Search Patents
  • Method and apparatus for providing an audible calling party identification for a call waiting service
    Patent number: 7639790
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of packet-switched network services, e.g., VoIP network services, to hear a very gentle whispering tone that quietly conveys the identity of the calling party when they are engaged in conversation and to receive a call-waiting signal. The tone is audible only to the called party but does not mute the ongoing conversation path. This enables subscribed users to hear their ongoing conversation while receiving the whispering tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for segmenting communication network customers into service tiers
    Publication number: 20060140381
    Abstract: The present invention enables a capability to identify high spending, or high tier, customers of packet-switched network services, e.g., VoIP network services and provide them with a higher level of service than lower paying, or normal tier, customers. For example, these highly valued customers can be offered free trials or special promotions of new service features and their calls into customer care can always be routed to live, highly experienced customer care agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling dynamic codec selection on a per application basis
    Patent number: 7733850
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling dynamic codec selection on a per application basis are disclosed. Specifically, before establishing call legs to connect VoIP endpoints, the Call Control Element (CCE) consults any invoked application server to determine the preferred codec method and communicates this preference to the appropriate Border Elements involved in the call. The preferred codec method is then negotiated between the corresponding calls legs while the call media path is being established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for restricting visual material for conference services
    Publication number: 20070180029
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for restricting visual materials in conference services provided on networks such as the packet networks, e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, the customer subscribes to a service with integrated data and voice conferencing capabilities and collaboration services. In one embodiment, the service provider enables the subscriber of the service to create a list of participants for a conference call, to publish visual material to a web site shared by participants, and to restrict segments of the visual material to particular subsets of participants of the conference call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing an audible calling party identification for a call waiting service
    Patent number: 8379817
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of packet-switched network services, e.g., VoIP network services, to hear a very gentle whispering tone that quietly conveys the identity of the calling party when they are engaged in conversation and to receive a call-waiting signal. The tone is audible only to the called party but does not mute the ongoing conversation path. This enables subscribed users to hear their ongoing conversation while receiving the whispering tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing an audible calling party identification for a call waiting service
    Patent number: 8953763
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of packet-switched network services, e.g., VoIP network services, to hear a very gentle whispering tone that quietly conveys the identity of the calling party when they are engaged in conversation and to receive a call-waiting signal. The tone is audible only to the called party but does not mute the ongoing conversation path. This enables subscribed users to hear their ongoing conversation while receiving the whispering tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing multiple calling name identifiers for a phone number
    Publication number: 20080175223
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of a packet-switched network service, e.g., a VoIP network service who live in the same household and share a common phone number to have individualized calling name identifiers transmitted in their call setup messages. Each user in the household would have a different individual user identifier which they could dial to signal to the network immediately before dialing the phone number when they want to place a call that would transmit their personalized individual calling name identifier in the call setup message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for transparently recording media communications between endpoint devices
    Patent number: 8737575
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling the upgrade of a VoIP endpoint device by downloading a firmware component to support CALEA related monitoring and recording of conversations for all calls originated or terminated by the endpoint device are disclosed. The upgraded CALEA firmware component can be activated by the network on demand or when the signaling information to set up a watched call is received. Once the recording is completed it can be translated into a standard audio format file that can be uploaded transparently to the network and sent in near real time to the appropriate CALEA server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing call center agents with calling party information
    Patent number: 8532088
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing call center agents with calling party information for calls initiated behind trunks on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. The method enables a network service provider such as a telephone company to provide toll free service to an enterprise customer, and to provide the enterprise customer with the trunk group identifiers that customers of the enterprise utilize to access services provided by the enterprise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for tagging customer specific signaling packets
    Publication number: 20070070982
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider to tag calls originating from distinct customer segments and process these tagged calls according to rules associated with their tagged identities are disclosed. For example, calls from a business or enterprise customer may be routed to a carrier who ensures 99.999% service availability at a certain cost, whereas calls from a residential customer may be routed to a lower cost carrier. The tags would be formatted in a standard way in the VoIP signaling header so that they can be recognized and acted upon by peered or partner carrier networks involved in processing these tagged calls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for registering multiple phone numbers associated with a frequently called party
    Publication number: 20080317227
    Abstract: The present invention enables the calling party to register multiple addresses of frequently called parties with a packet-switched network service provider, e.g., a VoIP network service provider, and have the network dials through the numbers on behalf of the calling party until the called party is reached or the list of available phone numbers has been exhausted. Optionally, the network can intersperse each call by asking the calling party if he or she wants to dial a particular phone number of the called party from the list of available phone numbers, and the network can dial the selected phone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing multiple calling name identifiers
    Patent number: 8730941
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling users of a packet network service, e.g., a VoIP network service, who live in the same household and share a common phone number to have individualized user identifiers to be transmitted along with their call setup messages are disclosed. For example, each user in the household would have a different user identifier which they could retrieve from an endpoint device immediately before dialing the phone number when they want to place a call that would transmit their personalized user identifier in the call setup message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for mapping media access control addresses to service addresses
    Patent number: 8600009
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling broadband access providers to use the subscriber service address associated with the Media Access Control (MAC) address and the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the subscriber's Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) modem or cable modem as the service address that is sent to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) are disclosed. The present method enables a mapping between a subscriber's VoIP telephone number, broadband access modem MAC and IP addresses, and the subscriber's registered broadband service address to determine the correct PSAP to route an E911 call to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for validating commands for VOIP network components
    Patent number: 8705401
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for validating at least one command. Specifically, the method comprises receiving the at least one command, wherein the at least one command is associated with at least one command source, processing the at least one command for determining at least one network component for which the at least one command is destined, and validating the at least one command according to at least one attribute, wherein the at least one attribute is associated with at least one of the at least one network component, the at least one command source, and the at least one command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for registering multiple phone numbers associated with a frequently called party
    Patent number: 7839992
    Abstract: The present invention enables the calling party to register multiple addresses of frequently called parties with a packet-switched network service provider, e.g., a VoIP network service provider, and have the network dials through the numbers on behalf of the calling party until the called party is reached or the list of available phone numbers has been exhausted. Optionally, the network can intersperse each call by asking the calling party if he or she wants to dial a particular phone number of the called party from the list of available phone numbers, and the network can dial the selected phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for promoting enhanced service options in communication networks
    Patent number: 8731164
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling packet network service providers, e.g., a VoIP network service providers, to collect information on the feature usage of their subscribers and spontaneously offer them the opportunity to subscribe to enhanced service features based on their existing feature usage patterns is disclosed. For example, users who accumulate a lot of voice mail can be offered a locate me feature, those who frequently use Do-Not-Disturb features can be offered an instant messaging application, and those who engage in three way conference calls can be offered a personal conferencing service that provides up to 10 conference legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for activating alternative virtual private network protocols
    Publication number: 20070074283
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling enterprise customers to detect VPN protocol blocking by access network providers and provides client VPN software with instructions to activate another VPN protocol such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) that is less likely to be blocked by their provider are disclosed. For instance, if the access network provider blocks the IPSec VPN protocol, the client VPN software will switch to an alternative VPN protocol, such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol, Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), or Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), to connect to the VoIP network. The SSL, L2TP, and PPTP protocols are all VPN protocols designed to enable encrypted and authenticated communications across the public Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring shifts in call patterns
    Patent number: 8837695
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring pattern shifts in call patterns, e.g., call volumes and/or feature usage in a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network is disclosed. The present method collects performance data over a set period of time and constantly compares each periodic sample with the previous periodic sample on a rolling window basis. Changes of a pre-defined percentage threshold, e.g., approximately 30%, or more in a current sampled period are alarmed and monitored to preclude potential service disruptions. In one embodiment, upon receipt of these alarms, network elements that are vulnerable to discontinuities due to overload can be automatically reset or cleared of hung processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for dynamically establishing links between IP private branch exchanges
    Publication number: 20070070981
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a packet network provider, e.g., a VoIP network provider to provide virtual tie lines that give enterprise users of IP PBXs dedicated bandwidth on an as-need basis are disclosed. The present method defines a structure for creating signaling messages from the IP PBX to the edge of the provider's network that request the immediate use of dedicated paths for creating voice paths for intra enterprise users across a wide area network. Once these dedicated paths are established, the subscribers enjoy the same quality of service that is provided by dedicated tie lines. When the established tie lines are no longer in use or needed, they will be released and hence provides cost savings to the subscribers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for dynamically terminating calls over distinct access links
    Patent number: 8693665
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a packet network provider, e.g., a VoIP network provider, to terminate long distance calls using both CLEC PRI access links and regulated LEC access links depending on whether or not the wholesale customer wants to treat outgoing calls in a regulated manner similar to traditional Public Switched Access Network (PSTN) calls or apply FCC information service exemptions to outgoing calls are disclosed. Based on the calling party number of a call, the network can determine if the call should be terminated as an information service call or a regulated PSTN call. Once the call termination method is determined, the appropriate access link can be chosen for call completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
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