Patents by Inventor Richard D. Nafziger

Richard D. Nafziger 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: 5056134
    Abstract: This invention relates to the application of an audible logo to a telecommunications call, for identifying the common carrier serving that call. A call is received in an operator assistance system. After applying a calling card prompt tone and prior to connecting the call to an operator position or receiving further digits such as those for a calling card number, the operator assistance system connects an audible logo, identifying a common carrier, to the call. Advantageously, a telephone customer receives the information necessary to identify whether his/her preferred common carrier is going to be used on this call at a sufficiently early time to make it convenient to disconnect and reoriginate. This information is particularly important for calls originated away from home or office, calls that are likely to be operator assistance (0 or 0+ directory number) calls. Subsequently, the operator assistance call is processed as in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Thomas M. Bauer, Thomas A. Dunn, Christina M. Gurke, John W. Hopkins, Richard D. Nafziger
  • Patent number: 4930154
    Abstract: This invention relates to the application of an audible logo to a telecommunications call, for identifying the common carrier serving that call. A call is received in an operator assistance system. After applying a calling card prompt tone and prior to connecting the call to an operator position or receiving further digits such as those for a calling card number, the operator assistance system connects an audible logo, identifying a common carrier, to the call. Advantageously, a telephone customer receives the information necessary to identify whether his/her preferred common carrier is going to be used on this call at a sufficiently early time to make it convenient to disconnect and reoriginate. This information is particularly important for calls originated away from home or office, calls that are likely to be operator assistance 0 or 0+ directory number) calls. Subsequently, the operator assistance call is processed as in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Thomas M. Bauer, Thomas A. Dunn, Christina M. Gurke, John W. Hopkins, Richard D. Nafziger