Patents by Inventor Michael S. W. Tovino

Michael S. W. Tovino 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: 8670544
    Abstract: A telephony system is presented that enables a phone to access a directory and use the directory in conjunction with other phone functions. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, a function module, a filter module, a presentation module, a phone interface module, and a storage interface module. A server sends a signal to a phone regarding the contents of a directory. A server also enables a user to navigate through the directory, filter the directory, and perform call functions on phone numbers associated with directory entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. W. Tovino, Richard A. Winslow, Glen K. Okita
  • Patent number: 8553875
    Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Basart, Michael S. W. Tovino, Dale C. Tonogai, David B. Rucinski
  • Patent number: 8503640
    Abstract: A telephony system is presented that enables one user to monitor another user's extension and perform functions on calls destined for the other user's extension. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, association module, presentation module, park module, monitoring device interface module, and storage interface module. A server sends information to a monitoring device regarding the status of a monitored extension and calls offering on that extension. A server also enables a user to navigate through multiple calls offering and park a selected call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. W. Tovino, Richard A. Winslow
  • Patent number: 8490020
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for a telephone system includes programmable buttons which may be customized for individual users or groups of users. The programmable buttons enable user specific functionality to be provided, for example, enabling a button to be defined to record a call at a particular extension with one touch. The programmable buttons are collected onto toolbars and displayed on the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. W. Tovino, Glen K. Okita
  • Patent number: 8284910
    Abstract: A telephony system that accepts inputs, such as account codes, from a variety of devices and interfaces. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, a call status module, an endpoint interface module, a storage interface module, a call transfer module, a TAPI interface module, a configuration module, and an extension library module. A server is capable of prompting several devices for an input and then accepting an input from any of the devices. Thus, a server enables a user to initiate a phone call on one device and then input information using a different device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. W. Tovino
  • Publication number: 20110211496
    Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: SHORETEL, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Basart, Michael S.W. Tovino, Dale C. Tonogai, David B. Rucinski
  • Patent number: 7991150
    Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Basart, Michael S. W. Tovino, Dale C. Tonogai, David B. Rucinski
  • Patent number: 7941762
    Abstract: One or more possibilities that are normally displayed in response to input from a user are augmented with real time information. Displaying real time information for one or more of the possibilities enables the user to take such information into account in deciding whether or not to continue with an action that the user was in the process of performing. For example, if a partial data entry provided by the user is indicative of an extension number to be dialed to place a phone call, and if a telephone call manager that receives the user's input displays call activity indicating that the user's intended callee is already on the phone, the user may decide to wait until the callee becomes available (as indicated by a change in callee's call activity).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Shoretel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. W. Tovino, Olaf D. K. Brandt, Jeffrey W. Ridley, Glen K. Okita
  • Patent number: 7940906
    Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: ShoreTel Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Basart, Michael S. W. Tovino, Dale C. Tonogai, David B. Rucinski
  • Publication number: 20110075828
    Abstract: A system for providing enhanced history information across multiple clients comprises a call application server having a history system, a telephony system and a history cache. The call application server advantageously maintains a history records for each user of the system. The enhanced history system is particularly advantageous because regardless of the endpoint (e.g., phone, thin client, personal call manager or standalone IP phone) with which the user is interacting, the history information specifically for that user is delivered by the call application server to that endpoint. Furthermore, the call application server allows the user to access history information using end points which heretofore were unable to provide history functionality. Finally, the call application server makes the history records universal across all endpoints with which the user interacts, in contrast to prior art, which had limited call history information specific to a particular endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Glen K. Okita, Meigy Tsai, Iouri Achmanov, Michael S. W. Tovino, AshvinKumar H. Patel
  • Publication number: 20100246568
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for reducing interaction between a server and an endpoint while executing features on an endpoint. The endpoint, and not the application server, includes part or all of the implementation of UT logic and feature logic. The endpoint therefore does not have to rely on server's instructions for executing a feature. The endpoint also includes an endpoint determination module for determining the parts of the UT logic and feature logic implemented on the endpoint and the parts implemented on a switch or a server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Michael S.W. Tovino
  • Publication number: 20090217180
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for a telephone system includes programmable buttons which may be customized for individual users or groups of users. The programmable buttons enable user specific functionality to be provided, for example, enabling a button to be defined to record a call at a particular extension with one touch. The programmable buttons are collected onto toolbars and displayed on the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. W. Tovino, Glen K. Okita
  • Publication number: 20090028315
    Abstract: A telephony system that accepts inputs, such as account codes, from a variety of devices and interfaces. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, a call status module, an endpoint interface module, a storage interface module, a call transfer module, a TAPI interface module, a configuration module, and an extension library module. A server is capable of prompting several devices for an input and then accepting an input from any of the devices. Thus, a server enables a user to initiate a phone call on one device and then input information using a different device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Michael S.W. Tovino
  • Patent number: 7450703
    Abstract: A telephony system that accepts inputs, such as account codes, from a variety of devices and interfaces. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, a call status module, an endpoint interface module, a storage interface module, a call transfer module, a TAPI interface module, a configuration module, and an extension library module. A server is capable of prompting several devices for an input and then accepting an input from any of the devices. Thus, a server enables a user to initiate a phone call on one device and then input information using a different device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Shoretel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. W. Tovino