Patents by Inventor Mark Ratcliffe

Mark Ratcliffe 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: 8547965
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide uniform resource identifier (URI) portability for communication networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a first communication session initiation message identifying a called party, identifying a URI associated with the called party, querying a global URI database based on the URI to identify a domain name associated with a service provider network based on the URI, and sending a second communication session initiation message including the URI to the service provider network via the domain name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Min Lu, Yi Chin, Gerald L. Hoover, Mark Ratcliffe, Leopold Strahs
  • Patent number: 8533340
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide virtual CSCFs in an IMS system. The Virtual CSCFs may be virtual S-CSCFs or virtual P-CSCFs. A master virtual CSCF may be used to distribute subscriber data and initial filter criteria to the virtual CSCFs in a group. Thus one of multiple servers may be used for processing call sessions for the same subscriber, thereby avoiding overloading a particular CSCF in an IMS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Ratcliffe, Gerald L. Hoover, Min Lu
  • Publication number: 20130088989
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscriber load distribution in networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives capacity data and user equipment (UE) resource consumption data from a plurality of devices that process call control signaling messages within the communication network. The method receives a first request from one of the plurality of devices to re-register one or more selected user equipment, and selects at least one available device from the plurality of devices. The method then re-registers the one or more selected user equipment on the at least one available device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Noel, Mark Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 8369313
    Abstract: A method for providing multimedia services to subscriber user equipment (UE) within an IP multimedia subsystem network (IMS) may include configuring the IMS to enable a single UE to fork register and cooperate with multiple serving-call session control functions (S-CSCFs). After obtaining IP connectivity, the single UE signals to register with the IMS and the IMS determines whether the UE is configured to fork register with multiple S-CSCFs. If the UE is configured, the IMS determines which S-CSCFs are eligible for the UE registration and fork registers the UE to multiple S-CSCFs of the eligible S-CSCFs. Consequently, incoming and outgoing calls to/from the UE are routed by the IMS to any of the multiple registered S-CSCFs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Min Lu, Mark Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 8339956
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscriber load distribution in networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives capacity data and user equipment (UE) resource consumption data from a plurality of devices that process call control signaling messages within the communication network. The method receives a first request from one of the plurality of devices to re-register one or more selected user equipment, and selects at least one available device from the plurality of devices. The method then re-registers the one or more selected user equipment on the at least one available device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Noel, Mark Ratcliffe
  • Publication number: 20120297079
    Abstract: Systems for graceful termination of support for session initiation protocol communications on a server are described. Systems include techniques for setting a time period for gracefully terminating such support, for sending a service unavailable message to a client, for causing the server to maintain support, until no later than the expiration of the time period for terminating support, for uncompleted session initiation protocol invites accepted by the server before sending the service unavailable message to the client, and for terminating support for session initiation protocol communications on the server no later than upon expiration of the time period for terminating support. Methods for graceful termination of such support and computer-readable storage media whose contents cause a computer system to perform a graceful termination of such support are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Koan S. Chong, James R. Dobbins, Mark A. Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 8298606
    Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods that can serve as a prosthetic and/or, for tissue engineer applications, as a supporting matrix in the stabilization of the myocardium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Kevin E. Healy, Samuel Thomas Wall, Mark Ratcliffe, Julius Guccione
  • Publication number: 20120219127
    Abstract: A method and system are adapted to provide telephony services to aggregate endpoints on an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. The method includes assigning one or multiple PUIDs for surrogate registration purposes during the provisioning of the aggregate endpoint, performing reliable surrogate registration on behalf of the aggregate endpoint, allowing multiple SBCs to perform surrogate registrations independently for the same aggregate endpoint to achieve reliability, and providing reliable connection from an IMS core to the aggregate endpoints via multiple S/BCs. The system includes one or more Session Border Controllers (S/BC), at least one set of Call/Session Control Functions (CSCF), and an HSS operatively coupled together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Min Lu, Martin Dolly, Saul Fishman, Gerald Hoover, Mark Ratcliffe, Tienyu Chiu, Guy J. Zenner, Canby Dautel, JR., Hadriel Kaplan, Nathan Thomas Denbow
  • Patent number: 8239554
    Abstract: Systems for graceful termination of support for session initiation protocol communications on a server are described. Systems include techniques for setting a time period for gracefully terminating such support, for sending a service unavailable message to a client, for causing the server to maintain support, until no later than the expiration of the time period for terminating support, for uncompleted session initiation protocol invites accepted by the server before sending the service unavailable message to the client, and for terminating support for session initiation protocol communications on the server no later than upon expiration of the time period for terminating support. Methods for graceful termination of such support and computer-readable storage media whose contents cause a computer system to perform a graceful termination of such support are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Koan S. Chong, James R. Dobbins, Mark A. Ratcliffe
  • Publication number: 20120147756
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling multiple services to be invoked in a specific precedence per call are disclosed. For example, the present method allows a subscriber to interact with a plurality of services provided by a service provider on a single call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: John C. Brown, Koan S. Chong, Robert Peters, Mark A. Ratcliffe, Harish Samarasinghe
  • Patent number: 8121274
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling multiple services to be invoked in a specific precedence per call are disclosed. For example, the present method allows a subscriber to interact with a plurality of services provided by a service provider on a single call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: John C. Brown, Koan S. Chong, Robert Peters, Mark A. Ratcliffe, Harish Samarasinghe
  • Patent number: 8081313
    Abstract: A monitor for monitoring gas concentration in an aerospace application is described, one such application being measuring the concentration of oxygen in or next to aviation fuel. The monitor comprises: a substance, the spectroscopic properties of which change when the substance is exposed to the gas; a light source, arranged to irradiate the substance with light; and a photosensor, arranged to detect light from the substance. The substance may be mounted on a solid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Joseph K-W Lam, Norman Mark Ratcliffe, Stephen Smith
  • Publication number: 20110259080
    Abstract: A method of detection of a volatile compound in a gaseous atmosphere comprises irradiating a semiconducting metal oxide material with ultraviolet light, exposing the irradiated material to the gaseous atmosphere and determining the presence of any volatile compound in the atmosphere by monitoring a change in electrical conductivity of the material. The method can detect non-polar organic compounds as well as polar compounds. Zinc oxide particles in the nanometre size range are preferred. The method may be used for medical diagnosis or for environment monitoring purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: University of the West of England, Bristol
    Inventors: Norman Mark Ratcliffe, Ben De Lacy Costello, Mary Winifred Richards
  • Publication number: 20110064073
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide uniform resource identifier (URI) portability for communication networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a first communication session initiation message identifying a called party, identifying a URI associated with the called party, querying a global URI database based on the URI to identify a domain name associated with a service provider network based on the URI, and sending a second communication session initiation message including the URI to the service provider network via the domain name.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Min Lu, Yi Chin, Gerald L. Hoover, Mark Ratcliffe, Leopold Strahs
  • Patent number: 7826390
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a distributed subscriber load distribution in networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives capacity data from a plurality of devices, and measures a peak period volume for each of a plurality of registered user equipment that is registered with one of the plurality of devices. The method determines whether a peak period volume of the one device reaches an on-set threshold of the one device, and selects one or more of the plurality of registered user equipment if the on-set threshold of the one device is reached, where a sum of the peak period volumes of the selected one or more plurality of registered user equipment is larger than or equal to a volume of traffic that is in excess of the on-set threshold, or in excess of an off-set threshold of the one device. The method sends a request for the selected one or more plurality of registered user equipment to be re-registered in accordance with the capacity data received from the plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Noel, Mark Ratcliffe
  • Publication number: 20100150137
    Abstract: A method for providing multimedia services to subscriber user equipment (UE) within an IP multimedia subsystem network (IMS) may include configuring the IMS to enable a single UE to fork register and cooperate with multiple serving-call session control functions (S-CSCFs). After obtaining IP connectivity, the single UE signals to register with the IMS and the IMS determines whether the UE is configured to fork register with multiple S-CSCFs. If the UE is configured, the IMS determines which S-CSCFs are eligible for the UE registration and fork registers the UE to multiple S-CSCFs of the eligible S-CSCFs. Consequently, incoming and outgoing calls to/from the UE are routed by the IMS to any of the multiple registered S-CSCFs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Min Lu, Mark Ratcliffe
  • Publication number: 20100153567
    Abstract: Many of the current IMS standards and enriched services were originally designed for the individual subscribers that are serviced by the wireless network. However, the IMS standards do not fully address the problem of providing the IMS enriched services and features to business PBX customers or wholesale customers that do not directly register to the IMS network. The present invention discloses a method for providing IMS enriched services and features to business PBX customers or wholesale customers through the use of a static provisioning and registration method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Min Lu, Martin Dolly, Leticia Johnson, Mark Ratcliffe
  • Publication number: 20100061277
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling multiple services to be invoked in a specific precedence per call are disclosed. For example, the present method allows a subscriber to interact with a plurality of services provided by a service provider on a single call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: JOHN C. BROWN, KOAN S. CHONG, Roberts PETERS, MARK A. RATCLIFFE, HARISH SAMARASINGHE
  • Patent number: 7657015
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling multiple services to be invoked in a specific precedence per call are disclosed. For example, the present method allows a subscriber to interact with a plurality of services provided by a service provider on a single call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Brown, Koan S. Chong, Robert Peters, Mark A. Ratcliffe, Harish Samarasinghe
  • Publication number: 20100018119
    Abstract: A monitor for monitoring the concentration of oxygen in a fuel or in an ullage over a fuel comprises (i) a sensing element comprising a luminescent substance comprising a luminophore and a support in which the luminophore is covalently bound to the support, (ii) a light source arranged to irradiate the sensing element with light, and (iii) a photosensor arranged to detect light emitted from the luminescent substance. The luminescent substance may be, for example, a platinum porphyrin covalently bound to silica.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventors: Joseph K-W LAM, David OSBORNE, Norman Mark RATCLIFFE