Other

Microtouch Systems, Inc.

Truemail Technologies, LLC

Bringrr Systems, LLC

Ol Security Limited Liability Company

Personal Audio, LLC

James D. Logan and Kerry M. Logan Family Trust

Internet Angles, Inc.

Charles G Call

James D Logan

Daniel F Goessling

Michael A Form

Daniel Opalacz

Jeffrey D Logan

Derek V Carroll

Mark J Palmer

Heng Pan

Teeporn Paul Tanpitukpongse

T Paul Tanpitukpongse

Methods and apparatus for identifying unwanted email messages by transmitting metadata with an outbound email message that indicates the total number of email messages sent by that sender in a predetermined time period, or alternatively indicates the total number of email messages which are equivalent to the outgoing message that have been sent. In addition the metadata may include an identification of the sender and a 'pledge' made by the sender. A pledge may take the form of a binding commitment from the sender that the information contained in the metadata is accurate, and/or that the sender promises to abide by predetermined good conduct rules designed to limit unwanted email. The outgoing message may be further signed by the sender with a digital signature that provides means for verifying the content of the message and the pledge as well as the identity of the sender.

Methods and apparatus for controlling the transmission and receipt of email messages

A system, method and device to interrogate for the presence of objects, to prevent the inadvertent separation of the objects from their owner. An owner is alerted when they are separated from the objects by determining when a trigger event occurs, such as a person leaving and/or entering a particular monitored area or location. These monitored areas can be retrofitted with an electronic interrogation device that monitors local conditions to determine whether a user is entering or leaving the monitored area to trigger an interrogation of the personal items. The interrogation device is constructed and arranged to communicate with the objects to determine whether the objects are with the owner. The interrogation device automatically determines the presence of a particular object at the monitored environment and automatically generates a notification when needed. The system further controls functionality of the objects, according to illustrative embodiments, when the object is present.

System, method and device to interrogate for the presence of objects

A communications system for simulcasting audio or audiovisual program content to a plurality of participating system users via a communication network. Each user operates an access device that reproduces the received program content for the user and also accepts spoken comments from the user concurrently with or immediately following the reproduction of the program content. The spoken comments are transmitted to at least selected ones of the other users so that the selected users can engage in a conversation about the program content as it is simulcast.

Methods and apparatus for creating, combining, distributing and reproducing program content for groups of participating users

Methods and apparatus for controlling the transmission and receipt of email message

A system, method and device for managing messages. A caller dialing a particular line has a message managing device operatively connected to the line, that records a copy of the message to be recorded on the line, such as on a conventional answering machine. The MMD includes ring detection circuitry to detect an incoming call. The copy of the message recorded on the line can be communicated to the appropriate user by correlating the incoming call data with a contact list or other preferences selected by a user. The user/recipient of the message can also be manually selected by the caller. The MMD can also implement a virtual phone application for creating a plurality of distinct, unique rings for one line, based upon the caller information.

System, method and device for managing messages

An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber's use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber's preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing.

System for disseminating media content representing episodes in a serialized sequence

An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. Voice input and control mechanisms included in the player allow the user to perform hands-free navigation of the program materials.

Audio program distribution and playback system

Methods and apparatus for identifying unwanted email messages by transmitting metadata with an outbound email message that indicates the total number of email messages sent by that sender in a predetermined time period, or alternatively indicates the total number of email messages which are equivalent to the outgoing message that have been sent. In addition the metadata may include an identification of the sender and a 'pledge' made byte sender. A pledge may take the form of a binding commitment from the sender that the information contained in the metadata is accurate, and/or that the sender promises to abide by predetermined good conduct rules designed to limit unwanted email. The outgoing message may be further signed by the sender with a digital signature that provides means for verifying the content of the message and the pledge as well as the identity of the sender.

Apparatus for storing and processing a plurality of data items each comprising supplied data values organized in one or more fields each of which stores typed data. Character strings and natural language text are converted to numerical token values in an array of fixed length integers and other forms of typed data (real numbers, dates, times, boolean values, etc.) are also converted to integer form and stored in the array. Stored metadata specifies the data type of all data in the integer array to enable each integer to be rapidly accessed and interpreted. When fixed length data types are present, the metadata specifies location, size and type of each fixed length element. When variable length data is stored in the integer array, size and location data stored in the integer array is accessed to rapidly and directly access the variable size data. The presence of implicit or explicit size information for each data structure, including variable size structures, speeds processing by eliminating the need to scan the data for delimiters, and by reducing the processing needed to perform memory allocation, data movement, lookup operations and data addressing functions. Data stored in the integer array is subdivided into items, and items are subdivided into fields. Items may be organized into more complex data structures, such as relational tables, hierarchical object structures, linked lists and trees, and the like, using special fields called links which identify other referenced items.

Methods and apparatus for storing and manipulating variable length and fixed length data elements as a sequence of fixed length integers

Methods and apparatus for disseminating over the Internet product information produced and maintained by product manufacturers using existing universal product codes (bar codes) as access keys. A cross-referencing resource preferably implemented by the existing Internet Domain Name System (DNS) receives Internet request messages containing all or part of a universal product code value and returns the Internet address at which data or services relating to the identified product, or to the manufacturer of that product, may be obtained. By using preferred Web data storage formats and protocol which conform to XML, XLS, XLink, Xpointer, RDF and Web service standards specifications, product and company information may be seamlessly identified, retrieved and integrated with information from other sources. A 'web register' module can be employed to provide an Internet interface between a shared sales Internet server and an otherwise conventional inventory control system, and operates in conjunction with the cross-referencing server to provide detailed product information to Internet shoppers who may purchase goods from existing stores via the Internet.

Methods and apparatus for using the internet domain name system to disseminate product information

Methods and apparatus for disseminating over the Internet product information produced and maintained by product manufacturers using existing universal product codes (bar codes) as access keys. A cross-referencing resource, which may take the form of an independent HTTP server, an LDAP directory server, or the existing Internet Domain Name Service (DNS), receives Internet request messages containing all or part of a universal product code and returns the Internet address at which information about the identified product, or the manufacturer of that product, may be obtained. By using preferred Web data storage formats which conform to XML, XLS, XLink, Xpointer and RDF specifications, product information may be seamlessly integrated with information from other sources. A &ldquo;web register&rdquo; module can be employed to provide an Internet interface between a shared sales Internet server and an otherwise conventional inventory control system, and operates in conjunction with the cross-referencing server to provide detailed product information to Internet shoppers who may purchase goods from existing stores via the Internet.

Methods and apparatus for disseminating product information via the internet using universal product codes

An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber's use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber's preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing. Voice input and control mechanisms included in the player allow the user to perform hands-free navigation of the program materials and to dictate comments and messages which are returned to the host for retransmission to other subscribers. The program segments sent to each subscriber may include advertising materials which the user can selectively play to obtain credits against the subscriber fee. Parallel audio and text transcript files for at least selected programming enable subject matter searching and synchronization of the audio and text files. Speech synthesis may be used to convert transcript files into audio format. Image files may also be transmitted from the server for synchronized playback with the audio programming.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Charles G Call