Abbreviated Dialing Or Direct Call (e.g., Hot Line) Patents (Class 379/216.01)
  • Patent number: 8780888
    Abstract: A technique for allowing a non-SIP user to call a SIP user includes dialing an established service number that indicates a desire to place a call to a SIP user. The SIP URI of the intended call recipient is included in a call setup protocol message associated with dialing the service number. A non-SIP network recognizes the call to the service number and the SIP URI from the UUI parameter of the call setup message. The call is then routed to a gateway for interfacing between the non-SIP network and the appropriate SIP network where the SIP URI is extracted from the message received by the gateway and used to generate an SIP INVITE message for establishing the call with the intended SIP user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Michael Jianjun Bian, Hao Lei Ren, Aden Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 8781095
    Abstract: A communication apparatus having an abbreviated dialing function allowing input of a destination number with fewer key input operations and a method of controlling the communication apparatus capable of reducing the operations of inputting a destination number is disclosed. The communication apparatus includes an abbreviated dialing input unit for inputting a destination number with fewer key input operations, a touch panel input/display unit for inputting the destination number, and a destination input operation menu controlling unit for controlling a menu display mode of a destination input operation menu on the touch panel input/display unit based on destination management information registering plural abbreviated dialing numbers referred to by the abbreviated dialing input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Takaoka, Tomohide Machida
  • Patent number: 8774375
    Abstract: A mobile telephone has radio-frequency connection to a cellular network, a speaker, a stored contact list including telephone numbers for the contacts, a DTMF tone generator coupled to the speaker, and coded intelligence executing from a non-transitory physical medium, enabling a user to select a contact, causing the DTMF tone generator to produce a DTM tone sequence associated with the contact's telephone number audibly over the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Padmanabhan Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 8767941
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable configuring and using speed dialing. A first user interface is displayed to a user, the first user interface providing a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name and a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact name. A speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address is provided. When the user later enters speed dial identifier via a telephone, the phone address is called.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Colin Kelley, David S. Trandal
  • Patent number: 8767940
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an identity of a caller; receive an assigned incoming telephone number; identify a recipient associated with the assigned incoming telephone number and the identity; and connect the caller and the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Stanacard LLC
    Inventors: Michael David Choupak, Eduard Romanov
  • Patent number: 8755503
    Abstract: The present invention is related to telecommunications, and in particular, to methods and systems for call processing. By way of example, a first call control is visually provided via a Web page in association with search results transmitted to a user computer system, wherein the user submitted to search request to a search engine. An indication is received that the user activated the first call control. A first call is placed to a telephonic address selected by the user. A second call is placed to a telephonic address associated with the first call control. Progress information related to the second call is transmitted to the user computer system in substantially real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Leland Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, David Giannini
  • Patent number: 8693667
    Abstract: A system includes a switching device. The switching device is configured to process a call request as a 12-digit telephone number in a first situation. The 12-digit telephone number includes an area code and 9 digits after the area code. The switching device is further configured to process the call request as a telephone number including less than 12 digits in a second situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventor: Chad D. Horton
  • Patent number: 8644486
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to proxy mobile and network originated call sessions. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method to access a phone directory using a mobile device including transmitting on a data channel of a wireless communications network a request for access to the phone directory, transmitting on the data channel one or more selective requests to search the phone directory, receiving on the data channel one or more successive portions of the phone directory according to the one or more selective requests, and transmitting on the data channel an abbreviated identifier associated with an entry of the phone directory for establishing voice communications with a terminal device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: James Gewecke
  • Patent number: 8615072
    Abstract: A user-operated system for causing a land-line telephone to dial a destination includes a mobile telephony device having a speaker and an internal dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) dialer, and a dialer extension integrated with a microphone on the land line telephone for capturing a DTMF telephone number sequence. A telephone number is selected on the mobile telephony device, which generates an audible DTMF for the telephone number over the speaker, and the DTMF is captured by the microphone, and the land-line telephone dials the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventor: Padmanabhan Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 8594297
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for enhanced call routing. A system configured to practice the method determines the communicative intent of a caller based on the caller's identity, communication history, job title, and/or other factors. Based on this communicative intent, the system develops a list of most probable call destinations. From this list of most probable call destinations, the system selects the most-likely call destination the destination most likely to meet the needs of the caller based on the subject received. Then the system can initialize communications are then initialized between the user and the most-likely call destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Balasaygun, Rajeshwari Edamadaka, Venkatesh Krishnaswamy
  • Publication number: 20130287200
    Abstract: In a click-to-call (C2C) communication environment, a web client of a computing terminal is configured to initiate a C2C call when a user selects a call tag provided in a web page being presented to the user. The call is intended to be established between a remote endpoint associated with the call tag and one of either the computing terminal or another terminal associated with the user. If the C2C call is directed to an automated system and placed in a queue or on hold, the present invention allows supplemental content intended for the user to be delivered to the web client from which the C2C call was initiated. The web client may present the supplemental content to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Dany Sylvain
  • Publication number: 20130265238
    Abstract: A communication device for visual speed dial is described. The communication device comprises a user interface, a display and a transmitter. The user interface detects activation of a speed dial mode. The display provides virtual keys in response to detecting activation of the speed dial mode. The virtual keys include characters associated with one or more phone numbers. One or more keys are associated with a particular phone number and a photographic image associated with the particular phone number. The user interface detects selection of the key or keys associated with the particular phone number and the photographic image. The transmitter communicates with a remote device in response to detecting selection of the key or keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Aerrabotu, Shyam Narayan
  • Patent number: 8553868
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing Intelligent Outbound Calling provides enhanced calling services even when the called party is not a customer to such a service. A method for providing calling services may comprise storing contact information for a customer, the contact information comprising information relating to a plurality of contacts associated with the customer and for each contact, a plurality of contact telephone numbers, receiving an indication of a contact selected from among the plurality of contacts, and dialing a plurality of calls to the plurality of contact telephone numbers for the selected contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Xcast Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Smelyansky
  • Patent number: 8542814
    Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring and using speed dialing are described. A first user interface is displayed to a user, the first user interface providing a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name and a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact name. A speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address is provided. When the user later enters speed dial identifier via a telephone, the phone address is called.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Smith, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Colin Kelley, David S. Trandal
  • Publication number: 20130243178
    Abstract: A method is herein proposed for implementing a telephone communication with a telephone communication subscriber. The method allows extending the variance of code selection corresponding to telephone numbers of the subscribers and optimizing the communication between the subscribers by means of the use of correspondence codes and information codes. The proposed method contemplates: (a) in order to implement a telephone communication with a subscriber and/or with a telephone communication device, a correspondence code is used which does not contain any digits or does not only contain digits, and/or (b) in order to implement a telephone communication with a telephone communication subscriber or with a subscriber telephone communication device, an information code is used, on the basis of which communication tools, with or without the use of the Internet, perform a search for contact data of a called subscriber or a subscriber telephone communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Vladimir Vitalievich Miroshnichenko, Vitaly Evgenievich Pilkin
  • Publication number: 20130202099
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for returning missed phone calls. In this method, a missed phone call is detected and a phone number associated with the missed phone call is identified. A physical button located on an apparatus is assigned to the phone number. An indication that the missed phone call is associated with the physical button is initiated and after which, a single selection of the physical button is detected. A phone call to the phone number is then initiated in response to the detection of the single selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Pradeep Kumar K.A.
  • Patent number: 8494136
    Abstract: In embodiments, a method, device and/or system allowing for automatic connection through a menu driven communication system by way of a keyed sequence, which may be stored as an XML file, comprising a telephone number and a menu response sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Candice B. Gilzean, Gahlya Gregory, Fabian F. Morgan, Angie B. Pelt
  • Patent number: 8477924
    Abstract: A method (200) for establishing a communication session between a caller device (104) and a called device (106) in a two-stage dialing protocol is provided. The method includes transmitting (204) at least one list of contacts and at least one list of index values to a communication server. Each index value of the at least one list of index values is associated with a corresponding contact from the at least one list of contacts. Further, the method includes initiating (206) a first-stage communication between a communication between the caller device and the communication server based communication server based on an input received at the caller device the caller device. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting (208) at least one set of characters of communication server based on a set of inputs received at the caller device and establishing (210) the communication session between the caller device and the called device based on the at least one set of characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventor: Shivakumar Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20130163742
    Abstract: A phone number recommending system and method. A user terminal for generating a phone number recommendation list includes a time information acquisition unit for acquiring information regarding a time taken to perform a call through the user terminal. The user terminal also includes a location information acquisition unit for acquiring information regarding a location where the call is performed. The user terminal further includes a call history generator for generating a call history of the user terminal based on the acquired time information and the acquired location information. The user terminal still further includes a phone number recommendation unit for generating a phone number recommendation list based on the generated call history, a current location of the user terminal, and a current time. The user terminal also includes a display unit for displaying the generated phone number recommendation list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
  • Publication number: 20130163733
    Abstract: A method of assigning contacts to a speed dial function. The method can include identifying contacts that are candidates to be assigned to the speed dial function on a communication device. The method also can include identifying a geographic distance between each of the identified candidates and the communication device. The method further can include, via a processor, assigning a first of the identified candidates that is closest to the communication device to a first speed dial indicator, and assigning a second of the identified candidates that is next closest to the communication device to a second speed dial indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventors: Naveen Aerrabotu, Shyam Narayan
  • Patent number: 8457683
    Abstract: In the method for establishing communication to a remote terminal from the mobile terminal operating in dual mode, the terminal considers a contact corresponding to the remote terminal. The contact has a string of characters including an identification field containing an identifier of the remote terminal and a description field containing at least one character corresponding to a category to which the identifier contained within the identification field belongs. The terminal analyzes the string of characters. The terminal considers the value of the description field. A rule for establishing communication corresponding to the value is determined. The value of the identification field is considered. A request to establish communication in accordance with the rule is sent to the remote terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Raymond Gass, Jean-Rene Rousseau
  • Publication number: 20130136248
    Abstract: Simulation is used to determine optimal dialer parameters for a predictive dialing system. A call history is logged over a period of time for a plurality of outgoing calls initiated by the predictive dialing system. The call history includes call data for each of the outgoing calls. A simulation is run on the call history by adjusting one or more dialer parameters and determining one or more values for those dialer parameter values that provide at least a target agent utilization within the simulation without causing a threshold abandonment rate to be exceeded within the simulation. Timing and/or quantity of outgoing calls to be initiated by the predictive dialing system are determined based, at least in part, on the one or more values for the dialer parameters determined from the simulation. The predictive dialing system initiates outgoing calls in accordance with the determined timing and quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IMPACT DIALING, INC.
    Inventor: Impact Dialing, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8451825
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to initiate callback with confirmation. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a reference (e.g., a callback phone number) in a request for a connection to a destination; providing a code via the reference in response to the request; receiving a code to confirm the request; determining whether the received code matches the provided code; and initiating a connection via the reference for the connection to the destination if the received code matches the provided code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: UTBK, LLC
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Paul G. Manca, Virginia Hong-Jia Yang
  • Patent number: 8447020
    Abstract: A method for predicting to whom a phone call is being made, including identifying at least one state parameter for a mobile phone, and at least one weighting factor corresponding to the at least one state parameter for each identified state parameter, predicting one or more likely contacts that a user of the mobile phone is calling, given that the user is making a phone call, based on the identified state parameter, for each likely contact, assigning a combined weight to the likely contact based on the at least one weighting factor, ranking the likely contacts according to the combined weights, and facilitating making a phone call to one or more of the likely contacts with the highest rankings. A mobile phone is also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Eyal Bychkov, Tal Engelstein, Yair Leshem, Uri Ron, Ron Levy, Hagit Perry, Yohan Yehouda Cohen, Yuval Refaeli
  • Patent number: 8437458
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining information relating to a first telephone number, and determining whether the first telephone number corresponds to a first speed dial button on a device. The first speed dial button is highlighted if the first telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button. If the first telephone number does not correspond to the first speed dial button, the method also includes determining whether the first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, determining whether the second telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button if the first telephone number is associated with the second telephone number, and highlighting the first speed dial button when it is determined that the second telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Toebes
  • Publication number: 20130094645
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing at least one network endpoint of an enterprise customer network access to at least one dialing plan. Specifically, the method comprises receiving at least one dialing plan request from the at least one network endpoint, retrieving at least one address mapping in response to the at least one dialing plan request, and responding to the at least one dialing plan request using the at least one address mapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: AT&T Corp.
  • Patent number: 8422655
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect an identity of a caller; receive an assigned incoming telephone number; identify a recipient associated with the assigned incoming telephone number and the identity; and connect the caller and the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Stanacard LLC
    Inventors: Michael Choupak, Eduard Romanov
  • Patent number: 8379810
    Abstract: An integrated network communication device includes a data processing device, an image output device and a communication device. The data processing device is adapted to integrate various digital data and can be connected to an information network. The image output device is adapted to display image data on an image display screen. The communication device is adapted to exchange audio data with the information network, and further comprises an input unit, an audio output module, an audio input module, a traffic indication module and a bar-code identification module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Avalue Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Che Chang
  • Patent number: 8363813
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for providing an intelligent speed dialing service for a phone user according to a pre-selected dialing algorithm. More specifically, this invention provides an intelligent speed dialing feature to call a list of available phone numbers of the person to be contacted. With this invention, a caller can dial pre-programmed speed dialing digits on the phone station to call the person to be contacted, according to a pre-program algorithm, to automatically dial one or multiple phone numbers of the person to be contacted. The present invention greatly improves the convenience of using the speed dialing feature of a phone station, especially when the advanced call forwarding feature such as “follow me” is not available to or not enabled by the person to be contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Yiu Kau Leung, Yiu Man Leung
  • Patent number: 8355493
    Abstract: A communications system for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality of subscribers via a public switched telephone network is provided. The communications system includes an end office switch disposed in an end office and in communication with the public switched telephone network. The communications system further includes an auto-dialer disposed in the end office and interconnected with the end office switch for placing the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers via the end office switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: David Kimble
  • Patent number: 8346297
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling operation of a mobile device having a plurality of input devices, comprising associating groups of one or more keys of the input devices to define at least one input region and in response to an input received from said input devices, performing an associated action for operating the device, responding equally to any input from a same input region. A repeated input (multi-tap) to a same input region cycles through a plurality of actions associated with the input region. Auditory feedback comprising a vocalized description of the action is provided. The multi-tap keyboard user interface with auditory feedback may adapt a mobile device (e.g. PDA or smart phone) for use by visually impaired users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Gary Mousseau, Thanh Vuong
  • Patent number: 8335306
    Abstract: A call processing system for handling calls in a communication network operated by a communication carrier comprising and interface and a processing system. The interface is configured to receive a hotline instruction from a customer of the communication carrier to enable a plurality of hotline features for a plurality of devices associated with the customer to route a plurality of calls from the plurality of devices to a plurality of hotline destinations, and receiving a first call request for a first call to a first intended destination from a first device of the plurality of devices. The processing system is configured to process the first call request to determine if a first hotline feature for the first device is enabled, and process the first call request to route the first call to a first hotline destination of the plurality of hotline destinations if the first hotline feature is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Larry H. Piercy, Trey A. Hilyard
  • Patent number: 8320532
    Abstract: A system and method may include establishing a processing data session over a data network based on a processing data session request from a remote communication device, identifying a dialing directory based on the processing data session request, the dialing directory including multiple complete addresses, and receiving address information over the data network via the processing data session. The system and method may further include processing the address information to determine whether the address information corresponds to one of the plurality of complete addresses, and providing the corresponding one of the plurality of complete addresses over the data network to the remote communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: David C Robbins
  • Patent number: 8295465
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to provide telephonic connections to members of a social network. One embodiment includes: identifying a first member connected to a second member in a social network; determining whether profile data of the first member of the social network includes a telephonic reference of the first member; presenting a user interface element to the second member over a data communication network in response to a determination that the profile data of the first member includes the telephonic reference of the first member; and responsive to a selection of the user interface element, initiating a first telephonic connection to the first member using the telephonic reference of the first member and a second telephonic connection to the second member to provide a telephonic connection between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden
  • Patent number: 8295468
    Abstract: A system and method to select and retrieve contact center transactions from a set of transactions stored in a queuing mechanism. The system includes an interactive voice response system configured to accept at least one call and dynamically populate a web form with call data associated with the at least one call. The system also includes a queuing engine configured to allow a call agent to access the call data prior to the at least one call being connected to the call agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peeyush Jaiswal, Naveen Narayan
  • Patent number: 8280027
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dialing numbers using a session initial protocol device are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes obtaining at least a first part of an input string associated with a dialplan. The input string includes at least one character. The method also includes determining if at least a first potential target string stored in a local cache includes the first part of the input string, and accessing an external call manager arrangement if the first potential target string stored in the local cache does not include the first part of the input string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Umesh P. Katapadi
  • Patent number: 8254546
    Abstract: A method (300) and system (100) are disclosed to proxy mobile and network originated call sessions. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method having the steps of simulating (302-314) a seamless phone directory, and simulating (318-344) a mobile originated call as a network originated call according to a selected identifier of the phone directory proxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: James Gewecke
  • Publication number: 20120214454
    Abstract: Methods are provided for managing communications over a communications routing network. A data store is maintained of records of communications links established over the communications routing network between a first endpoint of the communications routing network and multiple second endpoints of the communications routing network distinct from the first endpoint. A frequency analysis is performed of the second endpoints to identify a frequency of establishing a communications link between the first endpoint and each of the second endpoints. A list is generated of a subset of the second endpoints in accordance with a result of the frequency analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Joel Frederick
  • Patent number: 8238283
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted to a portable terminal for generating a multicast group and multicasting messages using the multicast group are provided. The method includes inputting a number to be used as a multicast number, searching in a phone book for phone numbers matching with the input number, selecting at least two phone numbers matching with the input number, and generating a multicast group. Portable terminal users can more easily and efficiently send the message to recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hae Moon Kwon
  • Publication number: 20120195420
    Abstract: A user-operated system for causing a land-line telephone to dial a destination includes a mobile telephony device having a speaker and an internal dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) dialer, and a dialer extension integrated with a microphone on the land line telephone for capturing a DTMF telephone number sequence. A telephone number is selected on the mobile telephony device, which generates an audible DTMF for the telephone number over the speaker, and the DTMF is captured by the microphone, and the land-line telephone dials the destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Padmanabhan Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 8224390
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods of a mobile communication device including receiving data related to an image exhibited on a display device of a digital frame and processing the received data to access at least one communication initiation address. The communication device and the digital frame may establish communication in any number of manners. For example, the communication device may be in the proximity of the digital frame or may touch the frame itself, for example on a touch screen of the digital frame. In any event, the digital frame may include a transceiver to transmit data to the communication device so that at least in part based on data of the digital frame the communication device may automatically or semi-automatically initiate a communication to a communication address associated with the data. Accordingly, a user's desire to place a call telephone based on viewing a photo may be simply initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: William Alberth, Jr., Anita Denise Fries
  • Patent number: 8208618
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for searching a phone number and originating a call by using an image in a mobile communication terminal having a touch screen. The apparatus includes the touch screen for displaying at least one image in an image area, a memory unit for storing at least one image and a phone number corresponding thereto, and a control unit for performing call origination by using the phone number corresponding to each image if a touch input is made onto the relevant image displayed in the image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Joo-Yoon Bae, Ji-Seon Won
  • Patent number: 8185429
    Abstract: A database navigation system simplifies the navigation and use of sales target information in a database. The salesperson, i.e., the user, begins navigating and using the database by logging into the secured system using a computer. Once logged in, the system displays a Leads Worksheet that lists the sales targets, or “suspect”, from the database assigned to that user and the name of a prospecting process, i.e., a prospecting cycle, that the user will follow with that target. The prospecting cycle comprises of several management-defined steps. Once the user creates a To-Do list of the targets to pursue that workday, the user goes to an Action Page. Here, the user completes the actions in the step of the prospecting cycle for each selected sales target using the tools provided. The system creates a log, i.e., a history, of the user's actions including phone calls, e-mails, video transmissions, and the like as related to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Robert H. Howard
  • Patent number: 8184796
    Abstract: A private communications network and method of managing calls in a private communications network. Connected communications devices register with the network and are assigned aliases, with aliases for groups of registered devices sharing one or more common digits. Dialing strings for in-network calls are monitored for inclusion of a wildcard (e.g., *) which are treated as a “don't care.” The wildcard invokes group features, such as placing a conference call, invoking a hunting feature and invoking a pickup feature. The call is distributed/connected to the group corresponding to the remaining digits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Ruetschi, Joseph LoBuono
  • Patent number: 8180035
    Abstract: A request to delete a dialing plan is received. A list is generated of switching modules that are connected to a central processor of a telephone switch. Each switching module is queried to determine if the switching module includes a copy of the dialing plan. It is determined whether the dialing plan is in use by querying switching modules that include a copy of the dialing plan. If the dialing plan is not in use, then the dialing plan is deleted from at least one switching module identified as including a copy of the dialing plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Verizon New York Inc.
    Inventor: Steven L. Starkes
  • Patent number: 8175239
    Abstract: A system comprising an abbreviated digit constructor, an abbreviated digit analyzer and a calling line identification data store. The abbreviated digit constructor is communicatively coupled to the calling line identification data store and abbreviated digit analyzer, the abbreviated digit analyzer sends a set of abbreviated dialed digits to the abbreviated digit constructor and the abbreviated digit constructor constructs a set of unabbreviated dialed digits from the set of abbreviated dialed digits and a calling line identification retrieved from the calling line identification data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: David S. Benco, Mark A. Ristich
  • Patent number: 8150017
    Abstract: A method of retrieving a directory listing includes steps of storing a plurality of directory listings, each listing searchable by a plurality of keys, each of the keys comprising a plurality of symbols selected from a subset of an alphabet; receiving a sequence of inputs each designating a plurality of the symbols; identifying a number of the directory listings having at least one of the keys consistent with the sequence of inputs; displaying candidate ones of the directory listing having the at least one of the keys consistent with the sequence of inputs; and selecting one of the candidate directory listings to be contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Nader Gharachorloo, Donald H. Relyea, Brian Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120076291
    Abstract: A method of automating a telephone call to a contact with whom a text based electronic communication is exchanged. The method can include, via a processor, receiving from a first electronic messaging client a first identifier corresponding to a first text based electronic communication sent to a user or received by the user, and receiving from a second electronic messaging client a second identifier corresponding to a second text based electronic communication sent to the user or received by the user. Via the processor, a list that identifies at least the first identifier and the second identifier can be presented. Responsive to receiving a user selection of the first identifier or the second identifier, via the processor, a telephone call can be automatically initiated to a telephone number that corresponds to the selected identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kulvir Singh Bhogal, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Mark William Talbot
  • Patent number: 8144843
    Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Tricia Ehlers Henry, Victor Piollet Mills, Jr., Margaret Jean Andrietsch, Diana Inara Tiliks, Rodney T Brand, Carlos H Donoso
  • Publication number: 20120069985
    Abstract: Call initiation on a device with potential for a large number of stored telephone numbers is simplified through the use of an integrated field for entry of an ambiguous filter string. As it is not clear, a priori, whether the user is manually specifying, in the integrated field, a telephone number or providing a filter string for filtering contacts, filtering is performed based on at least one filter string. Among the contacts that are part of a filtering result list, a default contact is selected for quick access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sherryl Lee Lorraine SCOTT, Lawrence Edward KUHL, Keizo MARUI, Matthew LEE