Patents by Inventor Randy M. McDonald

Randy M. McDonald 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: 7864926
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting variable VPA testing is disclosed. The method includes provisions to detect or measure the utilization of a trunk line and use that information to establish a level of VPA testing for that trunk line. Although a wide variety of relationships between the utilization and the amount of VPA testing conducted can be used, the relationship is preferably a generally inverse relationship, in which the amount of VPA testing conducted on a particular trunk is reduced as traffic or utilization of the trunk increases. Conversely, as traffic or utilization of the trunk deceases, the amount of testing conducted on the trunk increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Mortimer P. Burnett, Terry R. Droke
  • Patent number: 7379536
    Abstract: The present invention uses a software program to analyze all of the SS7 message traffic in a telephone network. By comparing point codes in the message data, the present invention can detect invalid and undesirable network inefficiencies in different types of telephone networks, including for example, wireline, wireless, or hybrid networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Terry R. Droke, Mortimer P. Burnett
  • Patent number: 7190766
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting variable VPA testing is disclosed. The method includes provisions to detect or measure the utilization of a trunk line and use that information to establish a level of VPA testing for that trunk line. Although a wide variety of relationships between the utilization and the amount of VPA testing conducted can be used, the relationship is preferably a generally inverse relationship, in which the amount of VPA testing conducted on a particular trunk is reduced as traffic or utilization of the trunk increases. Conversely, as traffic or utilization of the trunk deceases, the amount of testing conducted on the trunk increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Mortimer P. Burnett, Terry R. Droke
  • Patent number: 7127054
    Abstract: The present invention uses a software program to analyze all of the SS7 message traffic in a telephone network. By comparing point codes in the message data, the present invention can detect invalid and undesirable network inefficiencies in different types of telephone networks, including for example, wireline, wireless, or hybrid networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Terry R. Droke, Mortimer P. Burnett
  • Patent number: 6970540
    Abstract: A system and method for detection of invalid and undesirable conditions associated with a telephone network. The invalid and undesirable conditions can include, for example, call looping, misrouting, mass calling, and excessive redialing. Initial Address Messages associated with SS7 protocols are captured, parsed, and analyzed for detection of these conditions. A system in accordance with the present invention can be a device external to a switch that generate the messages. Alternatively, a microprocessor of the switch can be adapted to execute instruction sets disclosed in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Terry R. Droke, Mortimer P. Burnett
  • Patent number: 6778658
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a dialed digit unlock and edit feature for a digital telephone connected to an advanced intelligent network (AIN) wireline network is disclosed. The digital telephone sends at least one digit of a called party number to an originating ISDN switch. The originating ISDN switch determines whether a Q.931 CALL PROCEEDING call control message has been sent from the originating ISDN switch to the digital telephone. If so, then the dialed digit unlock and edit feature is disabled. However, if the Q.931 CALL PROCEEDING call control message has not been sent, then the originating ISDN switch determines whether a key to enable the dialed digit unlock and edit feature has been entered on the digital telephone. If the key has been entered, then the last digit(s) entered for the called party number are erased and the originating ISDN switch awaits a new digit(s) to be entered into the digital telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Odie H. Garrison, Terry R. Droke, Mort P. Burnett
  • Patent number: 6778657
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a dialed digit unlock and edit feature for an analog telephone connected to an advanced intelligent network (AIN) wireline network is disclosed. The analog telephone sends at least one digit of a called party number to an originating central office. The originating central office determines whether an initial address message (IAM) has been sent from the originating central office to a destination central office. If so, then the dialed digit unlock and edit feature is disabled. However, if the IAM has not been sent, then the originating central office determines whether a key to enable the dialed digit unlock and edit feature has been entered on the analog telephone. If the key has been entered, then the last digit(s) entered for the called party number are erased and the originating central office awaits a new digit(s) to be entered into the analog telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Randy M. McDonald, Odie H. Garrison, Terry R. Droke, Mort P. Burnett