Paystation (e.g., Escrow Control) Patents (Class 379/123)
  • Patent number: 10072967
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that may provide audio information about an environment around a wearable device. Such audio information may be correlated with other biometric data to provide physiological information, e.g. regarding a wearer of the wearable device. For example, an illustrative method includes receiving an audio signal via a microphone of a wearable device and rectifying the audio signal with a peak detector. The method further includes amplifying the rectified signal with a logarithmic amplifier and causing an analog to digital converter (ADC) to sample the logarithmic signal. The method also includes causing the ADC to convert the sampled logarithmic signal to a digital output and storing the digital output in a memory of the wearable device. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting the digital output to a computing device, which may correlate the digital output with other biometric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Russell Norman Mirov, John Lapetina, Florence Thng
  • Patent number: 9807076
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a telecommunication method for communicating scoring data over a network, comprising: sending, by a client application of a mobile telecommunication device, a request to a remote system via the network, the request comprising a user-ID of a user authenticated to the client application; in response to receiving the request, computing request-triggered, time-stamped scores selectively for physical objects assigned to the user; and selectively in case one of the current request-triggered scores differs from a request-triggered score computed in response to the last request of the same user for the same organization and the same physical object, returning the current and the previously computed request-triggered scores to the client application; regularly and independent of receiving the request, computing, by the remote system, scheduler-triggered, time-stamped scores of a plurality of physical objects irrespective of the user said physical object are assigned to, and comparing each sch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Gururaj Raman, Boris Krems
  • Patent number: 7099653
    Abstract: A method for providing call authorization within a telephony network can include receiving a telephony connectivity request for establishing a telephony voice channel between the originating device and a receiving device. The specified receiving device can be determined and receiving device specific information that includes an authorization requirement can be accessed. A connection between the originating device and the receiving device can be established responsive to whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Creamer, Peeyush Jaiswal, Neil A. Katz, Victor S. Moore
  • Patent number: 7032109
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system enabling users (11) of an Internet type computer network provided with multimedia terminals (16) comprising a microphone (17) and connected to an Internet type computer network (15), remotely located from a service supplier (12), to accede rapidly and safely, to services (30) offered by this service supplier (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fintel S.A.
    Inventors: Franck Rosset, Alain Gayet, Jean Moulin
  • Patent number: 6931527
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and system for safely transmitting a fax between a transmitter sending the fax and at least a receiver (11) receiving the fax (162) using a fax machine (161) associated with a telephone equipment (16). The faxes (162) are routed between a transmitter and a receiver by a communication network (15) via a fax management center (30). The fax management center (30) provides the receiver (11) with a card, formatted like a credit card, personalized by specific identifiers for each card and each receiver. This card (10) emits brief identifying sound signals, of the DTMF type, at least partially encrypted, varying with each operation, when it is actuated (14) by the receiver (11). The signals received by the microphone (17) of the telephone equipment (16) are transmitted by the communication network (15) to the computer services (18) of the fax management center (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Fintel S.A.
    Inventors: Franck Rosset, Alain Gayet, Jean Moulin
  • Patent number: 6904520
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system enabling gamesters (11) of a virtual casino to accede safely and rapidly, by means of a microphone (17) connected to a communication network (15), to the different games that the virtual casino (12) offers to its gamesters (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Fintel S.A.
    Inventors: Franck Rosset, Alain Gayet, Jean Moulin
  • Patent number: 6330315
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blocked call routing apparatus and method that allows a caller to access a blocked number, such as a 1-8YY paging service, from a restricted device. The blocked call routing apparatus includes a controller, a database interface and a network interface. The blocked call routing apparatus receives call signals through the network interface and retrieves information from a database, through the database interface, corresponding to the source type and call destination address. Based on the information obtained from the database, the blocked call routing apparatus determines whether the call is blocked or unblocked. If the call is blocked, the blocked call routing apparatus queries the called party to determine if they wish to accept the additional charges necessary to complete the call. If they do, the block is overridden and the call is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Kapsales, Barry Shawn Seip
  • Patent number: 6222912
    Abstract: A system and method for storing Responsible Organization data corresponding to toll free telephone calls provides Payphone Service Providers (PSPs) with the data for billing or auditing Per Call Compensation (PCC) charges and payment. The method includes the steps of generating a query for Resp Org data corresponding to the toll-free telephone number for a call received at a Service Switching Point (SSP), sending the generated query from the SSP to a Service Control Point (SCP), extracting Resp Org identification data from the response to the generated Resp Org query, and incorporating the Resp Org identification data into a call detail record (CDR). Preferably, the Resp Org query is included in the query for call routing data but it may be a separate query. Additionally, the Resp Org identification data is preferably included in the CDR for the received call but it may be incorporated in a separate record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Praeses Corp.
    Inventor: Philip Joseph Breuer
  • Patent number: 6208719
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for telecommunications having automatic network adaptations and silent mode operations are demonstrated. An integrated telecom device includes a programmable controller and memory adapted to receive telecommunications carrier rate information updates or system synchronization without requiring subscriber instigation or intervention procedures. Rate provider access, or subscriber programmed caller access, is recognized prior to signaling to the subscriber that an in-coming transmission is in progress and rate database updates, or other desired transmission from the programmed caller, are received automatically. In order to obtain least-cost routing of out-going transmissions, the subscriber merely inputs the destination telephone number or other destination code. In-coming transmissions from a rate provider or preselected advertising entities can be programmed for silent mode reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Clement C Lo, James P Axtell
  • Patent number: 5651057
    Abstract: A method for communicating data from one or more remote computerized coin telephone auditing devices to a central computer via a telephone line, which comprises the steps of receiving input data signals at a remote computerized auditing device, decoding the input data signals into digital data, and processing and storing the data signals. The digital data are then retrieved. The processing, storing and retrieving steps are accomplished by reading and writing the digital data from volatile memory to a non-volatile memory, and from non-volatile memory to volatile memory. The digital data is coded into corresponding output data signals, and are transmitted to the central computer via the telephone line. The receiving and transmitting steps are accomplished by the exchange of a predetermined sequence of data signals, whereby the remote computerized device and the central computer correctly identify each data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Independent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Blood, Daryl E. Ingalsbe, Joseph T. Tousignant, Joseph M. Walsh
  • Patent number: 5487107
    Abstract: When a telephone caller charges a call to a commercial credit card an announcement which includes the name of the credit card issuer is supplied to the caller after the validation of the credit card. In a preferred embodiment, the issuer of the commercial credit card is identified, for purposes of announcing its name, by examining the prefix code of a credit card number supplied by the calling party. Also, in the preferred embodiment, not only the issuer of the commercial credit card but also the name of the telephone carder is supplied as part of the announcement given prior to connecting the calling station to the called station after validation of the credit card. An illustrative such announcement is "Thank you for using AT&T and for charging this call to your American Express card".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Atkins, Richard M. Harris, Julie M. Ladieu-Walton, David C. McChristian
  • Patent number: 5381242
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus and a maintenance charge control apparatus capable of easily controlling and settling the maintenance charge of the apparatus. By responding to the transmission request instruction signal transmitted from the control apparatus, the facsimile apparatus transmits the count of the sheet counter to the control apparatus. The control apparatus causes the calculation of the maintenance charge by a maintenance charge calculator in response to the received count, and further issues a bill produced by a bill issuing means device on the basis of the calculated maintenance charge, and converts the bill into image data for transmission to the facsimile apparatus. When the maintenance charge is paid by the user in response to the transmitted bill, the paid-in information is entered from a keyboard to the control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Fujii
  • Patent number: 5381465
    Abstract: The present invention describes an automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectible to a first switch and a called station connectible to a second switch, with the first and second switches connected by a digital serial link. The voice messaging system preferably comprises an interface, a detection circuit, a speech circuit and a control circuit. The interface monitors signals on the digital serial link. The detection circuitry is connected to the interface for detecting busy or ring/no answer conditions at the called station upon call initiation to the called station from the calling station, and for detecting receipt of a predetermined code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a message for the called station. The speech circuit is also connected to the interface for issuing a predetermined prompt to a user of the calling station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Messager Partners
    Inventors: Howard E. Carter, Byron C. Pierce, Joel A. Pugh
  • Patent number: 5287403
    Abstract: When a telephone caller charges a call to a commercial credit card, an announcement which includes the name of the credit card issuer is supplied to the caller after the validation of the credit card. In a preferred embodiment, the issuer of the commercial credit card is identified, for purposes of announcing its name, by examining the prefix code of a credit card number supplied by the calling party. Also, in the preferred embodiment, not only the issuer of the commercial credit card but also the name of the telephone carrier is supplied as part of the announcement given prior to connecting the calling station to the called station after validation of the credit card. An illustrative such announcement is "Thank you for using AT&T and for charging this call to your American Express card".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Jean Atkins, Richard M. Harris, Julie M. Ladieu-Walton, David C. McChristian
  • Patent number: 5276444
    Abstract: A central security control system (security system) interfaces between a plurality of requesters and a plurality of destinations such that it receives from the requesters requests for access to the destinations and communicates to the destinations a level of access that should be granted to a requester by that destination on a per request basis. In a preferred embodiment the security system also a) authenticates the requester to a predetermined level from which the level of access that is to be granted is derived and b) causes a direct connection to be established between the requester and the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Bruce E. McNair
  • Patent number: 5233647
    Abstract: The systems consists of an intrinsic collaboration among a message concentrator unit, a center operating unit, several visual displays, printers, information storage devices including operating and management software, insuring that modular telephones and both validation and identification units and access units control together with regional billing centers and a validation and billing center, as well as terminals of collecting entities by interchanging diverse specific operating messages within the public modular telephone management system-the whole context and operation arisen from their performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Telefonica de Espana
    Inventors: Francisco Ibanez Palomeque, Jose Mir Cepria
  • Patent number: 5136632
    Abstract: A telephone service payment system having portable electronic devices (J) for transmitting a coded sequence (SQ), also involves specialized vocal host computers (SDS) and at least one affiliated computer (OA), along with a management computer (OGC). Such a telephone service payment system is used in conjunction with the placing of bets by telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: Alain Bernard
  • Patent number: 5086457
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prepayment indoor telephone in which payment is performed by means of memory cards. In order to make the use of the telephone set (104) secure, a verification module (110) is connected to its telephone line (130) in the vicinity of the exchange (102). The verification module (110) and the telephone (104) periodically generate two respective versions of authentication information and these two versions are compared in the verification module (110). Authentication takes place only if the card reader (128) has delivered a signal indicating that the required telephone charge has been paid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Schlumberger Industries
    Inventors: Claude Barraud, Jean-Loup Poilleux, Christian Guion
  • Patent number: 4926468
    Abstract: An interface (10) is disclosed for coupling a conventional pay station telephone (12) to a telephone switching system (16). The interface (10) provides supervision signal detection functions normally provided by a switching system, and thus can be connected thereto by a less costly business line (28). The interface includes processor controlled tone generators (72, 76) and detectors (73, 74, 81, 106, 108) for detecting tones and voltages transmitted by either the telephone (12) or the switching system (16). The interface (10) further includes a detector (106) and a procedure (FIG. 8) for providing an answer call indication. Coin collection or return is controlled by the interface (10) depending on the status of the call which is also determined by the interface (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Digital Telecommunications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Smith, Conaway K. Hoback
  • Patent number: 4926469
    Abstract: An interface (10) is disclosed for coupling a conventional pay station telephone (12) to a telephone switching system (16). The interface (10) provides supervision signal detection functions normally provided by a switching system, and thus can be connected thereto by a less costly business line (28). The interface includes processor controlled tone generators (72, 76) and detectors (73, 74, 81, 106, 108) for detecting tones and voltages transmitted by either the telephone (12) or the switching system (16). The interface (10) further includes a detector (106) and a procedure (FIG. 8) for providing an answer call indication. Coin collection or return is controlled by the interface (10) depending on the status of the call which is also determined by the interface (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Digital Telecommunications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Smith, Conaway K. Hoback
  • Patent number: 4916733
    Abstract: An interface (10) is disclosed for coupling a conventional pay station telephone (12) to a telephone switching system (16). The interface (10) provides supervision signal detection functions normally provided by a switching system, and thus can be connected thereto by a less costly business line (28). The interface includes processor controlled tone generators (72, 76) and detectors (73, 74, 81, 106, 108) for detecting duration of tones and other audio signals, and voltages transmitted by either the telephone (12) or the switching system (16). The interface (10) further includes a detector (106) and a procedure (FIG. 8) for providing an answer call indication. Coin collection or return is controlled by the interface (10) depending on the status of the call (as indicated by audio signal duration) which is also determined by the interface (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Digital Telecommunications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Smith, Conaway K. Hoback
  • Patent number: 4860345
    Abstract: A telephone having a hook switch is coupled to tip and ring conductors for receiving loop current from a central office responsive to an off-hook condition at the hook switch. The electronic circuity within the telephone for facilitating various functions is powered entirely from the loop current flowing from the central office during the off-hook condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Protel, Inc.
    Inventor: Regis B. Mellon
  • Patent number: 4825460
    Abstract: A line interface unit for controlling receipt and delivery of voice messages over a telephone system having a voice message facility connectable to at least one calling station and a called station via a central office. The interface unit comprises a first switch connected to the calling station in the tip and ring lines and a second switch connected to the central office in the tip and ring lines, the switches having first and second positions and wherein said signals on the tip and ring lines are connected directly between the calling station and the central office when each of the switches is in the first position. In operation, a control circuit of the line interface unit responds to detection of a busy/no answer condition at the called station for switching the first switch from its first to second position to connect a speech circuit to the calling station for issuing a prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: MessagePhone, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Carter, Joel A. Pugh, Byron C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 4777647
    Abstract: An interface (10) is disclosed for coupling a conventional pay station telephone (12) to a telephone switching system (16). The interface (10) provides supervision signal detection functions normally provided by a switching system, and thus can be connected thereto by a less costly business line (28). The interface includes processor controlled tone generators (72, 76) and detectors (73, 74, 81, 106, 108) for detecting tones and voltages transmitted by either the telephone (12) or the switching system (16). The interface (10) further includes a detector (106) and a procedure (FIG. 8) for providing an answer call indication. Coin collection or return is controlled by the interface (10) depending on the status of the call which is also determined by the interface (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Digital Telecommunications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Smith, Conaway K. Hoback
  • Patent number: 4759054
    Abstract: A toll telephone connected to a coin trunk including tip and ring conductors in which loop current flows from the central office and through the telephone responsive to an off-hook condition at the telephone includes electronic circuitry for maintaining the loop current flow through the telephone for a predetermined period of time after the hook switch is opened, in order to accomplish certain telephone functions. Those functions include operation of an escrow relay, prevention of hook switch fraud, prevention of central office call termination until the call is legitimately completed and completion of certain call accounting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Protel, Inc.
    Inventor: Regis B. Mellon
  • Patent number: 4726057
    Abstract: A coin operated telephone station is provided with apparatus for detecting hen a called party has answered a call (initiated at the coin operated telephone station) by the measurement of incoming signal energy on the telephone line. The apparatus includes hardware and software that cooperate in providing efficient and reliable detection of called party answer for the purpose of accurately charging telephone users. A microprocessor samples the output from each of three specialized energy detectors every 20 milliseconds to determine whether called party answer has occurred. The energy detectors include: (1) call progress tones in the frequency band 200-700 Hz approximately; (2) special information tones; and (3) broadband energy in the frequency band above 200 Hz. Additionlly, the time duration of the call progress tones and the quiet intervals between them are measured and used in the answer detection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: AT&T Information Systems Inc. American Telephone & Telegraph Company
    Inventors: Armin W. Doerry, Dennis J. Noonan