to the at least one floor of the teleconference depending on the information in the floor record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Jouni Mäenpää, Oscar Novo Diaz
  • Patent number: 10091258
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and systems for providing electronic feedback. In one aspect, software includes instructions which when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to: (1) enable a user of the computing system to participate in an electronic conference with one or more remote participants, the electronic conference including an outgoing communications stream for the user; (2) receive feedback from a remote client device used by a particular participant of the one or more remote participants to participate in the electronic conference, the feedback corresponding to a quality of the user's outgoing communications stream at the second client device; and (3) adjust one or more attributes of the electronic conference based on the received feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Scott Carter, Laurent Denoue, Matthew Cooper
  • Patent number: 10079941
    Abstract: A method in a soundfield-capturing endpoint and the capturing endpoint that comprises a microphone array capturing soundfield, and an input processor pre-processing and performing auditory scene analysis to detect local sound objects and positions, de-clutter the sound objects, and integrate with auxiliary audio signals to form a de-cluttered local auditory scene that has a measure of plausibility and perceptual continuity. The input processor also codes the resulting de-cluttered auditory scene to form coded scene data comprising mono audio and additional scene data to send to others. The endpoint includes an output processor generating signals for a display unit that displays a summary of the de-cluttered local auditory scene and/or a summary of activity in the communication system from received data, the display including a shaped ribbon display element that has an extent with locations on the extent representing locations and other properties of different sound objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn N. Dickins, Gary Spittle, David Gunawan, Anthony Tucker
  • Patent number: 10069640
    Abstract: The current invention discloses methods and devices for adding a new member to a group, e.g. a chat group associated with a chat program. The new member may be added through a barcode-scanning process or an existing-member-invitation process. After the new member is added to the chat group, a server may send notification messages to mobile devices associated with the existing members of the group. The contents of the notification messages may vary based on the processes by which the new member is added, the number of existing members, and the direct-contact relationships the new member has with the existing members. The current invention provides simplified methods and devices for adding the new member, avoiding cumbersome operations and protecting member privacy at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiaolong Zhang, Zhenan Guan, Yingxia Lin, Keren Li, Ming Zeng, Tianqing Huang
  • Patent number: 10070433
    Abstract: A technology for a user equipment (UE) that is operable to communicate in an ad-hoc wireless multicast communications network is disclosed. Another UE can be selected to send a request to send (RTS) control frame to. The RTS control frame can be communicated to the other UE. The RTS control frame indicates that the UE requests to send a multicast data frame. A clear to send (CTS) message can be received from the other UE, indicating the UE is clear to send the multicast data frame. The multicast data frame can be transmitted by the UE to a selected group of UEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adrian P. Stephens, Alexandre S. Stojanovski, Alexey Khoryaev
  • Patent number: 10069964
    Abstract: A method for handling calls to be moved within a system having an unmonitored domain and a monitored domain can include the step of upon first arrival of a call at said unmonitored domain, a context of said call based on a called number, a calling number, and any redirection number(s) included in said call can be provided. Another step of the method can include, for each movement of said call between said unmonitored domain and said monitored domain, providing a unique number to be temporarily used for said particular movement, based on said call context, while avoiding that said unique number is used to move any other call within the system at the same time. An apparatus for can be configured to facilitate performance of the method (e.g. communication system, a device, non-transitory memory, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Eggiman-Ketter, James Murison
  • Patent number: 10063392
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to select a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) border element are disclosed. An example method comprises sending a first session initiation protocol (SIP) protocol message from a first voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device, the first SIP message comprising an Internet protocol (IP) address shared by at least two VoIP border elements, and receiving a second SIP message at the first VoIP device from a second VoIP device, the second SIP message comprising a unique address for the second VoIP device, the second VoIP device to be selected based on the shared IP address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: James Jackson
  • Patent number: 10061756
    Abstract: Methods of facilitating the discovery of relationships between/among participants within systems for annotating visual media objects to create new associations, communities, and other relationships. These methods include processing annotations, metadata, and/or other information using one or more aggregate-behavior-visualization algorithms and displaying aggregate-behavior visualizations to users. These visualizations allow users to seek out and discover relationships and provide unique knowledge assets useful for a variety of purposes, including creating smart documents and fostering learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ananda Gunawardena, David Kaufer, Alexander R. W. Cheek, Joanna Wolfe
  • Patent number: 10051115
    Abstract: A terminal for use in a communications network for calling a called party includes a capture buffer for storing a media stream, including a voice command, received from the caller. A session controller in the terminal controls call handling and launches the call from the caller to the called party in accordance with the voice command. Responsive to the session manager, a stream controller will transmit the media stream from the capture buffer to the called party following set up of the call. In this way the called party may identify the caller voice and screen the call. Silence intervals in the media stream are detected and suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventor: William Gibbens Redmann
  • Patent number: 10051130
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing a pool of conference lines for telephone conferences. In embodiments of the invention, the method comprises receiving a request for a telephone conference at a given time and for a specified duration; reviewing conference lines in a pool of conference lines to determine if one of the conference lines is available for the telephone conference; when one of the conference lines in the pool is available, allocating the one conference line to the requested telephone conference; issuing one or more unique pass codes for access to the allocated conference line; and distributing the one or more unique pass codes to a group of persons. In embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises if the telephone conference reaches a given time before a specified end time, offering to extend the end time of the telephone conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bender, Gordan G. Greenlee, Michael P. Shute, Siddhartha Sood
  • Patent number: 10044870
    Abstract: A control system includes a session controller to control establishing a session for transmitting information between a communications terminal and other communications terminals, in response to a request from the communications terminal, and a start request receiver to receive, after a first session for transmitting information between a first communications terminal and a second communications terminal and a second session for transmitting information between a third communications terminal and a fourth communications terminal have been established, a communications start request for starting communications between the first communications terminal and the fourth communications terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Mihara
  • Patent number: 10031651
    Abstract: An interactive conference is supplemented based on terminology content. Terminology content from a plurality of devices connected to the interactive conference is monitored. A set of words from the terminology content is selected. Supplemental media content at an external source is identified based on the selected set of words, and selectively made available to a device connected to the interactive conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: David C. Gibbon, Lee Begeja, Zhu Liu, Bernard S. Renger, Behzad Shahraray, Eric Zavesky
  • Patent number: 10033548
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, system, service selection entity, and service management entity for selecting a service provision entity in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network communication, so as to select heterogeneous service provision entities for heterogeneous service requesting entities. The method includes: receiving service capability information of service provision entities; obtaining service request information of a service requesting entity; and selecting a service provision entity of an appropriate service capability to provide a service for the service requesting entity according to the service capability information of service provision entities and the service request information of the service requesting entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng Li, Yue Yin, Jin Li
  • Patent number: 10033611
    Abstract: A transaction management platform is provided that is configured to perform end-to-end tracking of transactions including messages. The messages are tracked using unique message identifiers that are generated and associated with messages. The unique message identifiers operate as pointers to allow the transaction management platform to monitor the messages. The transaction management platform also includes a plurality of engines and/or services to enable generation of a variety of different graphical diagrams. The graphical diagrams illustrate features such as, for example, component health, message volume, reconciliation, and other similar features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HCA Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Ronald Linkous, Alan Scott, Ryan Staggs, Lars Söderkvist, William Landon Barnickle, Scott A. Southworth, Shannon Dewayne Dickens
  • Patent number: 10028110
    Abstract: In some examples, a first push-to-talk (PTT) client that has access to a wide area network (WAN) performs distributed control for a PTT session in conjunction with distributed control for the PTT session performed by another PTT client in the PTT session, the distributed control by the first PTT client performed without use of any PTT server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Barrett, Andrew Michael Allen
  • Patent number: 10015097
    Abstract: A system establishes a main tunnel between a tunneling client and a tunneling server using a first socket, the main tunnel including a corresponding tunnel identifier and Internet Protocol (“IP”) address. The system traverses the encapsulated media over the main tunnel during the telecommunication session and then determines that a cloned tunnel is needed for the telecommunication session. The system establishes a cloned tunnel between the tunneling client and the tunneling server using a second socket that has been marked as a cloned tunnel candidate, where the cloned tunnel includes the corresponding tunnel identifier and IP address of the main tunnel. The system then traverses the encapsulated media over the cloned tunnel instead of the main tunnel during the telecommunication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Rolando Herrero
  • Patent number: 10015088
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for enabling tag networking. In one example, a network device (e.g., switch, router, etc.) is configured to receive a packet of a traffic flow and to analyze the traffic flow to determine the packet belongs to a particular type of traffic. The network device can then add and/or change a tag in a data field of the packet. The tag, among other things, serves as an identifier for the particular type of traffic flow. The tag is identifiable by a downstream node that is preconfigured to recognize the tag and to carry out logic in response to recognizing the tag. Advantageously, the tag functionality of the present approach provides a generalized way of adding information to packets; the information and the associated functionalities are customizable during a runtime of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Pruss, John E. McDowall, Jan Medved
  • Patent number: 10015246
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for initiating a peer-to-peer communication session. According to certain embodiments, at least one peer device is identified. A first request is sent to the at least one peer device for an inventory of service capabilities of the at least one peer device. The requested inventory of service capabilities of the at least one peer device is received from the at least one peer device. A second request is sent to the at least one peer device to initiate a communication session with the at least one peer device using at least one service from the requested inventory of service capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 10003625
    Abstract: A portable communication device comprises a user interface, one or more digital processors in electronic communication with the user interface, and at least one memory in electronic communication with the one or more digital processors, the one or more digital processors and the at least one memory collectively configured to implement simultaneous radio frequency voice communication between a user of the device and multiple other ones of the devices. The voice communication comprises: transmitting audio data corresponding to speech of the user to each of the other ones of the devices, receiving audio data from each of the other ones of the devices, and transmitting the received audio data to the user so as to direct to the user combined and simultaneous speech of users of each of the other ones of the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Loose Cannon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Celinski, Aiden Riley Eller, Alwyn Joy George, Naresh Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 9986338
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a wall surface (114) to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound (103) provides direct audio cues to reproduce audio objects that have direct audio components without the need for direct firing speakers. The speaker comprises sideward firing drivers (108) to reflect sound off of the wall surface (114) and represents a virtual direct speaker (116). A virtual direct filter is applied to the sideward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of direct audio transmitted by the sideward firing speaker (108) to provide optimum reproduction of the reflected sound. The virtual direct filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the sideward-firing driver (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Mansfield, Eugene Edward Radzik, Alan J. Seefeldt, Jared Smith, C. Phillip Brown, Michael Smithers
  • Patent number: 9972303
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for inserting information into a conversation between two or more devices is provided. In one embodiment, speech data is received at a device. The speech data is analyzed and converted into text utilizing one or more speech-to-text algorithms. The text is examined to locate information that may be related to the text on the data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
    Inventor: David Gerard Ledet
  • Patent number: 9967147
    Abstract: Wireless networking methodologies and related apparatus are presented here. An embodiment of a wireless coordinator device is operated to monitor and control other wireless devices in a network. The coordinator device maintains a record that includes information related to a network topology and wireless connectivity of the wireless network. The coordinator device detects a change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network, and analyzes the record to determine an event that caused the change to the network topology or wireless connectivity of the wireless network. Next, a diagnostic notification (that identifies the event) is communicated to a user or administrator of the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Mark Wayne Lea
  • Patent number: 9966991
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a system and method for secure network access and group membership in a cooperative network of digital chaos transmissions. The invention involves sensing generated digital chaos sequences as spreading sequences at a transmit side and determining the availability of open channels at a receive side. Further, a broadcast “request to join” frame from a node on an open channel is transmitted to network manager or coordinator. A network manager or coordinator sends an association/authentication packet, comprised of the reserved digital chaos associated to the unique device id, in response to the “request to join” frame from a node with a valid identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: John David Terry
  • Patent number: 9961608
    Abstract: Various user interfaces and other technologies for seamlessly transitioning between calls of different types can be implemented. The technologies can be implemented to give the impression of a single call that is upgraded from one call type to another. A new application can register so that an appropriate user interface control appears for activation when seamless call transition is possible. Transitioning for third party applications can thus be supported. Cross-platform implementations can be supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Syed Mansoor Jafry, Kerry D. Woolsey, Casey Dvorak, Tony He, Peter Bergler
  • Patent number: 9955005
    Abstract: Suppression of Announcements in Communication Networks. The present invention relates to communication networks and, more particularly, to announcements in communication networks. System and method for suppression of announcement made to a user in a communication network. A user requests to start a communication session with a second user in the network. A suppression of announcement indicator is added in Connect operation while the communication session is being established with the second user and the announcement is suppressed from being played to the user if the second user is unable to answer the request. The users may be IMS users and/or PSTN users belonging to the same network or different networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Jayakumar Balaji, Balasubramanian Gopalasubramanian, Ramachandran Gopannan, Madhavan Ramesh
  • Patent number: 9955151
    Abstract: A videoconference equipment monitoring system that continuously monitors and diagnoses the health of the system's network and devices using vendor-agnostic diagnostic hardware/software. The system comprises a monitoring server and one or more executable probes, wherein each executable probe is operable to collect data from devices in the network, communicate with other executable probes to collect internal network data, and communicate with the monitoring server to send information relating to the status of networks and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GBH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Jose De La Paz
  • Patent number: 9948785
    Abstract: A method and a resource broker are provided to control a conference session. The resource broker receives, from a conference controller, a message requesting to set up a conference communication for a participant. The message indicates whether a terminal of the participant supports selective forwarding. The resource broker verifies the availability of local selective forwarding and multipoint control resources. Based on the capabilities of the terminal and based on local resource availability, a reply is sent to the conference controller, indicating that the conference communication should be set up in selective forwarding or multipoint control mode, using local resources or resources of a network cloud. When a new participant is added or when a monitoring agent reports a change of availability of the local resources, the conference communication may be moved between the network cloud and the local resources, or change between selective forwarding and multipoint control modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ALE INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Moulay Fadili, Roman Sorokin, Stéphane Coulon
  • Patent number: 9940944
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices enable recovery of words spoken while a communication device is on mute during a voice call. A processor of the communication device or a network server may buffer audio segment in memory when the mute function is turned on. If the mute function is turned off soon after the input audio segment begins, or the processor recognizes from the spoken words that the speaker does not intend to be on mute, the processor may transmit to the third party participant a playback of at least one portion of the buffer in conjunction with turning off the mute function. Playback of the buffered audio segment may be sped up so that the playback catches up to current speech of the speaker. Buffering and playback of an input audio segment may be accomplished at the speaker's communication device or in a server within the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Keir Finlow-Bates, Koushik Annapureddy
  • Patent number: 9942161
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to configuring and updating quality of service (QOS) features for a router, especially for routers used in a home network or local area network. The QOS features are autonomous and do not require user configuration or intervention. The QOS features may be triggered during periods of congestion. Popular traffic services, such as voice, video streaming, and gaming, are preloaded into the router so that they are recognized automatically. In some embodiments, the router employs a programmed table to identify traffic sessions. The table may be updated remotely by an update service. The table may also be updated locally by a user via a client coupled to the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Chen, Derek Chas
  • Patent number: 9935993
    Abstract: Systems and methods to deliver streaming video over a hybrid network are provided herein. An adjusted bitrate to transmit video from a server to a client is determined in response to a fast-forward or rewind request. Frames from a video are selectively transmitted to accommodate for the adjusted bitrate based and a bitrate of a connection between the server and the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Li, Xuemin Chen
  • Patent number: 9921798
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a system (100, 130) for a USB to Bluetooth audio bridging method and apparatus. The system includes a host device (102) having a first universal serial bus (USB) interface (107) and a second USB interface (110); an adaptor (108) in connection with the first USB interface (107) which is compatible to operate based on a Bluetooth-type communication protocol; a peripheral device (106) coupled to the second USB interface (110); and a mobile communication device (104) linked to the host device (102) via the adaptor (108). The mobile communication device (104) communicates an audio data signal to the adaptor (108) and an audio bridging device (116). The audio bridging device (116) maps the second USB interface (110) to the adaptor (108) and routes audio data signals alone or in combination with another audio data signals to the peripheral device (106) via the second USB interface (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CIearOne, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter H. Manley, Balasubramaniyan Krishnamoorthy, Derek Graham
  • Patent number: 9917946
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for determining the availability of participants on a communication session is described. According to an embodiment, a method for determining a participant's availability may include receiving status information associated with a first user participating in a unified telephony call, the status information indicative of an availability of the first user. The method may also include determining an availability status for the first user based on, at least in part, the status information. The method may further include providing, by the one or more computing devices, a status indicator associated with the first user to at least a second user participating in the unified telephony call based on the availability status for the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Dunne, James Patrick Galvin, Jr., David Malone, Patrick Joseph O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9917756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a readiness dialog box for a call over network (CON) are provided. In some embodiments, the readiness dialog box is presented to the callers prior to the onset of the call. It presents the other participant's and their status. For example, it may indicate which participants are online, but not yet ready, those who are ready, and those not available. It also enables the caller to send messages (both preconfigured and customized) to the other participants. Once sufficient participants have joined, the call may start. Sufficiency of participants could include a quorum of individuals, may require that specific participants are ready, everyone is ready, or may be time dependent. The participant requirements may be configured by the individual setting up the call based upon call type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Agora Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Zhao, Jonathan Li
  • Patent number: 9894496
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method in which a terminal provides a Mission Critical Push To Talk (MCPTT) service. The method includes receiving a group call announcement message by the terminal, which is any one of a plurality of terminals participating in a group call that is set based on the MCPTT service, comparing information regarding a first group call stored in the terminal with information regarding a second group call included in the received group call announcement message, and merging the first group call, in which the terminal is participating, and the second group call, based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-sun Baek, Kill-yeon Kim, Duk-gu Sung
  • Patent number: 9883361
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to wireless communications. An aspect generates a plurality of packets of data, each packet comprising a header and a payload of media data, receives opaque data related to a payload of at least one packet, and embeds the opaque data in an extension header of the at least one packet. An aspect receives a plurality of packets of data, each packet comprising a header and a payload of media data, and receives opaque data related to a payload of at least one packet, the opaque data embedded in an extension header of the at least one packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Vijay Anandrao Suryavanshi, Giridhar Dhati Mandyam