Patents by Inventor Michael G. Thorpe

Michael G. Thorpe 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: 11032413
    Abstract: Calls initiated from disconnected phone numbers and calls initiated from phone numbers that initiate calls to disconnected numbers can be indicative of robocalls. Disconnected numbers and phone numbers that have initiated calls to disconnected numbers are identified and assigned a robocall score that indicates a likelihood that a call initiated from that number is a robocall. A communication network that subscribes to a robocall detection service can request a robocall score associated with an originating number associated with a received call, and then handle the call according to the robocall score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Soleo Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gallagher, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20210092223
    Abstract: Calls initiated from disconnected phone numbers and calls initiated to disconnected phone numbers can be indicative of robocalls. Disconnected phone numbers and phone numbers that have initiated calls to disconnected phone numbers are identified and assigned a robocall score that indicates a likelihood that a call initiated from that number is a robocall. Calls that are received from originating numbers with high robocall scores may be acoustically profiled for further confirmation of robocall detection using an acoustic profiler. An acoustic profiler identifies suspicious and potentially fraudulent phone calls by virtue of their audio characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gallagher, Todd A. Schmeer, Jason T. Nordhaus, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20200195775
    Abstract: Calls initiated from disconnected phone numbers and calls initiated from phone numbers that initiate calls to disconnected numbers can be indicative of robocalls. Disconnected numbers and phone numbers that have initiated calls to disconnected numbers are identified and assigned a robocall score that indicates a likelihood that a call initiated from that number is a robocall. A communication network that subscribes to a robocall detection service can request a robocall score associated with an originating number associated with a received call, and then handle the call according to the robocall score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gallagher, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 10582041
    Abstract: Calls initiated from disconnected phone numbers and calls initiated from phone numbers that initiate calls to disconnected numbers can be indicative of robocalls. Disconnected numbers and phone numbers that have initiated calls to disconnected numbers are identified and assigned a robocall score that indicates a likelihood that a call initiated from that number is a robocall. A communication network that subscribes to a robocall detection service can request a robocall score associated with an originating number associated with a received call, and then handle the call according to the robocall score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Soleo Communications, Inc
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gallagher, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20190116258
    Abstract: Calls initiated from disconnected phone numbers and calls initiated from phone numbers that initiate calls to disconnected numbers can be indicative of robocalls. Disconnected numbers and phone numbers that have initiated calls to disconnected numbers are identified and assigned a robocall score that indicates a likelihood that a call initiated from that number is a robocall. A communication network that subscribes to a robocall detection service can request a robocall score associated with an originating number associated with a received call, and then handle the call according to the robocall score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gallagher, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 8254547
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other internal and external information services to the callers using a business subscriber information service, a white page database service; a yellow pages database service; a business intelligence database service; and/or an Internet search service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Blake Bookstaff, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe, Daniel E. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 8254548
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using a rule-based expert system service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Blake Bookstaff, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe, Daniel E. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 8254549
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using a business subscriber information service, a white page database service; a yellow pages database service; a business intelligence database service; rule-based expert system service; and/or an Internet search service. The directory assistance service accepts fees from advertisers, businesses and providers of the variety of services to refer information to callers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Blake Bookstaff, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe, Daniel E. Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20110129073
    Abstract: A system for personalizing interactive services provided to users of voice and data enabled communications devices, including users of SMS, MMS and WAP enabled communications devices. The system is designed to access source information associated with a particular requester for a service and to map the source information to personalization information associated with a user of the system. The source information is extracted in various embodiments from different types of communications channels. The personalization information is employed by the system to influence the behavior of the system while providing an interactive service to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Aloke Chaudhuri, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7885390
    Abstract: A system for personalizing interactive services provided to users of voice and data enabled communications devices, including users of SMS, MMS and WAP enabled communications devices. The system is designed to access source information associated with a particular requester for a service and to map the source information to personalization information associated with a user of the system. The source information is extracted in various embodiments from different types of communications channels. The personalization information is employed by the system to influence the behavior of the system while providing an interactive service to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Soleo Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Aloke Chaudhuri, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20100312558
    Abstract: A system (10) for controlling telecommunications calls includes a voice XML network gateway (12) including a voice interpreter module (20) and a call center server module (28) association with a telecommunications switch (58). The voice interpreter module (20) receives voice telecommunications signals, and the call center server module (28) receives call center telecommunications data signals. Interpreting circuitry (22, 24) interprets the voice telecommunications signals using the voice interpreter module in association speech recognition application (s) (16). Call center service providing (18) means provides call center service in response to the call center telecommunications data signals in association with call center application program(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: SOLEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Gallagher, Richard W. Ibbotson, Michael G. Thorpe, Bruce VanGelder, Luther Wright
  • Publication number: 20100274670
    Abstract: A mobile advertisement is stored in a database associated with an advertisement platform. A unique ad ID identifying a corresponding advertisement placement is associated with the mobile advertisement. The unique ad ID is communicated to an advertisement sender along with the corresponding advertisement placement. A message provided by said advertisement sender is parsed to identify the unique ad ID and mobile device contact information for an advertisement recipient in order to forward the associated mobile advertisement to the advertisement recipient. Advertisement placement information based on the unique ad ID received from the advertisement sender is recorded. The mobile advertisement is messaged to the advertisement recipient. The mobile advertisement comprises contact information providing a network path for the advertisement recipient to contact the merchant through the advertisement platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SOLEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: James Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20090175433
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using a rule-based expert system service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Blake BOOKSTAFF, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe, Daniel E. Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20090175431
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other internal and external information services to the callers using a business subscriber information service, a white page database service; a yellow pages database service; a business intelligence database service; and/or an Internet search service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Blake Bookstaff, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe, Daniel E. Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20090168987
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using a business subscriber information service, a white page database service; a yellow pages database service; a business intelligence database service; rule-based expert system service; and/or an Internet search service. The directory assistance service accepts fees from advertisers, businesses and providers of the variety of services to refer information to callers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Blake Bookstaff, James J. Sonnick, Michael G. Thorpe, Daniel E. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6999563
    Abstract: The present invention enhances directory assistance automation by searching traditional directory assistance databases with independent listing and locality queries. Initially, a caller's speech responses from a directory assistance inquiry are individually converted to independent listing and locality search queries. The listing and locality queries are determined by processing the caller's speech responses using a defined speech recognition grammar. The listing and locality queries are used to search a directory assistance database. Once the listing results are returned from the directory assistance database, the records in the listing results are analyzed to select a number for the caller's directory assistance request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Volt Delta Resources, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Thorpe, Robert C. Detrie, Gregory J. Bielby