Patents by Inventor Patricia A. Dodson

Patricia A. Dodson 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: 8196171
    Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Brodigan, Gerald F. Baker, Patricia A. Dodson
  • Publication number: 20080120669
    Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Brodigan, Gerald F. Baker, Patricia A. Dodson
  • Patent number: 7299488
    Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical-port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Brodigan, Gerald F. Baker, Patricia A. Dodson
  • Patent number: 6873622
    Abstract: A method for controlling customers' access to services on a broadband network. The method uses a circuit identifier, unique to each customer, to compare service requests with service entitlements. The network provider flows the circuit identifiers to the service providers where relationship between the circuit identifiers and the service entitlements is established in service orders. Service providers flow the service orders back to the broadband network though a standard business system interface. The relationship between the circuit identifiers and the service requests is accomplished at the Broadband Digital Terminal that interface the customers to the broadband network. The circuit identifiers also permit sorting of data bases containing logs of service requests and logs of maintenance actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Dodson, Gerald Baker, Donald L. Brodigan
  • Patent number: 6526582
    Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Brodigan, Gerald F. Baker, Patricia A. Dodson
  • Publication number: 20020194615
    Abstract: A method and system for provisioning a specific device to receive video and/or data services from a plurality of service providers at a physical drop in a digital broadband network serviced by a telecommunication services provider utilizes a broadcast manager for transmitting an electronic message in a modified format determined by the telecommunication services provider, wherein the electronic message contains information identifying the physical drop associated with the specific device. A broadband digital terminal, in communication with the broadcast manager and the physical-port, receives the electronic message, stores the information, and upon receiving a sign-on request from a requesting device that is requesting access to one of the video and/or data services, determines whether the requesting device is authorized to access the requested video and/or data service based on the stored information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Brodigan, Gerald F. Baker, Patricia A. Dodson
  • Patent number: 6091735
    Abstract: A method for controlling customers' access to services on a broadband network. The method uses a circuit identifier, unique to each customer, to compare service requests with service entitlements. The network provider flows the circuit identifiers to the service providers where relationship between the circuit identifiers and the service entitlements is established in service orders. Service providers flow the service orders back to the broadband network though a standard business system interface. The relationship between the circuit identifiers and the service requests is accomplished at the Broadband Digital Terminal that interface the customers to the broadband network. The circuit identifiers also permit sorting of data bases containing logs of service requests and logs of maintenance actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: US West, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Dodson, Gerald Baker, Donald L. Brodigan