With Special Service Patents (Class 379/157)
  • Patent number: 10542131
    Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display. The method includes providing a user communication device including a processor that is programmed to perform the step of, upon disconnection of an emergency call to a hearing user in which a captioning service has provided text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user, maintaining a link to the captioning service for a predetermined period of time. The processor also is programmed to perform the step of recognizing the call as an emergency call upon placement of the call, and the captioning service is automatically initiated upon the processor performing that recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
  • Patent number: 10182159
    Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for configuring the sharing of resource pools and individual resources in the resource groups among enterprise communication systems. In certain embodiments, the resource pools are trunk groups and the individual resources that comprise the trunk groups are communication resources. Digital PBXs components associated with different enterprise communication systems are registered and assigned shared use of a trunk group. Communication services are provided to the digital PBXs using the channels of the shared trunk group. Each enterprise may reserve channels within the trunk group for exclusive use by the enterprise, while sharing use of other channels in the trunk group. Each enterprise can be guaranteed a minimum calling capacity while providing improved resource utilization due to fewer idle communication channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GENBAND US LLC
    Inventors: James D. Hopson, III, Natalia Priluka, Xuewen Li
  • Patent number: 10021229
    Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display and a speaker, the method comprising the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of, upon placement of an emergency call to a hearing user, recognizing the call as an emergency call, automatically initiating a captioning service to provide text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user and providing some indication to the assisted user that captioning has been automatically commenced and, upon placement of a non-emergency call, only starting the captioning service after a request for the captioning service from the assisted user is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ULTRATEC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D Vitek
  • Patent number: 9948775
    Abstract: A call messaging system includes a database comprising a call screening rule for a callee and a call screening engine configured to determine whether a bypass condition exists for an incoming call to the callee, and to bypass the call screening rule for the incoming call, if the bypass condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 9877178
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a Commercial Mobile Alert System paging notification, such as a text based emergency alert message, to a fixed wireless terminal system is provided. The fixed wireless terminal provides an interface between cellular wireless networks and a residential phone system comprising the fixed wireless network and one or more receivers configured to operate over a traditional Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). The fixed wireless terminal receives the text based alert message and converts the alert message into an audio file that can be provided to the one or more residential phone receivers over the POTS network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Lemberg, Narothum Saxena, Michael S. Irizarry
  • Patent number: 9794387
    Abstract: A method for automatically making a telephone call associated with an event may include accessing, at a telephone, event data. The event data may include a date associated with an event, a time associated with the event, and a telephone number associated with the event. The method may also include presenting, on a display associated with the telephone, an event reminder on the date associated with the event and at the time associated with the event. The method may also include, in response to detecting an off-hook condition at the telephone while the event reminder remains presented on the display associated with the telephone, automatically calling, from the telephone, the telephone number associated with the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sorenson IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shane A. Roylance, Brian Chevrier, Josh Allison
  • Patent number: 9667810
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for presenting content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party. Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. A party to a call may be offered one or more payment mechanisms for completing a purchase in an on-line or real-world transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Wendell D. Brown
  • Patent number: 9571641
    Abstract: A call messaging system includes a database comprising a call screening rule for a callee and a call screening engine configured to determine whether a bypass condition exists for an incoming call to the callee, and to bypass the call screening rule for the incoming call, if the bypass condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: RINGCENTRAL, INC.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 9445372
    Abstract: An exemplary power management system detects a signal level representative of an environmental condition external to a mobile device, determines that the signal level is within a predetermined range, and disables, in response to the determination that the signal level is within the predetermined range, a feature of the mobile device. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Woo Beum Lee, Jeffrey M. Walsh, Michelle Felt
  • Patent number: 9026180
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus has a display, keypad, sensor and controller. Keys of the keypad are distributed within a keypad area in at least a first plane and are arranged for user actuation transversally to the first plane to provide a first type of user input. The sensor is positioned to sense navigating user actuation at the keypad area in or coincident with the first plane to provide a second type of user input. The controller is configured to control a focus position on the display in response to the second type of user input; associate a plurality of display subareas of the display with respective keys of the keypad; and accept, for user input of the second type, user actuation of an actuated key among the keys as a selection of a selectable item presented at the focus position in a particular display subarea associated with the actuated key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Unwired Planet, LLC
    Inventor: Jacob Strom
  • Patent number: 8824656
    Abstract: A method and system self-supportable devices and applications are provided. The method and system in one embodiment allows devices and applications to automatically communicate and service themselves, for example, by checking knowledgebase services and other services for instructions on how to handle an exception. In another embodiment, the devices and applications automatically initiate actions needed to handle the exception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: CA Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Lamm, Marvin Waschke, Yaakov Shapiro
  • Patent number: 8638194
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an RFID tag comprises a memory module and one or more processing units. The memory module stores a subscriber identification number shared by the tag and one or more other tags for accessing a WWAN. Each tag is operable to access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number at a corresponding unique timeslot, the corresponding unique timeslot for a tag being distinct from the timeslots at which the other tags can access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number. The one or more processing units access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number to initiate a tag session at the corresponding unique timeslot for the tag. The corresponding unique timeslot for the tag is distinct from timeslots at which the other tags may access the WWAN using the subscriber identification number. The one or more processing units are operable to communicate tag information during the tag session at the corresponding unique timeslot for the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Axcess International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajinder Bridgelall, Allan R. Griebenow
  • Patent number: 8565125
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for recording an exchange between a central monitoring station and a protected premises. The method includes the steps of transmitting an alarm notification from a protected premises to an alarm routing service, the alarm routing service establishing a voice connection between the protected premises and a central monitoring station in response to the alarm notification and the alarm routing service recording audio on the voice connection between the protected premises and the central station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Blum, Michael Everald Barrett
  • Patent number: 8554281
    Abstract: A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a request to initiate the composition of a new message, receiving a selection of a particular contact that is the intended recipient of the message, and determining whether the particular contact has a stored preferred input language. If a preferred input language is stored, the method includes determining whether the preferred input language is different than the current input language (which may be a pre-established default input language). If the preferred input language is different, the method further includes switching the current input language to the preferred input language. Also provided is an improved handheld electronic device having one or more routines adapted to implement the method. Also provided is a method of indicating a preferred language in association with a call received by or placed to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sherryl Lee Lorraine Scott, Jason T. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8543095
    Abstract: Architecture for accessing and purchasing multimedia services in a mobile terminal cellular environment. The architecture brings together the on-the-fly discovery of music and connectivity for the purchase or preview of multimedia services (e.g., music tracks). Provided is a music client on a cell phone or other mobile communications device that facilitates the discovery, storage, and play of multimedia content or portions thereof such as music. A user can listen to music transmitted to the mobile terminal device (e.g., cell phone) via broadcast, satellite radio, streaming internet radio, etc., review the music, and buy tracks or whole albums over-the-air via the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Gregg H. Brown, Robert Everett Hyatt, Marc Paul Lefar, James Patrick Ryan
  • Patent number: 8462771
    Abstract: To change between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection as selectable communication connections between at least one first connected radio communication appliance and at least one second connected radio communication appliance in a radio communication system, a first of these two communication connections is selected and set up by at least one connected radio communication appliance and/or by at least one control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system. A change is made from this first communication connection, which has been set up, to the second communication connection under the control of a radio communication appliance which is connected to the first communication connection and/or under the control of that control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system which is connected to the first communication connection by activating the second communication connection while the first communication connection still exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Kautz, Josef Laumen, Norbert Schwagmann
  • Patent number: 8442497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for linking Internet-based forums and web logs to a push to talk platform, especially methods for adapting PoC to the environment of Internet forums by means of a novel PoClog storage platform and a novel interface from the PoC platform to the PoC log storage platform. Mobile clients have to support a new client functionality in order to request a log that is based on media messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Stephan Blicker
  • Patent number: 8417229
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating transferring of a conference call. In some embodiments, users of a secure mobile device may be provided with the ability to transfer a media session for use in a conference call to a non-secure communication device. The method may include displaying a user interface on the primary communication device, the user interface including a transfer option, receiving a command selecting the transfer option, sending a transfer request from the primary communication device to the conference call controller to link an alternate communication device within the conference call session, and determining whether the transfer request requires authentication, and if so performing authentication of the transfer request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Ian James McDonald, Douglas Michael Gisby, Brian Edward Anthony McColgan, Christopher Labrador, Nicholas Patrick Alfano
  • Publication number: 20130034221
    Abstract: In a method for placing a telephone call, a first telephone receives a request to call a second telephone. The first telephone retrieves a user preference for obtaining location information of the second telephone or of a user of the second telephone. The first telephone obtains the location information from one of a plurality of sources based at least in part on an order of priority of the sources defined by the user preference. The plurality of sources include a social network program. The first telephone determines a local time in a geographical location identified from the location information. The first telephone displays the local time. The first telephone prompts for a decision whether to place the call to the second telephone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas A. Aaron, Anil Kalavakolanu, Loulwa Salem, Stephen A. Schlachter
  • Patent number: 8369502
    Abstract: The present invention provides a communications system, presence server, and communications method used for them, which determines an optimum operation for phone call taken into account presence information of caller. The presence server compares a priority level allocated to caller presence information with a priority level allocated to receiver presence information, selects optimum operation from preset operations based on the comparison result and controls a exchange according to the selected operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8351992
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus (300) has a display (320) and a keypad (340) with a plurality of keys (342), the keys being distributed within a keypad area (341) in at least a first plane, and the keys being arranged for key-pressing user actuation transversally to the first plane so as to provide a first type of user input. The apparatus also has sensor means (430, 450, 348) positioned to sense navigating user actuation at the keypad area in or coincident with said first plane so as to provide a second type of user input, and a controller (301) configured to control a focus position (323) on the display (320) in response to user input of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Jacob Ström
  • Patent number: 8335301
    Abstract: A system for placing a telephone call on hold and presenting video to the user that has been placed on hold comprises video on hold arbiter that either is a part of the server or the switch of an IP telephony system. The video on hold arbiter comprises a hold monitoring module, a switch interface module and a media source interface module. The video on hold arbiter monitors calls between parties for the selection of a hold signal indicating that a first caller is placing a second caller on hold. The video on hold arbiter then determines the capabilities of the first caller and the second caller, a source video signal and switches the call to a video-on-hold status. In the video-on-hold status, the video on hold arbiter provides a video signal to the caller on hold from the determined source video and matching the capabilities of the party on hold. Video on hold arbiter and monitors for an off hold signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron D. Laws, Pascal R. Crausaz
  • Patent number: 8325738
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing web-based phone services. Phone calls are initiated by a user control on a web page. A calling module uniquely identifies the telephone call and initiates calling by a dialer. Once the telephone call is established, auxiliary functions such as call monitoring, recording, transfer, or conference calling may be initiated for the call. Additional controls corresponding to the auxiliary functions may provided on the web page or a related web page. The web pages used to provide the user controls may stateless web pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Insidesales.com
    Inventors: Thomas Jeffrey Purdy, David Randal Elkington, Matthew Coston Parker, Kenneth David Krogue
  • Patent number: 8305940
    Abstract: A telephone service, particularly a telephone supplementary service communication system having an IP telephone control apparatus and an IP telephone terminal. A telephone supplementary service communication control system for the service communicate system is comprised of a specified voice terminal and a plurality of telephone supplementary service terminals registered to link with the same and including a communication control apparatus registering linking of the specified voice terminal and the plurality of telephone supplementary service terminals as a single virtual terminal and managing and controlling the running and termination of these linked terminals, wherein the communication control apparatus comprises a supplementary service starting unit monitoring the communication start state of the voice terminal and starting the supplementary service by the telephone supplementary service terminal linked with the voice terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Suzuki, Joji Furuya, Kazuyoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8265609
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for providing customer services on a mobile device can provide a user-interface on a mobile device to display one or more customer service options, store state information of the customer's interaction with the user-interface, and provide a user-interface element that provides the customer an option to contact a customer service agent. In response to the customer's exercising the option to contact the customer service agent, the stored state information is sent to the customer service agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Manish K. Deliwala, Brett A. Vedas
  • Patent number: 8184617
    Abstract: A communication device sends a message to a server requesting a list of call center telephone numbers. The communication device receives the list of call center telephone numbers from the server and provides the list to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Dan Jörgen Sjögren, Anders Fridlund
  • Publication number: 20120014518
    Abstract: Processing a communication is disclosed. A first request to establish communication is received at a redirection node from a requesting communication participant. A destination communication participant associated with the request is determined. A communication session in which the requesting communication participant, the redirection node, and the destination communication participant are participants at the same time is established, including sending from the redirection node to an equipment associated with the destination communication participant a second request to establish communication between the redirection node and the equipment associated with the destination communication participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: EMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Claudatos, William D. Andruss
  • Patent number: 8098809
    Abstract: A method and system self-supportable devices and applications are provided. The method and system in one embodiment allows devices and applications to automatically communicate and service themselves, for example, by checking knowledgebase services and other services for instructions on how to handle an exception. In another embodiment, the devices and applications automatically initiate actions needed to handle the exception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Lamm, Marvin Waschke, Yaakov Shapiro
  • Patent number: 8081747
    Abstract: A voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone server is disclosed and includes a computer readable medium that is accessible to a processor. A centralized address book is embedded within the computer readable medium. Further, a computer program is embedded within the computer readable medium and the computer program utilizes the centralized address book to selectively restrict incoming telephone calls and outgoing telephone calls. The centralized address book can include a plurality of address books and each of the plurality of address books is associated with a corresponding VoIP telephone coupled to the VoIP telephone server. The computer program can include instructions to determine whether an address book only calling lock is on for the VoIP telephone. Moreover, the computer program can include instructions to determine whether an originating telephone number associated with an incoming telephone is stored within the centralized address book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Aaron W. Bangor, Jeffrey L. Brandt, Douglas F. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8078188
    Abstract: This disclosure describes audio mixing techniques that allow a user to select between two different audio signals for output in a perceptual foreground of a combined output. As an example, the two different signals may comprise a music audio and a phone call audio. In this case, the music audio and phone call audio may be initially combined such that the phone call is delivered in the perceptual foreground and the music audio is delivered in a perceptual background. However, a user is able to switch the music to the foreground and the phone call to the background by actuating a user input device. In this way, after receiving a telephone call, if a user wants to move the phone call into a perceptual background in favor of music in the foreground, the user is able to achieve this result, e.g., at the press of a button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Matthew Zivney
  • Patent number: 7920696
    Abstract: A method (200), and electronic communication device (100), for automatically selectively changing from one mode of operation to a speakerphone mode of operation after a call on the electronic communication device (100) is established. The method (200), and electronic communication device (100), perform establishing a call (210) using a first mode of operation that is a mode of operation other than the speakerphone mode of operation. Then there is performed changing automatically (235) from the first mode of operation to the speakerphone mode of operation when a signal amplitude provided by a microphone used in the first mode of operation does not reach a threshold level before an expiration of a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Kee (Basil) Joo Chew
  • Patent number: 7813720
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing information to mass localized mobile users over a limited bandwidth are described. Short text messaging system messages, e.g., SMS, may be used to transmit coded data between mobile terminals and content providers, while a client application resident on each mobile terminal can decode the messages received from a content provider and display information in human-understandable formats on the display screen of the mobile terminal. The client application can also encode messages to send to the content provider to request specified information on demand. Users can also specify criteria that, when met, the content provider automatically sends an encoded SMS message to the user's mobile terminal with the requested information, provided the user has prepaid to receive SMS messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH
    Inventor: Zak Doffman
  • Patent number: 7787871
    Abstract: A cellular phone 100 registers incoming call histories in which other party telephone numbers are correlated to own telephone numbers which received a call in an incoming call history accommodation section 14b. It is judged whether or not the other party telephone number to which a call is made is the other party telephone number from which a call was received previously with reference to the incoming call histories when transmitting a call. If the other party telephone number is an other party telephone number which was received previously, the own telephone number which was used at that time is extracted from the incoming call histories and a call transmission is made. Accordingly, this enables preventing the error in using different plurality of own telephone numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Maehara
  • Patent number: 7778401
    Abstract: A communication apparatus that includes: an operation unit; a line connection unit that operates in response to the operation of the operation unit; a number input unit; a dial signal transmitting unit that transmits a dial signal corresponding to a telephone number inputted by the number input unit; an operation detection unit that detects the operation of the operation unit; a measuring unit that measures a predetermined time when the operation of the operating unit is detected; and a number memory that stores the telephone number inputted by the number input unit before the measuring of the predetermined time by the measuring unit ends. A standby unit suspends a transmission of the dial signal corresponding to the telephone number stored in the number memory to the line until the measuring of the predetermined time by the measuring unit ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shozo Kabeya
  • Patent number: 7738645
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a terminal communication system, and more particularly to, a mobile terminal, which allows multimedia contents service for waiting for call connection to be provided in a terminal communication system, and a multimedia contents service providing system and method for call connection waiting using the same. The mobile terminal comprises: a wireless communication unit which receives multimedia contents from a multimedia contents providing server during a call connection waiting time to process the same upon originating a call; an audio processing unit which outputs audio signals of the multimedia contents received through the wireless communication unit; a control unit which controls the multimedia contents set according to time intervals so as to be outputted during the call connection waiting time; and a display unit which displays the multimedia contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Han-Su Kim
  • Publication number: 20090257565
    Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously conducting multiple telephone conversations is provided. In an embodiment, a user converses with one individual on a first channel while simultaneously transmitting audible utterances to a second individual or a second channel. The user can select the desired channel or channels and a desired phrase and an electronic representation of the selected phrase is transmitted over the selected channel(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lester D. Nelson, Laurent Denoue, William N. Schilit, Elizabeth F. Churchill
  • Patent number: 7522584
    Abstract: Provided are a method for changing between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection between at least two radio communication appliances, an associated radio communication appliance, a network component and a radio communication system. To change between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection as selectable communication connections between at least one first connected radio communication appliance and at least one second connected radio communication appliance in a radio communication system, a first of these two communication connections is selected and set up by at least one connected radio communication appliance and/or by at least one control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Kautz, Josef Laumen, Norbert Schwagmann
  • Patent number: 7496186
    Abstract: A main unit of a key telephone system accommodates a plurality of terminal units of the key telephone system that use a LAN within company as extension lines and exchange calls with outside lines. The main unit of the key telephone system has a function as an IP server for the terminal units and stores and manages a database of information in a storing device. A terminal unit of the system accesses an IP address of the main unit of the key telephone system, and logs in to the main unit with predetermined first ID and password. The main unit of the key telephone system authenticates the first ID and password and registers the terminal unit of the key telephone system as an IP extension terminal unit, and allows the KTS terminal unit to voice communicate with another terminal unit of the key telephone system in accordance with the VoIP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Suzuki, Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090003570
    Abstract: In a method, system and apparatus for providing an endpoint-to-endpoint transcoding free connection, a customer premises equipment (CPE) at a first or second endpoint encodes and decodes voice data received from and sent to a respective one of first and second media gateways according to an initial codec type. The first and second media gateways perform a Transcoding Free Operation (TFO) negotiation to determine if there is a common codec type among the first and second media gateways and first and second endpoints. If such a common codec type is determined, the first and second media gateways switch from encoding voice data according to the initial codec type to the common codec type and send an indication of the switch to the respective one of the first and second endpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Manoj Sindhwani, Piyush Shankerbhai Patel
  • Publication number: 20080298572
    Abstract: A system and method for remote home monitoring and intercom communication. An indicator is received for activating an interactive feature of a telephone. A determination is made whether the indicator authorizes the interactive feature. The audio interface of the telephone is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: David E. Rondeau, Don L. Briscoe, David Emerson
  • Patent number: 7450933
    Abstract: A paging method for an MBMS service is provided. To efficiently transmit MBMS control information in an MBMS mobile communication system, an RNC transmits to a Node B a control message including a list of NI information for MBMS paging groups by the RNC and the Node B establishes a physical channel according to the control message and transmits an MICH including NIs to UEs on the established physical channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: No-Jun Kwak, Kook-Heui Lee, Sung-Ho Choi, Eun-Jung Kim, Sung-Oh Hwang, Chunying Sun
  • Publication number: 20080069325
    Abstract: Disclosed is a unique intelligent communications device. The intelligent communications device in this disclosure can be embodied by an intelligent VoIP phone and can include a system and method of having more phone lines than can be shown at one time. Moreover, the device can also include a system and method of using the way a line appears on the phone to indicate status of that line and/or actions that can be taken using an associated line key. In addition, the device can also include a system and method for improved features for a conference call. Furthermore, the device can include the capability to port a line from one phone to another without network provisioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: UNIDEN AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Douglas Graham King
  • Patent number: 7324631
    Abstract: A hybrid coaxial cable network employing interdiction to ensure privacy in telephony communications. The video and telephony signals are secured such that telephony and interactive video signals to and from a subscriber do not appear on the network at any other undesired subscriber location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: MediaOne Group, Inc., U S West, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Beveridge
  • Patent number: 7248679
    Abstract: A PBX connected to a public exchange includes a separate caller ID service unit for providing a caller ID and/or a system tone by performing a digital signal process. To display the caller ID on a receiver terminal, or caller ID phone, a line is established with the PBX through general switched telephone network, and a CID received through the line is converted and stored in the caller ID service block mounted with at least one memory through a switching block, under control by a control block. Then, the control block transmits all or part of the stored CIDs to the caller ID phone through the switching block and/or a subscriber line convergency unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: LG-Nortel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pil Heon Choi
  • Patent number: 7236579
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a universal call-log in a Home Network telephone system. The method comprises: transceiving calls on at least one external telephone line; bridging calls to a plurality Home Network endpoints; and, logging the bridged calls. Bridging calls to a plurality Home Network endpoints includes initiating an outgoing call from an endpoint. Then, the outgoing calls initiated from endpoints are logged. Likewise, incoming calls received on an external telephone line addressed to an endpoint and bridged, and logged. Logging the bridged calls includes cross-referencing entries such as call time, the call duration, the type of call, the external telephone involved, the external line telephone number from which an incoming call is received, the external telephone line telephone number to which an outgoing call is addressed, the endpoint to which an incoming call is addressed, and the endpoint initiating an outgoing call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Mansfield
  • Patent number: 7228145
    Abstract: A switching system adjunct (120) monitors a call between a calling and a called party and reestablishes the call when one of the parties has been or is being dropped. The reestablishment may be effected to a same or a different phone number of the dropped party, and may be effected via the same or a different medium (e.g., wired or wireless). The call record of the original call is merged into the call record of the reestablished call, thus preserving the context of entities involved in the call that exists at the time that the party is dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: David R. Burritt, Elliott Evans, Robert M. Klein, Joann J. Ordille, Ravi Sethi, Hector Urroz
  • Patent number: 7200413
    Abstract: Directory assistance provides telephone number look up services to callers based on the business or caller name as listed in a telephone directory. In the prior art, directory assistance provides a value-added service to telephone users and an expense that must be charged back to telephone callers or absorbed by telephone carriers. In enhanced directory assistance (EDA) services as described in the disclosure, EDA is further developed to deliver a keyword targeted advertising service to telephone listing owners and advertisers. The present invention provides a method and system to extend EDA services to the wireless messaging systems used by telecommunications operators. The invention further discloses methods to support both one-way and two-way communications on these devices, as well as systems to support the distributed EDA Transaction business model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Interchange Corporation
    Inventors: William A Montemer, Heath B. Clarke
  • Patent number: 7194074
    Abstract: A new key telephone system including a new key telephone and new telephone interface which use a new data transmission scheme has been developed, unlike an old key telephone system including an old telephone and old telephone interface unit which use an old data transmission scheme. The new telephone interface unit and new key telephone are compatible with both the new and old data transmission schemes. Even if, therefore, the new telephone interface unit is connected to the old key telephone, or the old telephone interface unit is connected to the new key telephone, data transmission can be performed by using the old data transmission scheme, thus maintaining compatibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Norimasa Niiya
  • Patent number: 7151924
    Abstract: There is obtained a telephone set capable of preventing a noise generated by an operation of application software during voice communication from being sent to a speech counterpart. In a mobile telephone set, if a user operates activated application software other than voice communication related application software when the mobile telephone set is in voice communication with another telephone set via a communication network, the mobile telephone set requests hold of the voice communication from the communication network. This causes the voice communication to be held, thereby preventing a noise generated by the above operation from being sent to the another telephone set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7099446
    Abstract: A method, such as a method for doing business, is provided. The method includes providing telecommunications dialing features such as, for example, call return, call waiting and speed dialing, for commercial classes of telephone service. The method may include providing the telecommunications dialing features for commercial classes of telephone service on dedicated phone lines, such as a T-1 circuit. The method may also include charging a customer for providing the telecommunications dialing features for commercial classes of dedicated telephone service. According to one embodiment, the method includes charging the customer a fee on a periodic basis for the dialing features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W. Antrim, Curtis M. Abrue