Patents by Inventor Thomas Francis Houghton

Thomas Francis Houghton 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).

  • Electronic devices and programming methods therefor
    Patent number: 6009153
    Abstract: A technique for programming operating parameters in an electronic device, such as programmable configuration settings, uses an interactive response configuration server accessible through the telephone network. The configuration server provides voice prompts to an electronic device operator over a telephone connection. The voice prompts concern a desired manner of operation achievable with particular operating parameter settings. Desired operating parameter settings are determined based on the operator's responses. A programming signal including representations of the desired operating parameter settings is then generated and transmitted to the electronic device. The electronic device then sets the values of its programmable operating parameters in accordance with the received programming signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Francis Houghton, Edward Stanley Szurkowski, William Philip Weber, Jr.