Patents Represented by Attorney Bruce C. McClelland
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Patent number: 6052447Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for aggregating customer information for a telecommunications system. Call information is received from the network and integrated with customer information which is stored in network databases. The customer information includes indicators which signify that particular customer applications that should be applied. One application can identify patterns of network usage, including the called number which receives a customer's largest volume of traffic, and applying a discount to all of the customer's calls that fit within the pattern. The network's processing system takes the integrated information and applies the indicated customer application at a call level. This process results in aggregated customer information.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1993Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.Inventors: Paul Antony Golden, Peter James Kosich, Stacy Lynn Rector
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Patent number: 6026091Abstract: The invention is a system for modifying the VPI/VCIs in ATM cells transferred between two ATM systems on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for the call and selects a new VPI/VCI for the call. The signaling processor generates a control message that identifies the old and new VPI/VCIs and transfers the control message to an ATM gateway. The ATM gateway modifies the old VPI/VCI in the ATM cells to the new VPI/VCI.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1998Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, by Jean M. Christie, legal represenative, Albert Daniel DuRee, Michael Joseph Gardner, Tracy Nelson, William Lyle Wiley
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Patent number: 5991301Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1995Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
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Patent number: 5970129Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for administrative monitoring of a calling card fraud prevention system is disclosed. An administrative monitor continuously oversees the functions performed by components of the fraud prevention system and thereby detects abnormalities in system performance. The administrative monitor regularly compiles status information from system components and applies a set of predefined thresholds in order to determine whether abnormalities are present. Upon detection of an abnormality, the administrative monitor generates a health warning, which is displayed on workstation monitors to provide notice of the problem.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.Inventors: Hooshmand Asfar, Shailesh Potnis
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Patent number: 5951640Abstract: A data identification and retrieval method and apparatus is disclosed. The method is implemented with the aid of a computer program or programs that operate a computer network (10) for permitting a user to easily identify and retrieve data from files stored on any computer (14, 16, 18, 20) in the network regardless of the location of the computers, the format of the data and the storage medium on which the data is stored.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Sprint Communications Co., L.P.Inventor: Joseph Griffin Laura
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Patent number: 5949869Abstract: A call referral system (10) for use in a telecommunications network (12) that permits a called party (16) to control the number and treatment of incoming calls. The call referral system includes a switch (34) for receiving calls from calling parties(14) and for connecting the calls to the called party. The call referral system includes a routing monitor computer (40) coupled with the switch for monitoring the connection of the calls to the called party. The monitoring computer receives and stores a gate size selected by the called party indicating the maximum number of calls the called party wishes to simultaneously handle through each of its gates. The gates are comprised of single destination telephone numbers or groups of destination telephone numbers to the various destinations (17 & 18, 32).Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.Inventors: William Brian Sink, Constance Ann DeWitt, Karen Harden Miller
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Patent number: 5933486Abstract: A telecommunications network architecture uses a service host to control the application of enhanced services. In preferred forms, the service host determines the disposition of the call and provides corresponding instructions to the origination switch by way of a service control point (SCP) in response to a request initiated by the SCP upon encountering a service node in the routing tables. The disposition may include routing the call to a media resource and if another call destination is determined, the call is rerouted from the origination switch to the destination while the first routing is dropped.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.Inventors: Steven Eugene Norby, Daniel Charles Sbisa
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Patent number: 5920562Abstract: A system and method provide enhanced services for a call that is transported from a communication device through an asynchronous transfer mode system. The call has user communications in asynchronous transfer mode cells and call signaling. A signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to determine a connection to a service platform. The signaling processor transports a processor control message designating the selected connection. An asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit receives the user communications from the communication device and the processor control message from the signaling processor. The asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit converts the user communications from the asynchronous transfer mode cells to a format compatible with the service platform and dynamically transports the user communications to the service platform in real time. The service platform processes the user communications.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1996Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, Jean M. Christie, legal representative, Tracy Lee Nelson