Call Diversion (e.g., Call Capture) Patents (Class 379/211.01)
  • Patent number: 8848895
    Abstract: A system for and method of providing a gateway transfer mechanism is presented. In one exemplary embodiment, the system and method of providing a gateway transfer mechanism may be realized as a method, comprising identifying, at a gateway, a call to be routed to a first location, determining whether to transfer the call to a second location, in the event the call is to be transferred to the second location, transferring the call, wherein transferring the call comprises ending a process to route the call to the first location, generating transfer information for the second location, and transferring the call to the second location using the generated transfer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant B. Desai, Juan M. Vasquez, Meyuresh M. Hegde, Parind S. Poi, Haridas Bhogade
  • Patent number: 8848894
    Abstract: A system includes a tandem access controller (TAC) coupled to a PSTN, where the TAC allows a subscriber to set-up and make changes to the configuration of his/her phone line or other communications device. Such changes include selective call forwarding. The TAC is controlled by the subscriber using the web. The TAC is coupled internally to the PSTN in a local service area and is outside the subscriber's central office. A calling party makes a first call to the subscriber using the subscriber's public telephone number. The TAC receives the first call prior to the call reaching the subscriber's terminating central office. The TAC then carries out the subscriber's instructions for the first call, such as making one or more second calls using telephone numbers different from the subscriber's public telephone number. When the second call is answered, the answering phone is connected by the TAC to the caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Focal IP, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel F. Wood, Jerry A. Klein, Margaret Susan Asprey
  • Patent number: 8837692
    Abstract: A selection identifying a voice mailbox associated with an endpoint in a call diversion chain in which to store a voice message is received. In response to receiving a call from an endpoint and the call not being answered, a header field is generated in signaling data for the call that identifies the selected voice mailbox to store a voice message associated with the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vamsi Mohan Tirunagari, Rajasheela T. Sundarabai, Ravikumar R
  • Patent number: 8837704
    Abstract: A client-side signaling mechanism that allows a client to control how a telephone call is handled on a call server. The client user can create call routing rules on the client device using a client control component that manages session protocol messages. Once created, the call routing rule(s) created on the client are transmitted to the call server where a call routing component of the call server processes the rule(s) for a call related to the client. When the server receives the rule(s) and determines that the rule(s) are related to an existing call (incoming or currently in-process), the server halts current normal server rules processing for that call and executes the client-created rule(s). In one example, SIP session messages are employed for client control of server-side call forwarding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Ramanathan, Amritansh Raghav, Eran Shtiegman, Nikhil Bobde
  • Patent number: 8831192
    Abstract: Telemarketer identity verification uses an application executing in a smartphone or tablet device. When a call is received, the application takes the number and attempts to verify whether it is associated with a known telemarketer. If so, the application queries the telemarketing service for additional data about the call. The service responds with additional details, for example, the subject of the intended call. The user is then provided an notification that an incoming call is being received. At this point, the user knows that the call is from a telemarketer, that the telemarketer has been verified, and the nature of the call. This information is then output to the user, e.g., visually, aurally, physically, or some combination thereof. The visual representation may include a “decline” button that may be selected by the user. If the call is declined, the client application may then notify the telemarketing service to that effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Paul Clarke
  • Patent number: 8831190
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, and a web-based advertisement is served for an advertiser that includes the first telephone number. A call placed to the first telephone number is received, and the call is routed to the second telephone number based on the association of the second telephone number with the first telephone number. A determination as to whether a call-through event in response to receiving the call placed to the first telephone number has occurred, and an advertiser associated with the second telephone number is charged a cost-per-call amount if the call-through event is determined to have occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Vinay Goel
  • Patent number: 8831583
    Abstract: A multimode handset and method that includes a first communications path adapted to communicate using a mobile telephone communications protocol, a second communications path adapted to communicate using a local cordless communications protocol, and a processing unit in communication with the first communications path and the second communications paths and configured to switch between the first communications path and the second communications path during a telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Amar N. Ray, Cadathur V. Chakravarthy
  • Patent number: 8803939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for realizing videophone are provided in the present invention. The method includes setting different videophone modes; and selecting the videophone mode for a user to perform a video conversation by using the selected videophone mode. The apparatus includes a setting module and a control module which is connected with the setting module. With the method and apparatus for realizing videophone according to the present invention, the user can select a normal conversation or a preset audio/video mode according to requirements in the process of the videophone conversation so as to achieve different video effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Tao Xue
  • Patent number: 8792627
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a relevant content delivery service on networks such as packet networks, e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, the present method receives a request to initiate a call from a calling party to a called party. The method then establishes a communication connection between the calling party and the called party and a communication connection to a speech recognizer. The method monitors a conversation between the calling party and the called party using the speech recognizer for detecting one or more verbal triggers. Finally, the method delivers relevant content that is associated with any detected verbal triggers to the calling party and/or the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Begeja, Giuseppe Di Fabbrizio, Charles Alfred Lewis, Benjamin J. Stern, Jay Wilpon
  • Publication number: 20140205076
    Abstract: A method and device for responding to an incoming call. A first device detects an incoming call from a caller. In response to detecting the incoming call, an indication of the incoming call is sent to a second device different from the first device. The indication identifies the caller. A message indicating a response to the caller is received from the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Surender KUMAR, Susan L. LUKASIK
  • Patent number: 8781094
    Abstract: Context-based call routing is provided in a unified communication system by enabling subscribers to define a routing document, which is published by the communication system to callers who subscribe to a presence of the called party. Through publication of the context-based routing information, callers are enabled to make selections between call destination options as defined by the caller and provide a subject for the requested call. The call is then routed by the system according to the caller selection allowing efficient facilitation of the communication between the caller and the called party or their designees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Ramanathan, Eran Shtiegman, Amritansh Raghav, Dena Osherovich
  • Patent number: 8781481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication apparatus including a plurality of interfaces and the interfaces are selected to enable detour call reception. A power-supplied interface is allowed to receive a call correspondingly to the selection of the interface. A plurality of networks (cellular network, WLAN network) and a communicating apparatus (communication terminal apparatus) wirelessly connected to a network apparatus (cellular switchboard, SIP server) disposed in each network are included. The communicating apparatus includes a plurality of interface units (cellular interface unit, WLAN interface unit) corresponding to the networks. Connection of a power source is switched for the interface units, and some or all of the networks are notified of detour destination information for detouring the call from the network to the interface unit of the call destination. The network apparatus receives the detour destination information to detour the call to the interface unit of the detour destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shoichi Sano
  • Patent number: 8781091
    Abstract: A system and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information is invalid or cannot be provided. In one disclosed embodiment, the Caller ID information must include a valid number of digits and a valid area code. If the Caller ID information is not valid, a calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Wesley Moss, James Daniel Kovarik, Kenneth Robert Stroud, Rick Anthony Cherye
  • Patent number: 8774387
    Abstract: A method and system including receiving a communication from a source, the communication including a request to connect to a destination, connecting, via a communication link, to the destination, detecting an event on the communication link to the destination, and connecting the source to the destination after detecting the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, LP
    Inventors: Giuseppe Di Fabbrizio, Bernard S. Renger, Benjamin J. Stern
  • Patent number: 8774386
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for initiating a call to an intended called party on one or more alternate numbers based on availability of the called party, as determined by the called party's presence server or other database. If the called party is determined to be ‘not available’ and does not have any useful forwarding features enabled on his/her primary line served by a primary number, calls are attempted on one or more alternate numbers rather than on the primary number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gray, Peter Francis Couse
  • Patent number: 8767938
    Abstract: A method of providing a user the option to accept an incoming call, play a prerecorded message to the incoming party, ignore the incoming call or forward the incoming call to a separate telephone number is disclosed for use when the user is connected, via the same telephone line, to the Internet. The disclosed invention reduces the number of times the incoming call is transferred which reduces the number of reserves used in processing the incoming call. This reduction frees up system resources and allows overall system resources to be used more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: John Herman Wurster, Barbara Ann Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8761746
    Abstract: A system and method for routing selected phone calls to a user having a plurality of communication resources is disclosed. Background information of a caller is identified. A context of the user is postulated based on available information. The user's communication resources are identified. A location of the user is estimated. A cascaded ringing program for routing the phone call to the user is identified based on the background information of the caller, the device type of the user's communication resources, the postulated context of the user, and the estimated location of the user. The phone call is then routed using the cascaded ringing program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Armstrong, David Adam Smith, Ralph Anzarouth, Steve Lyon, Thomas A Gray
  • Patent number: 8761355
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a call notification, voice mail message notification, or SMS message for a wireless device to a user's preferred device. When a wireless device receives an incoming call, a voice mail message, or a SMS message, the wireless device connects to a network and sends a notification to the user's preferred device. If the preferred device is not available, the notification is stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Telesector Resources Group, Inc., Verizon Data Services LLC
    Inventors: Craig L. Reding, Ziauddin Majid, Shashi Neelakantan
  • Patent number: 8750483
    Abstract: A method for changing configuration settings of a telephony system comprises initiating a telephony configuration service, establishing service rights associated with a telephone number, a step for presenting one or more selectable options consistent with the service rights, at least one of which corresponds to a configuration setting change for a call-forwarding task. Additionally, the method includes a step for presenting one or more call-forwarding task options, a step for receiving a selection of at least one of the call-forwarding task options, a step for confirming the selection of at least one of the call-forwarding task options, and changing at least one configuration setting of a telephony system based at least in part upon a received selection of at least one of the call-forwarding task options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Open Invention Network, LLC
    Inventor: Dale Malik
  • Patent number: 8744059
    Abstract: A system and method may include receiving a call connection request associated with a calling device over a telephony network, the call connection request requesting establishment of a telephone call. The system and method may further include presenting a plurality of call rejection options, each of the plurality of call rejection options being associated with separate call rejection messages, and determining which one of the plurality of call rejection options is selected, where the plurality of call rejection options permit a called party to intelligently reject a phone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Basavaraju Ganganna
  • Patent number: 8744058
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing users operating on Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) networks with the ability to interconnect with Advance Intelligent Networking (AIN) and, in particular, to provide database lookup for the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, without requiring users to implement complex and expensive systems in their network. An Intelligent Call Management (ICM) structure receiving information of a dialed toll number is able to convert the information into a compatible database request to determine whether the call to the toll number is allowed to be completed based on information retrieved from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Mateer, Kenneth J. Belfrage, Chad David Hendren
  • Patent number: 8744422
    Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a mobile roaming termination service. The mobile roaming termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The mobile roaming termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Vonage Network, LLC.
    Inventor: Guy Fighel
  • Patent number: 8737589
    Abstract: The present invention provides two methods for diverting call. The key point is that call diverting information including a number to be called is transmitted when there is an incoming call or a conversation is being conducted and then a party receiving the call diverting information initiates a call to a terminal to which the number to be called directs, so that the call is diverted. Further, the present invention provides two phone terminals. By virtual of the present invention, it is possible for a user to select any terminal to receive a call, and such selection may be made before or during the phone conversation. Moreover, since it is unnecessary to use exiting call diverting methods, it is possible for the function which otherwise should be implemented at the switch side to be easily implemented on a terminal, and thus the cost of call diverting is saved. The present invention is easy to be deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
    Inventor: Zhongqing Li
  • Patent number: 8718262
    Abstract: A method for automatically routing a telephonic communication to at least one of a plurality of communication destination addresses is provided. The method is implemented by a computer readable medium having a plurality of code segments. The method comprises the step of receiving customer identifier and communicating with a customer history database configured to store historic data. The method also includes determining whether the received customer identifier corresponds to a stored customer identifier in the customer history database. Historic data corresponding to the stored customer number is identified based on the comparison of the received customer identifier and the stored customer identifier. The telephonic communication is associated with a predetermined communication destination based on the identified historic data. The associated communication data is transmitted to a switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mattersight Corporation
    Inventors: Kelly Conway, Christopher Danson, Douglas Brown, David Gustafson
  • Patent number: 8718259
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring calls. A voice communication is received. The voice communication is placed on hold in response to receiving user input. Multiple phones are rung simultaneously in response to receiving the user input. The voice communication is connected to one of the multiple phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on one of the multiple phones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: David Emerson, David E. Rondeau
  • Patent number: 8718257
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for the management and routing of telecommunications information on data and telephone lines. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a flexible system whereby business information is correlated to a user's telephone number is provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an on-line answering service in which the identification information of the called party can be maintained during call forwarding and/or diversion. In another exemplary embodiment, the identification information of the user called can be detected by the answering system. In addition, in another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides answering services access to information about the called party as well as the calling party in order to facilitate the answering services' responses on behalf of their users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Francesco Ricci
  • Patent number: 8712028
    Abstract: A real number and a published number are allocated to a call origination telephone terminal 100. The real number is a telephone number used in the case of directly connecting to the telephone terminal, and the published number is a number published for a third party as a telephone number of the telephone terminal. The telephone relaying apparatus 200 stores the real number and the published number in correlation with each other for each of a plurality of telephone terminals. When receiving a first call in which the real number of the call origination telephone terminal 100 is a calling number, the telephone relaying apparatus 200 reads out the published number corresponding to the real number of the call origination telephone terminal 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akihisa Kurashima
  • Patent number: 8705710
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to processing calls to busy and Do-Not-Disturb capable telecommunications lines. In one embodiment, the presence of a subscriber accessing a computer network over a first telephone line via a first computer terminal is detected, wherein the subscriber also has a first telephone station connected to the first line. When a caller calls the first line and the first line is busy, the call is forwarded to a second telephone line associated with a call manager system. The call manager system determines when the subscriber is no longer accessing the computer network. At least partly in response to determining that the subscriber is no longer accessing the computer network, the call manager system transmits a text message to the caller, the message including the subscriber's phone number. The caller can then call back the first line using the transmitted phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventor: David S. Trandal
  • Patent number: 8699687
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for responding to an incoming communication attempt, sent from a sender to a recipient. The method includes receiving the incoming communication attempt and presenting options for responding to the incoming communication attempt. The options include at least one of acknowledgement message options and communication answering-related options. The method also includes receiving an option selection and responding to the incoming communication attempt according to the instructions of the selected option. The acknowledgement message options provide information to the sender without requiring that the recipient answer the incoming communication attempt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott M. Frank, Robert A. Koch
  • Patent number: 8699685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to managing communication events in a Communication System at least comprising a first communication device (1), associated with a first user named Caller; a second communication device (2), associated with a second user named Callee; a central component, named Gatekeeper (3), being connected to said first and second communication devices (1, 2) to mediate communication connections between the Caller and the Callee, wherein said Gatekeeper (3) is also connected to said users' workstations (1, 2). A method is provided for reducing or preventing a negative impact of communication-based interruptions on a user's work. The invention relates to the case that a communication connection is established and, therefor, proposes to initiate state-saving actions on the workstation (1, 2) of at least one user involved in said communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Wasmund
  • Patent number: 8693664
    Abstract: A method and system for providing directory assistance to erroneous calls. The method and system includes an intercept system that intercepts erroneous calls and automatically routes them to a directory assistance service. The directory assistance service provides a least one advertisement and a variety of other services to the callers using current caller data and to one or more alternative numbers for the callers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Blake Bookstaff, Robert B. Deming, William W. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140094135
    Abstract: A method for providing continued answering of special number calls intended for delivery via a plurality of communication networks to a primary special number answering position when the primary special number answering position is effecting call diversion includes: (a) determining at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position; (b) ascertaining that the primary special number answering position is effecting call diversion; and (c) directing each routing entity of each respective communication network of the plurality of communication networks to route calls intended for the primary special number answering position to at least one selected alternate special number answering position of the at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, George Heinrichs
  • Patent number: 8688464
    Abstract: A facility for screening service requests for requesting assistance is described. The facility receives from a user a service request that requests assistance with solving a problem associated with a system accessible to the user and includes information related to the system. The facility searches a collection of system status information for at least one entry that corresponds with the received information related to the system. Where a corresponding entry is found, the facility provides to the user an indication of the correspondence and an opportunity to cancel the service request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siebel Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sunday, Ken Wells, Mitchell Kreaden, Anthony Deighton, Dougal Brindley
  • Patent number: 8681967
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium for determining whether to perform telephone call blocking. One example method of operation provides initiating a telephone call from a call server, determining whether the call is a solicitation call and determining the area code of the call and performing a lookup operation of the area code in a call suppression database. The method may also include retrieving a call block entry for a current day from the call suppression database, and comparing the area code to the call block entry for the current day to determine whether the call should be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Rebekah Johnson, Baron Morvant, William Corey Howard
  • Patent number: 8681971
    Abstract: An intelligent interactive call handling system is provided that typically includes a central office, a call-handling device, and an internet call routing system. The central office typically triggers a query responsive to receiving a call request. The call-handling device is coupled to the central office, receives the query, and triggers an internet call routing query. The internet call routing system, which is coupled to the call-handling device, typically receives the internet call routing query, determines presence of the called party with respect to at least one registered communication device, sends a prompt to the called party at said at least one registered communication device responsive to the presence determination, receives a reply from said at least one registered communication device, and routes the call responsive to the reply. Methods and other systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Larry G. Kent, Jr., W. Todd Daniell, Mary S. Arnoff
  • Patent number: 8681968
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system includes storing a call screening rule for a callee specifying one or more conditions under which the call screening rule applies to an incoming call to the callee and specifying one or more call screening actions to take when an incoming call to the callee is received under the one or more conditions. When an incoming call from the caller's device to the callee's device is received under the one or more conditions of the call screening rule, a determination is made whether a bypass condition exists, and if a bypass condition exists, the incoming call is connected to the callee's device without taking the one or more call screening actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Publication number: 20140079205
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products and the like for managing calls in a telecommunication network. In one example, the systems and methods involve passing information into a standard signaling flow in order to obtain a unique routing for customers sharing a single interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Abram Karp, Brian Bennefeld, Michael Jared Officer
  • Patent number: 8676588
    Abstract: Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ryan, Biji K. Janan
  • Patent number: 8670545
    Abstract: Examples of inbound call identification and management are described including a call management system that includes one or more repositories that can include data representing call action policies and data representing attributes associated with the caller devices and the callee devices. Further, the call management system can include one or more computing devices that include a call identifier (“IDer”) configured to characterize the attributes of the caller devices to form characterized attributes, a call management system controller configured to match the characterized attributes against routing criteria specified in the data representing the call action policies, and a call management system router configured to route calls from the caller devices to the callee devices responsive to a match between the characterized attributes and the routing criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 8670771
    Abstract: The location of a mobile terminal associated with a user is determined using GPS or by monitoring signals generated and received by the mobile terminal, etc. Coordinates for at least one hot spot defined by the user are accessed to determine whether the location of the mobile terminal is within the hot spot. When an incoming contact is received for the user, a determination is made as to whether there are any contact routing rules associates with the user. If so, the record of contact routing rules associated with the user is accessed. If the record of contact routing rules includes at least one contact routing rule assigned to a hot spot, the contact is routed according to the at least one contact routing rule, based on whether or not the mobile terminal is determined to be within the hot spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bandwidth.com, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Anders Brownworth, James Mulcahy
  • Patent number: 8670546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a personalized communication processing service are disclosed. In one embodiment, a personalized communication processing system (PCPS) can include a processor, an input/output interface, and a memory. The memory can be configured to store instructions, executable by the processor to intercept an incoming communication from a calling party, identify calling party information, determine a contact category to which the calling party is logically associated based upon a recognized relationship between the called party and the calling party as defined in the contact category, determine a user state of the called party that identifies conditions under which a communication processing treatment is to be provided for the contact category according to a personalized communication processing rule, apply the rule associated with the determined user state and the determined contact category, and process the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Randolph Wohlert
  • Patent number: 8666052
    Abstract: A universal phone number is provided for connecting to communication methods, including fixed line, mobile line, and internet communication methods. A communication group of communication methods may include multiple communication methods belonging to one individual or to multiple individuals within the communication group, such as a family. The universal phone number may be designated as the primary contact number for the communication group such incoming phone calls and text messages may be automatically routed to the communication methods in the communication group. The universal phone number may provide alerts to the multiple communication methods for notifying when incoming phone calls are answered. A universal voicemail box may also be provided for a scenario when the incoming call is not answered. Additionally, the universal phone number may provide the ability to keep the contact information for each of the individual communication methods private.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Amey Parandekar, Dhigha Sekaran, Shahzaib Younis, Scott A. Plette, Marcelo D. Truffat
  • Patent number: 8660254
    Abstract: A method and system for call management is provided. In a system embodiment a call manager server is provided that can managing incoming call requests from certain telephony devices and effect connections to other telephony devices based on those incoming call requests. The call manager server can also maintain a policy that defines permissions as to whether certain telephony devices can request interruption of an ongoing phone call at a destination telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Colbert, Michael Gray, Peter Baccay
  • Patent number: 8655332
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for realizing a one-number multiple-terminal service, the method comprises the following steps: a calling terminal calls a called terminal in a first network; the first network triggers, when the called terminal is a one-number multiple-terminal service subscriber and the called number is a main number, the call service to an intelligent service platform; the intelligent service platform obtains, from the first network, a Temporary Local Directory Number (TLDN) of the called terminal corresponding to the main number, stores the TLDN and sends a service control indication to the first network; the first network routes the call to a Next Generation Network according to the service control indication from the platform; the next generation network triggers the call service to the platform; and the platform returns the TLDN of the called terminal corresponding to the main number and all other terminal numbers bound to the main number to the Next Generation Network to connect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Jianjun Yang
  • Publication number: 20140045473
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alternate communication paths for telephone calls. Calls directed to a telephone are relayed to a second electronic communication device, which may be a second telephone, based on the physical relationship of the telephone and the second device. According to one aspect, the physical relationship is automatically detected and compared with one or more conditions. When one of the conditions is met, an incoming call directed to the telephone is relayed to the second electronic communication device. Detection of the physical relationship may include detecting whether the telephone and the second device are in close proximity, whether one or both of the telephone and the second device is moving, or other aspects of the relationship. Relaying a call to the second device may be accomplished by call forwarding, a ring-no-answer treatment, three-way calling, or other methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc. (028233)
    Inventors: John Salisbury, Dean Williams, Kotaro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8644484
    Abstract: A communication system is provided that uses loosely-coupled client-server architectures to improve the efficiency of communications. The communication system includes client and facilitator applications. The client application is a component of processor-based mobile communication devices. The facilitator application is hosted on one or more servers or other processor-based devices, and communicates with the client application via one or more couplings. The facilitator application can also be distributed among one or more portable processor-based devices including the communication devices hosting the client application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Fulton, Andre M. Nakaso, John S. Drewry, Michael A. White, Steven D. Schramm, Saurav Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 8644483
    Abstract: A telephone relay apparatus stores peripheral telephone numbers of a plurality of peripheral telephone terminals scheduled to be located at the periphery of each specific terminal user. When a line connecting request from an outgoing telephone terminal of an arbitrary telephone outgoing user to a specific telephone terminal is received, connection of a telephone call execution line from the outgoing telephone terminal to the specific telephone terminal is tried. Therefore, when the connection is connected, a telephone call between the telephone outgoing user and the specific terminal user can be immediately made. However, when the telephone call execution line to the specific telephone terminal is not connected, the peripheral telephone terminal is selected in a transfer trying order, and connection of the telephone call execution line is tried with the peripheral telephone numbers in the transfer trying order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Arao, Teruharu Serada, Hirokazu Yamada, Noriaki Hayase, Takayuki Omino, Yasuaki Tsunemi, Kenichi Kamiya, Michio Nishioka
  • Patent number: 8634532
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal communication terminal (iK1, iK2, iK3) of a private branch exchange (PBX), having at least one device (E11, . . . , E32), by means of the activation (act) of which said internal communication terminal (iK) or the private branch exchange (PBX) is put into a state in which said internal communication terminal or the private branch exchange identifies the telephone number of an incoming call from an external communication terminal (eK). The identified telephone number of the external communication terminal is then associated with the internal communication terminal in a database (DB), provided that the type of the association of said external communication terminal with said internal communication terminal connected with the activation of said device is not yet entered in the database. Otherwise, said association is deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Sabine Kretschmer
  • Patent number: 8634410
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method of providing multimedia communication services includes receiving, at an intelligent service switch (ISS) of an integrated wireline-wireless (IWW) network, a service request from a wireline communication device. The method includes receiving contextual information associated with the service request, the contextual information including a time of the service request, a range of times of the service request, a day of the service request, a range of days of the service request, a date of the service request, a range of dates of the service request, a location of the wireline communication device, a type of the wireline communication device, or a combination thereof. At least one multimedia communication service is provided to the wireline communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Hisao M. Chang, Javier B. Arellano, Steven William Frew, Sreenivasa Gorti, Bach Ngoc Hoang
  • Patent number: 8625765
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for intelligent routing. An intelligent routing processing module sets at least one intelligent routing trigger condition and at least one corresponding intelligent routing policy in advance, and an incoming call or message is processed according to intelligent routing contact manners in the intelligent routing policy. The intelligent routing trigger condition includes relevant information of the incoming call or message and the intelligent routing policy may include more than one intelligent routing contact manner. The embodiments of the present invention may provide more intelligent routing contact manners and intelligent routing policies for communication routing technology and may make full use of subscriber presence information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youzhu Shi