Patents by Inventor Elita Ng

Elita Ng 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: 9882865
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a user can receive voice calls using multiple phone numbers on a mobile device such as a smartphone. The voice calls can be carried via the wireless carrier associated with the mobile device, using the device's normal allowance for voice calls, without the need to use large amounts of data. In at least one embodiment, incoming voice calls are accurately identified as having been made to either the registered number for the device or an alternate number. In addition, in at least one embodiment, when a voice call is received at a device, the phone number, name, and/or other contact information for the originator of the call is/are provided to the user of the device. In at least one embodiment, any or all of these pieces of information can be provided to the user of the device for every incoming voice call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Pinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph K. Sipher, Elita Ng, Margi Patel
  • Patent number: 8660524
    Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Jocelyn Cloutier, Joseph Sipher, Elita Ng
  • Publication number: 20130281052
    Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Jocelyn Cloutier, Joseph Sipher, Elita Ng
  • Patent number: 8478252
    Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Pinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Jocelyn Cloutier, Joseph Sipher, Elita Ng
  • Publication number: 20120289207
    Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: PINGER, INC.
    Inventors: Jocelyn Cloutier, Joseph Sipher, Elita Ng