Patents Assigned to Targus Information Corporation
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Patent number: 8363814Abstract: A system and method for automatically and seamlessly routing telephone calls across a telephone network. The system includes a telephone network interface box having a computer, a master file and client file stored in the computer. The master file is dynamically linked to the client file at routing time to produce a selected client location telephone number which is transmitted across the telephone network. In one embodiment, the system utilizes Automatic Number Identification to identify the calling party. The master file has a plurality of records having a telephone number and a spatial key and is updated frequently. The client file has a plurality of records having a spatial key and a client telephone number. Another embodiment utilizes a spatial coordinate of an instantaneous location of a caller's mobile device as an input to a real-time process which identifies one or more client service locations corresponding to the location of the caller's device.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Publication number: 20120173537Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieving household data based on an origination identifier. In an embodiment, an origination identifier of a communication is captured. The origination identifier is indexed into a master table comprising a plurality of records. Each of the records comprises an association between an origination identifier and a universal database linkage key, and each universal database linkage key comprises an index into one or more databases. A universal database linkage key associated with the captured origination identifier is retrieved and indexed into one or more databases. Household data associated with the captured origination identifier is retrieved from the one or more databases and communicated to at least one recipient.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: TARGUS INFORMATION CORPORATIONInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Publication number: 20120158653Abstract: Systems and method for distributing updates on demand to synchronize a remote client database with a source database are provided. A client can request an online update from the database content provider and the database provider can stream database updates to the client over a network connection in real time, or the database content provider can stream database updates to the client at scheduled times based on a licensing agreement with the client. This allows the client database to be kept in synch with the source database without requiring that the database provider generate a set of database updates on physical media and ship the physical media to the client for processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: TARGUS INFORMATION CORPORATIONInventors: James D. Shaffer, Alex Oliveira
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Publication number: 20120136873Abstract: A system and method of generating a contact list based on a geographic definition and, in certain embodiments, other screening criteria. In an embodiment, a geographic definition, specifying a geographic area, is received. The geographic definition is translated into at least one linkage key. A contact list, comprising a plurality of records associated with the geographic area, is then generated from one or more databases using the at least one linkage key as an index into the one or more databases.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Patent number: 8180041Abstract: A one number, multi-application, intelligent call processing system provides service benefits to a caller, a servicing location and/or a vanity number advertiser during a call, parallel to the call and/or post call in an integrated common architecture. The system utilizes VRU technology in conjunction with the national telecommunications network connected via Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) to a virtual telephone number database containing a nationwide master list of telephone numbers with attribute data items associated by Spatial Key linkage to each telephone number. The process of the invention is initiated by a caller dialing a selected telephone number to request information and/or services. Based on the number dialed, a caller or network provided ten-digit telephone number and VRU prompted for and received caller input, the system retrieves the application requested data from the virtual telephone number database and provides it to the network.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Patent number: 8160614Abstract: A method and system for providing automated concierge services to end users communicates with users over network devices, such as telephones and wireless devices, and utilizes third party network location-based service (LBS) applications, such as Internet/Web locators, to obtain location information based on user requests. On receipt of a request from a mobile device, the location of the mobile device is identified. A network application related to the requested service is identified and the user location is translated into an input parameter compatible with the network application which is provided to the network applications. A response to the input parameter is received and processed in order to generate an answer to the user's request. Finally, the application sends the answer to the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, John F. Keaveney
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Publication number: 20110319061Abstract: A system and method for providing enhanced information to a mobile communication device regarding a calling device is described. The system and method includes receiving an incoming call request at a mobile communication device including the identifier of the calling device. An information request is then formulated including the identifier of the calling device. The information request is transmitted from the mobile communication device to the query processing center via a data communication channel. A response is then obtained from the data processing center and transmitted to the mobile phone via the data communication channel. The response received from the data processing center includes the requested information related to the calling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: TARGUS INFORMATION CORPORATIONInventors: Craig S. Schmackpfeffer, Ross Shanken, James D. Shaffer, Alan C. Burye
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Patent number: 8085924Abstract: A one number, multi-application, intelligent call processing system provides service benefits to a caller, a servicing location and/or a vanity number advertiser during a call, parallel to the call and/or post call in an integrated common architecture. The system utilizes VRU technology in conjunction with the national telecommunications network connected via Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) to a virtual telephone number database containing a nationwide master list of telephone numbers with attribute data items associated by Spatial Key linkage to each telephone number. The process of the invention is initiated by a caller dialing a selected telephone number to request information and/or services. Based on the number dialed, a caller or network provided ten-digit telephone number and VRU prompted for and received caller input, the system retrieves the application requested data from the virtual telephone number database and provides it to the network.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Patent number: 8064586Abstract: A real-time, interactive system and method of building a list of contact records, such as a mailing list, on a computer network based on selected criteria. A list specification is generated, which may include interactively specifying a geographically defined area for which a contact list is desired including receiving user input, and interactively selecting a product from a plurality of products and a threshold score for the product including receiving user input. The list specification may be transmitted over the computer network to a server where the contact list is built in real-time based on the list specification. If a set of characteristics of the contact list, such as number of records generated or cost, are approved by the user, the contact list is transmitted to a user-specified node on the computer network. The list specification may be stored in memory for reuse by a business, such as a chain of stores.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Patent number: 8060367Abstract: Improved systems and methods are described which simplify the individual's interaction with speech recognition software, expand the database of spoken point names that can be recognized, and increase the quality and therefore likelihood of success of speech recognition applications. The present systems and methods apply to various uses, such as providing driving directions, finding the nearest location based service, and finding the nearest “Where Am I?” type of location based services.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Targus Information CorporationInventor: John F. Keaveney
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Publication number: 20100056119Abstract: A system and method for providing enhanced information to a mobile telephone regarding a calling device is described. The system and method includes receiving an incoming call request at a mobile telephone including the identifier of the calling device. An information request is then formulated including the identifier of the calling device. The information request is transmitted from the mobile phone to the query processing center via a data communication channel. A response is then obtained from the data processing center and transmitted to the mobile phone via the data communication channel. The response received from the data processing center includes the requested information related to the calling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: Targus Information CorporationInventors: James D. Shaffer, Gregory Lowell Greenberg, Alan Charles Burye, JR., Robert B. Hinkley, Craig Steven Schmackpfeffer
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Publication number: 20090074163Abstract: A one number, multi-application, intelligent call processing system provides service benefits to a caller, a servicing location and/or a vanity number advertiser during a call, parallel to the call and/or post call in an integrated common architecture. The system utilizes VRU technology in conjunction with the national telecommunications network connected via Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) to a virtual telephone number database containing a nationwide master list of telephone numbers with attribute data items associated by Spatial Key linkage to each telephone number. The process of the invention is initiated by a caller dialing a selected telephone number to request information and/or services. Based on the number dialed, a caller or network provided ten-digit telephone number and VRU prompted for and received caller input, the system retrieves the application requested data from the virtual telephone number database and provides it to the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: TARGUS INFORMATION CORPORATIONInventors: James D. Shaffer, George G. Moore
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Publication number: 20090070196Abstract: In one aspect, a system and method is provided for developing small geographic area population, household, business and demographic count estimates and projections using a MAF. The systems and methods described herein use mailing addresses and corresponding address related records, in conjunction with the DPV validation and RDI coding functionality, as well as ZIP+4 type coding, in order to build a MAF with unique DPV validated addresses. Each address in the MAF is delivery point coded (DPC), mail delivery validated, has a residential/business address code, and has a USPS ZIP+4 type, FIPS code, latitude and longitude and selected demographic data. The MAF is then tabulated directly or used in conjunction with current county level or Census Bureau estimates to generate estimates of the census block records or census block group records and/or areas of any size or shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: TARGUS INFORMATION CORPORATIONInventors: James D. Shaffer, Eric R. Hardy, Kenneth L. Inman, Loren Jay Albertazzi
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Publication number: 20090006077Abstract: Improved systems and methods are described which simplify the individual's interaction with speech recognition software, expand the database of spoken point names that can be recognized, and increase the quality and therefore likelihood of success of speech recognition applications. The present systems and methods apply to various uses, such as providing driving directions, finding the nearest location based service, and finding the nearest “Where Am I?” type of location based services.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: TARGUS INFORMATION CORPORATIONInventor: John F. Keaveney