Edward Allen Tracy

US Patent:

55598757, Sep 24, 1996

Filed:

Jul 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/509390

Inventors:

David N. Bieselin - Menlo Park CA
Glenn A. Eaton - San Jose CA
Joseph A. McFadden - Palo Alto CA
Stuart A. Taylor - Menlo Park CA
Edward D. Tracy - Palo Alto CA
Emil C. W. Wang - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Latitude Communications - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04M 356
H04M 350

US Classification:

379202

Abstract:

An innovative recording and playback system to record and play back audio conferences. In one embodiment, the audio recorded during the conference is digitized and placed in blocks of a determined size. These blocks are stored on a computer storage medium such as a disk drive. A data structure is maintained consisting of an identification of the number and location of the voice blocks. Also provided in the data structure is the identification and location of blocks of data corresponding to the conference participants as well as the identification of other information associated with the conference. When the conference is to be played back by the user, the data structure and corresponding blocks are accessed to play back the conference as well as selectively provide the additional information, for example, the spoken names of the conference participants, to the user.

US Patent:

54835887, Jan 9, 1996

Filed:

Dec 23, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/363720

Inventors:

Glenn A. Eaton - San Jose CA
Joseph A. McFadden - Palo Alto CA
Stuart A. Taylor - Menlo Park CA
Edward D. Tracy - Palo Alto CA
Emil C. W. Wang - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Latitute Communications - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04M 356

US Classification:

379202

Abstract:

A teleconferencing system having screened introductions, named introductions, roll call, talker identification, and subconferencing, scheduling, and recording options. A caller attempting to join a teleconference is prompted to enter identification information by generating corresponding DTMF signals. The caller's identification is used to index the caller's profile stored in memory. The profile includes a memory address pointer to the location at which data representative of the spoken name of the caller is stored. The caller's identification is also checked against a list specified by the meeting organizer and stored in memory to determine whether the caller is to be admitted to the teleconference. If the caller is to be admitted to the teleconference, an announcement is generated to the attendees of the teleconference using the caller's spoken name retrieved from memory. Likewise, when the attendee leaves the conference, the system detects the attendee disconnecting and retrieves the attendee's spoken name stored in memory in order to generate an announcement to the attendees: "XYZ has left the conference.

US Patent:

56688636, Sep 16, 1997

Filed:

Apr 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/638196

Inventors:

David N. Bieselin - Menlo Park CA
Glenn A. Eaton - San Jose CA
Joseph A. McFadden - Palo Alto CA
Stuart A. Taylor - Menlo Park CA
Edward D. Tracy - Palo Alto CA
Emil C. W. Wang - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Latitude Communications - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04M 356
H04M 350

US Classification:

379202

Abstract:

An innovative recording and playback system to record and play back audio conferences. In one embodiment, each conference participant's spoken name is recorded and stored in audio files. In addition, the combined voice signals generated by conference participants during the conference are stored in a conference data file. Data links are provided between the spoken names of the conference participants and the combined voice signals recorded during the conference. During playback of the recorded conference, a user can enter a command to an input device to playback the spoken names of the conference participants. In other embodiments, other conference information is stored in audio files and linked to the conference data file such that the information can be retrieved and audibly played back to the user.

US Patent:

56195559, Apr 8, 1997

Filed:

Jul 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/508553

Inventors:

Wayne Fenton - San Jose CA
Glenn A. Eaton - San Jose CA
Joseph A. McFadden - Palo Alto CA
Stuart A. Taylor - Menlo Park CA
Edward D. Tracy - Palo Alto CA
Emil C. W. Wang - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Latitude Communications - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04M 356

US Classification:

379 67

Abstract:

A audio conferencing system is provided whereby an audio conference participant interfaces with the system through a graphical user interface (GUI) computer program running on a remote computer or workstation. To join an audio conference currently in progress, a participant controls the GUI computer program to transmit a signal over a local area network to a central server. The central server, by examining database information, determines whether the participant is authorized to join the audio conference. If so, the central server controls a telephone system connected thereto and causes the telephone system to call the participant at a pre-listed telephone number. The participant then joins the actual audio conference merely by answering the telephone. Numerous other functions are available to the audio participant both during an audio conference and other times. By providing a GUI-based software interface to the audio conferencing system, significantly greater functionality is conveniently provided to an audio conference participant than previously available.