Patents Represented by Attorney Michael Haynes PLC
  • Patent number: 7058392
    Abstract: A system and method composing, sending and receiving voicemail transmissions in an asynchronous manner is disclosed wherein mobile device users can compose and store audio messages in their respective local devices whereby the messages are subsequently forwarded to a network entity for eventual transmission to one or more destination devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph Bernard Weinman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7046637
    Abstract: A technique for providing real-time multimedia conferencing services with guaranteed performance, in a hybrid networking environment, by interconnecting cable modem-based premises networks via hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) access networks and an ATM wide area network is disclosed. The ATM wide area network may be divided into a plurality of access network domains and one backbone network domain to provide efficient and intelligent multimedia conferencing services. Each ATM access network domain has one cable modem server as well as access multimedia bridge server. There is only one central network server and one central multimedia bridge server within the backbone network domain. Each cable modem server located in an ATM access network domain maintains necessary information of how the cable network bandwidth is used by existing calls, and will be allocated when new multimedia conference calls are initiated, in accordance with desired priority and performance levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: AT & T Corp.
    Inventor: Radhika R. Roy
  • Patent number: 7032974
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide an apparatus comprising: a headrest assembly adapted to non-destructively attach to a pair of uprights of a wheelchair. Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method comprising: non-destructively removably attaching a headrest assembly to a pair of uprights supporting a seat back; and adjusting the headrest assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Karla Klumpp Berger
  • Patent number: 7031274
    Abstract: Mechanisms, in a transmission channel shared by 802.11 systems and HIPERLAN/2 systems are provided to prevent 802.11 terminals from transmitting during time periods allocated to HIPERLAN, so that a single channel can be shared between the two standards. In a particular embodiment, a “super frame” format is used where HIPERLAN transmissions are offered the highest level of protection possible within 802.11, which is needed within the 802.11 Contention Free Period (CFP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Sherman
  • Patent number: 7007084
    Abstract: A next generation performance network management system (30?) includes a first component (34a) that monitors one or more attributes of network elements (111–11n, 121–12m, 20 and 26) as well as peripheral devices (16 and 22) and interconnecting links (18, 24) to establish an historic trend for each monitored element. A second performance management system component (34b) monitors, on a near real-time basis, critical attributes of elements identified from historic trends as undergoing performance degradation. If such performance degradations persist, as detected by such near real-time monitoring, then the network operator can repair or replace the element in question to maintain network performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Arvind S Chakravarti, Hossein Eslambolchi, Richard Hellstern, John Babu Medamana
  • Patent number: 7005864
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a capacitive sensing system, comprising a sensing conductor coupleable to a grounded target by a gap capacitance Cd, said grounded target separated from said sensing conductor by a gap having a width. The capacitive sensing system also comprises a circuit connected to said sensing conductor, an input signal having an input frequency fosc provided to said circuit through an input resistance Rd, an output signal of said circuit having an output voltage varying linearly with the width of the gap when the impedance of the gap capacitance 1/(2?foscCd) approaches or exceeds the input resistance Rd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Synchrony, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Iannello, Robert Jett Field
  • Patent number: 6999575
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of routing a long distance call from a calling party to a called party over a communication network. The call is received at a local switch located in the first geographic region and operated by a service provider that provides telecommunications services to the called party. The dialed number associated with the received call is recognized as being a special number. The special number is formatted as a local number with respect to a calling party's telephone line. A query is sent to a database for routing instructions. A routable number corresponding to the called party's telephone line is received. The called party's telephone line is located in the second geographic region. The call is routed to called party's telephone line over a communication network operated by the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Sheinbein
  • Patent number: 6996560
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a computer-assisted method for typing customers/prospects, including the activities of: refining a survey via bestfit clustering; refining survey results via composition analysis; and identifying clusters of customers/prospects from the survey results via champion/challenger cluster refinement and panel analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: RMSG LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Choi, Christopher B. Kuenne, Kurt E. Holstein, II, Henry Andrew Cross, Jason R. Whitney, George Tang, Chetna Bansal, Joshua D. Babbitt
  • Patent number: 6990348
    Abstract: A self-configuring wireless system and a method are disclosed. The method derives re-use criteria and neighbor lists to enable the assignment of channels to cells in a wireless communications system, based entirely on measurements made by the system during normal operation. The disclosed method can be implemented with conventional cellular equipment and functionality provided by current air interface standards, and requires no human participation. The disclosed method also applies to the derivation of neighbor lists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Mathilde Benveniste
  • Patent number: 6985497
    Abstract: Adjunct apparatus for increasing network transmission capacity provides a low-cost, efficient solution for increasing the network transmission capacity of the existing telephone circuit switched network, while keeping the current network equipment unchanged. A Local Switch Network (LSN) Adjunct (LSNA) and a Tandem/Toll Switch Network (TSN) Adjunct (TSNA) interface with standard network elements, such as switches and cross connect equipment. These network adjuncts, comprising a set of low-bit rate speech coders, a dynamic timeslot manager and other supporting functions, advantageously transmit to and receive from a T1/T3/OC3/E1 trunk. More than one channel of voice is carried on one 64 Kbps DS0 timeslot, while still maintaining the voice at toll quality. A sub-timeslot and sub-timeslot bundling are introduced in the standard T1 or E1 frame where each sub-timeslot is analogous to a single bit of the typical eight bit word to provide more than 24 or 30 voice channels respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Danny K. Hsu, Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 6970475
    Abstract: A flow in a network is identified and handled by using a virtual host address. A packet is received at a switch with a first virtual host address as its destination address. If the packet is the first packet of a flow received by the switch, then a second virtual host address is determined by the switch. The first virtual host address is stored in a packet forwarding table correlated with the second virtual host address. A subsequently received packet of the same flow has the same first virtual host address as its destination address, and is forwarded to the second virtual host address in accordance with the packet forwarding table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. Fraser, Glenford E. Mapp
  • Patent number: 6970451
    Abstract: A system and method of routing communication signals is provided. A first technique uses a packet switched device that operates using Internet Protocol, the packet switched device determines one or more commands based on a routing request to establish, maintain, restore or breakdown one or more communication paths and a circuit switched device that provides physical switching between a plurality of ports based on the one or more commands from the packet switched device. A second technique for expediting error condition information is also provided. As various error conditions are recognized, information relating to the error conditions is provided directly to the packet switched device to enable the packet switched device to restore communications with minimal delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Albert Gordon Greenberg, Jennifer Yates, Gisli Hjalmtysson
  • Patent number: 6967921
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, computer-readable medium and device for dynamically managing allocation of bandwidth in a packet network using a Dynamic Setting Scheme (DSS) for Class Based Queuing (CBQ). The method includes the steps of maintaining a minimized reserved portion of bandwidth to minimize delay jitter and maximizing a shared portion of bandwidth to maximize overall bandwidth utilization. Allocation of bandwidth may be based on a sharing tree hierarchical scheme that provides for temporary borrowing of bandwidth by real-time applications from bandwidth of non-real-time applications and blocks borrowing of bandwidth by non-real-time applications from bandwidth of real-time applications. DSS typically provides for using measurable parameters, such as queue length and number of borrowing attempts per a predetermined length of time/observation window, as control triggers for implementing adjustment of bandwidth allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Yonatan Aharon Levy, Xiaowen Mang, Kamlesh T. Tewani
  • Patent number: 6965708
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for sensing moisture are disclosed, including at least one moisture sensor that comprises an optical fiber, a long period grating formed in at least a portion of the optical fiber, and a layer of PEI bonded to the long period grating. One exemplary embodiment comprises a system for measuring humidity, the system comprising an optical fiber moisture sensor having a mono-layer of PEI covalently-bonded to an outer surface of said optical fiber, a processor coupled to said optical fiber moisture sensor, and a moisture indicator coupled to said processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Luna Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Shufang Luo, Jennifer L. Elster, Yongcheng Liu, Artur Sucheta
  • Patent number: 6960330
    Abstract: Certain exemplary compositions, methods, and systems are disclosed that can be useful for reducing a concentration of a contaminant associated with a medium, which can be any substance or material, such as soil, water, air, and/or fluid. In one exemplary method, the medium is treated with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to oxidize at least a portion of the contaminant. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Henry Wilmore Cox, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6950883
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for provisioning fault-tolerant ring structures that do not necessarily involve fully provisioning all spans of a ring with service capacity. The system allows a plurality of nodes to be connected in a ring structure. The ring structure can allow a ring to be provisioned without a continuous loop of service capacity around all legs of the ring. This postpones or totally avoids the cost of service capacity until a demand requires it. Only protection capacity is required to close the loop, and the decision to add working capacity can be made as warranted. At the same time, this ring structure can retain its fault-tolerant nature and also provide acceptable performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: James Capaldi Jr., Bruce Gilbert Cortez, Matthew Guardo
  • Patent number: 6940857
    Abstract: A system and method directed to providing a broadcast/multicast in a circuit-switched network. An exemplary method includes receiving at a first switch a call directed to a called number; determining whether the first switch has an active connection to the called number; if the first switch has an active connection to the called number, merging the call with the active connection; and if the first switch does not have an active connection to the called number, routing the call to a next switch. The process is repeated as necessary until a next switch with an active connection is identified and/or the switch serving the called number is reached. The present invention conserves network resources and increases network efficiency, in part, by not carrying a call any further than is necessary for the caller to participate in a broadcast/multicast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph Bernard Weinman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6941269
    Abstract: A voice processing system comprises a processing device that processes and receives a stream of voice input as a user is speaking. A software program executes program steps for determining a predetermined pattern of speech and silence during processing of stream of voice input so as to play or present the predetermined backchannel response to the user. A method provides an audible backchannel response between the voice processing system and the user, while the user is speaking, in particular, recording a message. The method includes monitoring the message to determine a predetermined pattern of speech and silence based on timing between the speech and silence periods. Then, the method produces the audible backchannel response based on the predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey S. Cohen, Kenneth H. Rosen
  • Patent number: 6937595
    Abstract: An device, called a facilities management platform (FMP) connects current digital and analog carrier networks and packet switched networks of interexchange carriers with high speed multiple access subscriber links implemented over twisted pair lines. The subscriber line is terminated by an access module containing one or more modems. In preferred embodiments, the modems are high-speed digital tethered vial radio channel or xDSL modems. The FMP interface applies and receives signaling and voice through a digital loop carrier (DLC) via a multiplexer connected directly to the DLC backplane. The multiplexer is controlled by a controller of an access module. It translates data from the subscriber link to the form compatible with the digital backplane to create the appearance of one or more line cards. The FMP also may contain a sound generator to allow it to handle calls through an analog carrier network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Philip Andrew Treventi
  • Patent number: 6928434
    Abstract: A computer-assisted method for determining a plurality of clusters is disclosed. The disclosed method includes, for each of a plurality of observations, obtaining a data set containing no more than one proxy value for each of a plurality of variables, each variable having a plurality of possible values. The disclosed method also includes, assigning each of the plurality of observations to one of a plurality of clusters, and, for the plurality of observations and the plurality of variables, via cluster reassignment, maximizing a processor-determined fitness score representing a number of variables from the plurality of variables for which each observation's proxy value corresponds to a mode for that observation's assigned cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Rosetta Marketing Strategies Group
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Choi, Christopher B. Kuenne, Kurt E. Holstein, II