Thomas G Stark

US Patent:

6646997, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Oct 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/426684

Inventors:

Warren E. Baxley - Arvada CO
Gregory A. Clemson - Superior CO
William P. Ernstrom - Golden CO
Eric J. Nylander - Morrison CO
Thomas W. Stark - Englewood CO

Assignee:

Voyant Technologies, Inc. - Westminster CO

International Classification:

H04L 1216

US Classification:

370260, 370261, 37920201, 709204

Abstract:

A method of large-scale fault-tolerant audio conferencing in an audio conferencing system using a purely packet-switched network. An endpoint places a call to a conference gatekeeper indicating an audio conference. The conference gatekeeper determines whether the call contains sufficient information to establish the audio conference. If there is insufficient information, the endpoint is connected to an IVR server that obtains sufficient information from the endpoint. Either way, a CACS selects an MCU hosting or that will host the audio conference. The CACS then responds to the endpoint with routing instructions indicating the selected MCU and the endpoint connects or transfers to the selected MCU. The MCU mixes input from all endpoints in the audio conference to form a voice stream, which is then returned to each endpoint in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference.

US Patent:

6657975, Dec 2, 2003

Filed:

Oct 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/426382

Inventors:

Warren E. Baxley - Arvada CO
Gregory A. Clemson - Superior CO
William P. Ernstrom - Golden CO
Eric J. Nylander - Morrison CO
Thomas W. Stark - Englewood CO

Assignee:

Voyant Technologies, Inc. - Westminter CO

International Classification:

H04L 1216

US Classification:

370260, 370352, 370401, 370466, 709204, 37920201

Abstract:

An audio conferencing method in a hybrid network. Input from a plurality of endpoints connected to an audio conference in the hybrid network is received in a media gateway. The media gateway converts the input to an MCU-usable format and selects input based on predetermined selection criteria. An MCU mixes the selected input with other selected input to form an output stream and a sum stream which are matched with the endpoints in the audio conference. The media gateway converts the output stream and the sum stream to an endpoint-compatible format which is returned to the endpoints in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference. Once established in the hybrid network, the audio conference supports full service audio conferencing. In addition, dynamic routing permits an operator to service multiple MCUs, and an audio conference participant and/or an entire audio conference to be moved between MCUs.

US Patent:

6879565, Apr 12, 2005

Filed:

Oct 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696376

Inventors:

Warren E. Baxley - Arvada CO, US
Gregory A. Clemson - Superior CO, US
William P. Ernstrom - Golden CO, US
Eric J. Nylander - Morrison CO, US
Thomas W. Stark - Englewood CO, US

Assignee:

Polycom, Inc. - Pleasanton CA

International Classification:

H04L012/16

US Classification:

370261, 370352, 370401, 379158, 37920201, 709229, 709231

Abstract:

An audio conferencing method in a hybrid network. Input from a plurality of endpoints connected to an audio conference in the hybrid network is received in a media gateway. The media gateway converts the input to an MCU-usable format and selects input based on predetermined selection criteria. An MCU mixes the selected input with other selected input to form an output stream and a sum stream which are matched with the endpoints in the audio conference. The media gateway converts the output stream and the sum stream to an endpoint-compatible format which is returned to the endpoints in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference. Once established in the hybrid network, the audio conference supports full service audio conferencing. In addition, dynamic routing permits an operator to service multiple MCUs, and an audio conference participant and/or an entire audio conference to be moved between MCUs.

US Patent:

7269562, Sep 11, 2007

Filed:

Apr 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/426007

Inventors:

Gary M. Leask - Dallas TX, US
Karthik Ranganathan - Plano TX, US
Thomas Stark - Allen TX, US

Assignee:

Intervoice Limited Partnership - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G10L 15/00

US Classification:

704275, 379 8803

Abstract:

A system and method is disclosed for exposing complete call flow speech components to users via Web services that are called by converged voice-Web server applications. The Web service call flow speech components may be accessed by application server pages resident on a Web server and accessible through either a telephony environment or a data network environment, such as the Internet. The Web service call flow speech objects automatically generate the appropriate speech access formatting into the corresponding server application page. By removing the speech component programming from development of the application server page, the representative embodiments expand the potential use of multimodal and or converged voice-Web applications and devices.

US Patent:

20040085914, May 6, 2004

Filed:

Oct 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/697810

Inventors:

Warren Baxley - Arvada CO, US
Gregory Clemson - Superior CO, US
William Ernstrom - Golden CO, US
Eric Nylander - Morrison CO, US
Thomas Stark - Englewood CO, US

International Classification:

H04L012/16

US Classification:

370/260000

Abstract:

A method of large-scale fault-tolerant audio conferencing in an audio conferencing system using a purely packet-switched network. An endpoint places a call to a conference gatekeeper indicating an audio conference. The conference gatekeeper determines whether the call contains sufficient information to establish the audio conference. If there is insufficient information, the endpoint is connected to an IVR server that obtains sufficient information from the endpoint. Either way, a CACS selects an MCU hosting or that will host the audio conference. The CACS then responds to the endpoint with routing instructions indicating the selected MCU and the endpoint connects or transfers to the selected MCU. The MCU mixes input from all endpoints in the audio conference to form a voice stream, which is then returned to each endpoint in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference. Once established, the audio conference supports full service audio conferencing. In addition, dynamic routing permits an operator to service multiple MCUs, and an audio conference participant and/or an entire audio conference to be moved between MCUs. The audio conference can also be broadcast from a streaming protocol server to passive participants.

US Patent:

61018473, Aug 15, 2000

Filed:

Dec 13, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/166131

Inventors:

Donald Ellsworth Shamp - Millbury OH
Thomas Fowler Stark - Littleton CO
Jack Roy Elliott - Etowah TN
Larry Edward Howard - Athens TN

Assignee:

Schuller International, Inc. - Denver CO

International Classification:

C03B 516

US Classification:

651344

Abstract:

A method for melting and refining glass, such as E glass, comprises feeding glass batch materials into a melting and refining tank for melting and refining the glass batch materials into glass and a forehearth, downstream of the tank, for further refining the glass and delivering the glass to fiberizing means. The melting and refining tank is heated with oxygen fired burners. The oxygen fired burners in the melting and refining tank are located in the sidewalls at the upstream end of the tank and extend for about one-third, one-half or two-thirds the length of the tank. In one embodiment, burners are also located in the upstream end wall. This arrangement of the oxygen fired burners at the upstream end of the melting and refining tank moves the melter hot spot upstream for better refining of the glass and enables the furnace to produce a higher output of glass than can be obtained in a conventional E glass furnace of the same size.

US Patent:

53465245, Sep 13, 1994

Filed:

Feb 9, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/015491

Inventors:

Donald E. Shamp - Millbury OH
Thomas F. Stark - Littleton CO
Harry E. Swisher - Parkersburg WV

Assignee:

Schuller International, Inc. - Denver CO

International Classification:

C03B 516

US Classification:

651344

Abstract:

An oxygen-fuel firing system for a furnace comprising separate, spread apart nozzles for introducing gaseous streams of oxygen and fuel into the furnace at spaced apart locations. The gaseous streams merge within the furnace away from the furnace walls and crown. Thus, the main combustion within the furnace takes place in the central portion of the furnace where a broad flame cloud is created. The broad flame cloud provides a more uniform temperature profile within the furnace for a more efficient processing of materials being melted in the furnace.

US Patent:

56433484, Jul 1, 1997

Filed:

Jan 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/376569

Inventors:

Donald Ellsworth Shamp - Millbury OH
Thomas Fowler Stark - Littleton CO
Harry Earl Swisher - Parkersburg WV

Assignee:

Schuller International, Inc. - Denver CO

International Classification:

C03B 504

US Classification:

651344

Abstract:

An oxygen-fuel firing system for a furnace comprising separate, spread apart nozzles for introducing gaseous streams of oxygen and fuel into the furnace at spaced apart locations. The gaseous streams merge within the furnace away from the furnace walls and crown. Thus, the main combustion within the furnace takes place in the central portion of the furnace where a broad flame cloud is created. The broad flame cloud provides a more uniform temperature profile within the furnace for a more efficient processing of materials being melted in the furnace.