Patents by Inventor Dale W. Malik

Dale W. Malik has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8392518
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for composing a package of application files to be sent as e-mail attachments in e-mail communications. A plurality of data structures are created, wherein each data structure groups together a plurality of different user application files designated as attachments to an e-mail communication. Application files designated from within user applications are associated with selected data structures, such that each designated application file is associated with a selected data structure. During composition of an e-mail communication having attachments, a list of the data structures containing application files are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8370756
    Abstract: Presence information of a first user in a messaging system, such as an instant messaging system, is relayed to a second user. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user. Moreover, systems and methods are provided for sending the alert message to an alternate address, including alternate instant messaging (IM) addresses, e-mail address, or telephone numbers, in the event that the intended recipient of the alert message is not accessible at his or her original IM address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Robert A. Koch
  • Publication number: 20130007160
    Abstract: A system for regulating e-mail comprises a database of information profiling legitimate e-mail usage. When an e-mail is received at the system, it is scrutinized relative to the information in the database. If the e-mail is found to be legitimate based upon this evaluation, it is delivered to the intended recipient. If, however, the e-mail appears on the basis of the evaluation to be the last in a series of illegitimate e-mails or otherwise has characteristics inconsistent with the profile of legitimate e-mail usage, the e-mail may not be delivered and the postmaster and administrator at the source of the e-mail is contacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8341018
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing contextual information regarding communication devices and/or services. Profile information relating to a user is stored by a communications manager. Data about a communication for the user may be received from a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network. A comparison is made between the profile information and the data about the communication. Based on the comparison, contextual information relating to the communication is presented. The contextual information may be presented while the user participates in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a communication device and/or service used in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a discrepancy between the profile information relating to the user and the originating communication device and/or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Richard A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20120297322
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for merging of instant messaging (IM) chat sessions. In one embodiment, a method for automatically replying to an IM message from a first IM sender when a recipient is engaged in an IM session with a second IM sender is provided. In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for forwarding IM messages to a recipient at different IM clients. In still another embodiment, a method for transferring IM messages to a different recipient is provided. In some embodiments, two separate IM chat sessions are merged into a single IM chat session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Publication number: 20120278437
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for publishing an electronic document. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A distribution module retrieves a distribution list identifying at least one user that is to be notified about the publication of the electronic document. As such, when a transfer module sends the electronic document to a network location, a messaging module automatically notifies the at least user from the distribution list of the publication of the electronic document and provides instructions to the at least one user for retrieving the electronic document from the network location. Other systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8291023
    Abstract: A system for regulating e-mail comprises a database of information profiling legitimate e-mail usage. When an e-mail is received at the system, it is scrutinized relative to the information in the database. If the e-mail is found to be legitimate based upon this evaluation, it is delivered to the intended recipient. If, however, the e-mail appears on the basis of the evaluation to be the last in a series of illegitimate e-mails or otherwise has characteristics inconsistent with the profile of legitimate e-mail usage, the e-mail may not be delivered and the postmaster and administrator at the source of the e-mail is contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Publication number: 20120259937
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, email messages and IM chat session transcripts are threaded to each other so that an email thread history may be traced back to an IM chat session transcript and, conversely, an IM thread history may be traced back to an email message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: DALE W. MALIK, W. TODD DANIELL
  • Publication number: 20120255024
    Abstract: Some embodiments, among others, include a search for sensitive information. Once a result of the search has been obtained, a score is assigned to the obtained result in accordance with a predefined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8281247
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented which generate modified email messages, which are largely devoid of embedded functions, from original email messages, which have embedded functions. The embedded functions are amenable to self-executing codes such as viruses, worms, and Trojan programs. Thus, the modified email message without these embedded functions, and any argument associated with these functions, provides a more secure email environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: W. Todd Daniell, Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8250161
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for publishing an electronic document. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A distribution module retrieves a distribution list identifying at least one user that is to be notified about the publication of the electronic document. As such, when a transfer module sends the electronic document to a network location, a messaging module automatically notifies the at least user from the distribution list of the publication of the electronic document and provides instructions to the at least one user for retrieving the electronic document from the network location. Other systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8244807
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for merging of instant messaging (IM) chat sessions. In some embodiments, two separate IM chat sessions are merged into a single IM chat session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8239463
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for detecting incorrect e-mail addresses in outgoing e-mail communications. In a first embodiment, a domain name database creates a table of domain names by automatically storing the domain names of e-mail addresses from which incoming e-mails are received. When a user creates an outgoing e-mail communication, the system checks the domain names provided by the user with those domain names stored in the table. If the user-provided domain name does not match any of the domain names in the table, or closely resembles a domain name in the table, the user is prompted to confirm the provided e-mail address. In a second embodiment, e-mail addresses are extracted from incoming e-mail communications and stored in a memory in a client computer e-mail communications system. The system checks the memory for the presence of the e-mail addresses provided in outgoing e-mail communications, and generates a prompt when an e-mail address is not present in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8229926
    Abstract: Some embodiments, among others, include a search for sensitive information of an individual. Once a result of the search has been obtained, a score is assigned to the obtained result in accordance with a predefined criterion. One embodiment is configured to perform searches for different combinations of items having sensitive information. Upon assigning a score to the obtained result, a report of the score is generated which indicates the individual's vulnerability to one or more various security concerns. Accordingly, scores may be assigned to a combination of items in the result which indicates a heightened security risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8224915
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, among others, an email message is received and an IM chat session is automatically initiated from the email message. In some embodiments, the initiation of the IM chat session may be subject to certain programmable criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, W. Todd Daniell
  • Publication number: 20120149397
    Abstract: Included are embodiments for determining data for at least one geographic zone. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining a geographic zone for monitoring and receiving data related to a contact of a user entering the geographic zone. Some embodiments include providing an indication, to the user, that the contact of the user is currently located in the determined geographic zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Edward Michael Silver, Terry Silver
  • Patent number: 8180840
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for automatically replying to instant messaging (IM) messages. In some embodiments, an IM message is received by a recipient and displayed to the recipient. If, during a predefined time interval, the recipient does not provide any response to the IM message, then the IM message is automatically replied to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8166110
    Abstract: A system for providing group accessibility is provided. An example method includes storing a profile associated with a user in a database; maintaining a service group including a plurality of service representatives in the database; and in response to a session between the user and a first one of the service representatives: adding, with a processor, the service group to the profile associated with the user; and associating a rule with the profile to cause the service group to be indicated to the user as present on a network only when the first service representative is present on the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 8145242
    Abstract: Included are embodiments for determining data for at least one geographic zone. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining at least one geographic zone for monitoring and receiving data related to at least one contact of a user entering the at least one geographic zone. Some embodiments include providing an indication, to the user, that the at least one contact of the user is currently located in the determined geographic zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Edward Michael Silver, Terry Silver, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8145720
    Abstract: Inconveniences in switching from one Internet service provider (ISP) to another ISP are remedied by providing streamlined approaches that facilitate the migration from one ISP to another ISP. In one embodiment, user information is validated prior to migrating from the old ISP to the new ISP, thereby ensuring proper transfer of information from the old ISP to the new ISP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Michael Jackson, Jeffrey Allen Lord