James T Panttaja

US Patent:

8001261, Aug 16, 2011

Filed:

Aug 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/197146

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709231, 709203, 709223, 709224, 37039564, 725 25

Abstract:

An apparatus for improving the ability of a recipient to review time-sensitive media upon receipt when network conditions are poor. The apparatus includes a media ascertaining element configured to ascertain if media to be sent from a sending node to a receiving node is time-sensitive. A bandwidth-ascertaining element ascertains if there is sufficient bandwidth for transmitting a full bit rate representation of the media at a first bit rate and at a first packetization interval. If the bandwidth is sufficient, a transmitter transmits the full bit rate representation of the media. If the bandwidth is insufficient, then the transmitter generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media. The reduced bit rate representation is generated by performing one or more of the following (i) using fewer bits per unit time of media when packetizing the media relative to the full bit rate representation; (ii) increasing the packetization interval for the packets used to transmit the reduced bit rate representation; and (iii) adjusting the rate of transmission of the packets used to packetized the reduced bit rate representation of the media.

US Patent:

8090867, Jan 3, 2012

Filed:

Aug 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/192890

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709234, 709235, 370468, 370470

Abstract:

An improved communication method for sending media between a sending node and receiving node during a conversation. When network bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a full bit rate representation of time-sensitive media, then a reduced bit rate representation of the media is transmitted for the purpose of increasing the ability of the recipient to review the media upon receipt and continue the conversation in the real-time mode when the bandwidth on the network is insufficient to support the transmission of the full bit rate representation. Media that is ascertained as not time-sensitive on the other hand is transmitted when bandwidth in excess of what is needed for time-sensitive media becomes available. When the media ascertained as not time-sensitive is transmitted, the rate of transmission is adjusted at the sending node based on network conditions, the adjusted rate of transmission being set for network efficiency and reliable delivery of the media ascertained as not time-sensitive relative to the timeliness of the delivery of the media ascertained as time-sensitive.

US Patent:

8099512, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Oct 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/253833

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709231, 709203, 709223

Abstract:

A method for progressively synchronizing stored copies of indexed media transmitted between nodes on a network. The method includes progressively transmitting available indexed media from a sending node to a receiving node with a packet size and packetization interval sufficient to enable the near real-time rendering of the indexed media, wherein the near real-time rendering of the indexed media provides a recipient with an experience of reviewing the transmitted media live. At the receiving node, the transmitted indexed media is progressively receive and any indexed media that is not already locally stored at the receiving node is noted. The receiving node further continually generates and transmits to the sending node requests as needed for the noted indexed media. In response, the sending node transmits the noted indexed media to the receiving node. Both the sending node and the receiving node store the indexed media.

US Patent:

8107604, Jan 31, 2012

Filed:

May 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/127597

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04M 11/00

US Classification:

379 9301, 379 9001, 379 68, 379 85

Abstract:

A communication device for consecutively rendering one or more conversations. The device includes a receiver configured to receive at the communication device media associated with the one or more conversations over a network. The one or more conversations include a defined set of conversations to be consecutively rendered in accordance with a defined priority hierarchy. The device also includes a sequencing element, which sequences the received media associated with the defined set of conversations into a sequence order at least partially based on the defined priority hierarchy. A rendering element consecutively renders the received media associated with the defined set of conversations in the sequence order.

US Patent:

8111713, Feb 7, 2012

Filed:

Aug 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/192899

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04L 29/06
H04L 12/58

US Classification:

370468, 370470

Abstract:

An improved communication apparatus for transmitting media between a sending node and a receiving node during a conversation. When network bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a full bit rate representation of time-sensitive media, the sending node generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media for the purpose of increasing the ability of the recipient to review the media upon receipt and continue the conversation in the real-time mode when the bandwidth on the network is insufficient to support the transmission of the full bit rate representation. The sending node also transmits media that is ascertained as not time-sensitive only when bandwidth in excess of what is needed for time-sensitive media becomes available. When the media ascertained as not time-sensitive is transmitted, the rate of transmission is adjusted at the sending node based on network conditions, the adjusted rate of transmission being set for network efficiency and reliable delivery of the media ascertained as not time-sensitive relative to the timeliness of the delivery of the media ascertained as time-sensitive.

US Patent:

8121270, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

May 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/122586

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04M 11/00

US Classification:

379 9301, 379 8813, 379 8816, 379 8817

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to an improved media communication device for communicating over a communication network. The communication device includes an encoder, a time-shifting buffer and a transmitter to progressively encode, store in a time-based format, and transmit over the network locally created media created using the communication device. The communication device also includes a receiver and a rendering element to receive and progressively render media received over the network from a remote source. The received media is also stored in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer. By storing media in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer, the received media may be rendered in a near real-time mode and the received and locally created media may be rendered in a time-shifted mode. In various embodiments, the locally created and received media may be streaming media. In yet other embodiments, the media may be segmented into messages that are transmitted to and from the communication device over the network.

US Patent:

8121271, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Jun 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/147393

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04M 11/00

US Classification:

379 9301, 379 9001, 379 9305, 379 9308, 370400, 370328

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a node for transmitting data over a network. The node includes a first ascertaining element configured to ascertain the need to transmit one or more data streams from the node to a second node over the network, the one or more data streams including time-based media that is generated either locally or remotely on the network. The node also includes a second ascertaining element configured to ascertain a timeliness preference for reviewing the one or more data streams by one or more recipients respectively. The ascertained timeliness preference for each one of the data streams is either (a) time-sensitive where at least one recipient of the one data stream has indicated an intent to review the one data stream in a near real-time mode as received by the recipient over the network while the time-based media of the one data stream is being generated or (b) less-than time-sensitive.

US Patent:

8130921, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Apr 25, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/110221

Inventors:

Thomas E. Katis - Jackson WY, US
James T. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Mary G. Panttaja - Healdsburg CA, US
Matthew J. Ranney - Oakland CA, US

Assignee:

Voxer IP LLC - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

H04M 11/00

US Classification:

379 9301, 379 9001, 379 8812

Abstract:

A communication device capable of participating in a conversation over a network. The communication device includes an encoder to receive and encode media locally created using the communication device and associated with the conversation and a transmitter to transmit over the network the locally created media to one or more participants of the conversation. The communication device also includes a receiver to receive media from the one or more participants of the conversation over the network and a time-shifting buffer to store in a time-based format both the media received over the communication network and the locally created media. The time-shifting buffer enables the communication device to either (i) render the media received over the network in a near real-time mode or (ii) render both the media received over the network and the locally created media in a time-shifted mode by retrieving the stored media from the time-shifting buffer. A conversation management system enables the communication device to transition rendering of the media of the conversation between the time-shifted mode and the near real-time mode without interrupting the ongoing storage of the media of the conversation received at the communication device over the network into the time-shifting buffer. By associating the locally created media and the media received over the network, the conversation is constituted.