William J Hardy

US Patent:

6370120, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Dec 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/220733

Inventors:

William Christopher Hardy - Dallas TX

Assignee:

MCI WorldCom, Inc. - Washington DC

International Classification:

H04L 1226

US Classification:

370252, 370235, 370352

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for evaluating the quality of a packet-switched voice connection. The apparatus includes measurement circuitry coupled to receive a voice signal. The measurement circuitry measures rate of packet loss and at least one other objective characteristic of the voice signal. The rate of packet loss and the at least one other objective characteristic are related to a plurality of quality characteristics affecting the quality of the voice signal as perceived by users, such that measurements of the rate of packet loss and the at least one other objective characteristic can be translated into subjective quantifications of each of the quality characteristics. A database stores an effects matrix. The effects matrix provides quality information for voice signals that include different combinations of subjective quantifications for each quality characteristic. Software operating on the apparatus utilizes measurements of the rate of packet loss and the at least one other objective characteristic and the effects matrix to generate quality information for the voice signal.

US Patent:

6385296, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Oct 6, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/412846

Inventors:

William C. Hardy - Dallas TX
Earl L. Mannas - Germantown MD

Assignee:

MCI Communications Corporation

International Classification:

H04M 124

US Classification:

379 101, 379 9, 379 21, 379 2201, 379 2601, 379 2701, 379 2901

Abstract:

A system and method for testing a telephone connection using an interactive telephone response module (ITRM). In one embodiment, the ITRM is connected between the handset and station set of a telephone terminating one end of the connection to be tested. In another embodiment, the ITRM is connected between the telephone connection and the station set of a telephone terminating one end of the connection to be tested. By operating switches on the ITRM, a user can impose predetermined conditions on the connection. A test coordinator located at a test point or other termination in the telephone network then tests the connection under the predetermined conditions.

US Patent:

6438601, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Oct 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/420656

Inventors:

William C. Hardy - Dallas TX

Assignee:

WorldCom, Inc. - Clinton MS

International Classification:

H04L 932

US Classification:

709229, 709217, 705 53, 705 40

Abstract:

Internet users may utilize a method and system for collecting small access fees for one-time/limited time access to fee for access web sites by capitalizing on the capabilities afforded by the combination of caller pays telephone service and intelligent network services that implement the voice response units for toll free service.

US Patent:

6466673, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

May 11, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/075565

Inventors:

William C. Hardy - Dallas TX

Assignee:

MCI Communications Corporation - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 1106

US Classification:

381 716, 381 712, 381 713

Abstract:

An apparatus for suppressing an induced intracranial noise or vibrational signal within a patients head due to a drilling or cutting medical instrument. The apparatus includes a mechanism for sensing the intracranial vibrational signal induced within the patients head. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for adaptively generating an intracranial vibrational suppression signal from the intracranial vibrational signal as a function of time. In addition, the apparatus provides a mechanism for applying the intracranial vibrational suppression signal to the patients head for suppressing the induced intracranial noise or vibrational signal.

US Patent:

6519323, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

May 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/315245

Inventors:

William Christopher Hardy - Dallas TX
Vaikunth N. Gupta - Potomac MD

Assignee:

WorldCom, Inc. - Clinton MS

International Classification:

H04M 124

US Classification:

379 2901, 379 906, 379 2601, 379 2704, 379 2902

Abstract:

A test unit provides testing capability at a network interface device (NID). The test unit may be remotely activated so that testing is initiated upon activation from a remote site. In one embodiment, a characteristic signal is sent over a telephone line toward the NID. A characteristic signal is detected and the testing unit is activated. The testing unit may perform multiple types of tests, including tests for detecting line loss, line noise and latency. The test unit may be implemented using electronic circuitry or using an intelligent computer system.

US Patent:

6553061, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

Feb 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/779085

Inventors:

William C. Hardy - Dallas TX

Assignee:

WorldCom, Inc. - Clinton MS

International Classification:

H04L 516

US Classification:

375220, 375242, 375342, 375356, 375364, 379 9306, 379 9315, 379 9318, 37914214, 370509, 370520, 704212, 704503

Abstract:

A device for detecting a predetermined waveform in a received signal and synchronizing the detected waveform to the predetermined waveform is disclosed. The device includes a memory element for storing a reference set of encoded values. The reference set representing an encoded version of the predetermined waveform. An encoder is used to PCM encode the signal to obtain sets of encoded values representing the received signal. A processor calculates the statistical correlation coefficient of the reference set and the signal sets. The processor then determines the maximum statistical correlation coefficient. The predetermined waveform is detected in the signal if the maximum statistical correlation coefficient is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. The device provides a compact, inexpensive, and fast method for detecting a known reference waveform in a received signal. This method can also be used to synchronize the signal to the known reference waveform for a point-by-point comparison of the two signals.

US Patent:

6556677, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

May 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/321269

Inventors:

William Christopher Hardy - Dallas TX 75231

International Classification:

H04B 320

US Classification:

37940601, 370286, 370294

Abstract:

A method of for canceling echos at a first end of a telephone call marks every other byte of a first digital representation of a first analog signal originating at the first end of the call with a signature. A second digital representation of a second analog signal from the second end of the call is received at the first end and split into a stream of odd number bytes and a stream of even number bytes. The streams of bytes are analyzed for the presence of the signature and one of the streams of bytes is converted to a third analog signal if the signature is detected.

US Patent:

6564181, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Apr 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/840721

Inventors:

William C. Hardy - Dallas TX

Assignee:

WorldCom, Inc. - Clinton MS

International Classification:

G10L 1510

US Classification:

704201, 704236

Abstract:

A system that provides measurements of speech distortion that correspond closely to user perceptions of speech distortion is disclosed. The system calculates and analyzes first and second discrete derivatives to detect and determine the incidence of change in the voice waveform that would not have been made by human articulation because natural voice signals change at a limited rate. Statistical analysis is performed of both the first and second discrete derivatives to detect speech distortion by looking at the distribution of the signals. For example. the kurtosis of the signals is analyzed as well as the number of times these values exceed a predetermined threshold, Additionally. the number of times the first derivative data is less than a predetermined low value is analyzed to provide a level of speech distortion and clipping of the signal due to lost data packets.

Author:

William John Hardy

ISBN #:

0404198988

Author:

William John Hardy

ISBN #:

0878210741

Author:

William D. Hardy

ISBN #:

0444005692

Author:

William G. Hardy

ISBN #:

0683038567

Author:

William G. Hardy

ISBN #:

0808910124

Author:

William G. Hardy

ISBN #:

0808911457

Author:

William G. Hardy

ISBN #:

0839112130

Author:

William Hardy

ISBN #:

0534573932