Patents Represented by Attorney Nora M. Tocups, Esq.
  • Patent number: 7117423
    Abstract: Methods and systems for streaming data in a network. Whether the network is experiencing high packet loss may be determined by a rate control module. If high packet loss is experienced, data is encoded into multiple streams by a coder using temporal domain partitioning. If high packet loss is not experienced, then data may is encoded by using frequency domain partitioning. Unequal error protection is applied to each of the streams so more important bit planes in a bit of a stream are provided with more error protection than less important bit planes. The streams are transmitted along, respectively, independent paths to a decoder. The streams are decoded, and errors in the decoded streams are corrected by using information from one or more of the other decoded streams. The decoded corrected streams are reconstructed into the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Joohee Kim, Russell M. Mersereau, Yucel Altunbasak
  • Patent number: 7102474
    Abstract: The inventions include an adaptive vibration absorber (AVA) and variation thereof including variations in methods and systems of usage. An exemplary AVA may operate adaptively over an appropriate relatively wide bandwidth or frequency range in vibration absorption without adding energy to the system and the problems associated with such energy addition. Further, the exemplary AVA may be of low cost as well sa lightweight and compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Anne-Marie Albanese Lerner, Kenneth A. Cunefare
  • Patent number: 6748069
    Abstract: A method and system for routing Calling Name queries in a locally competitive environment includes the creation of a Calling Name query having both the calling party number and the called party number. The query is routed to a service control point of the local exchange carrier, where the called party number is extracted to determine the Calling Name service provider for the called party. The service control point accesses a series of databases to route the Calling Name query to the proper service provider/destination. The databases include a database storing a table of subscribers and their choice for Calling Name service, a database storing porting status of telephone numbers, and a database storing information about distribution of other local number portability databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Prasad Nimmagadda, Anita H. Simpson
  • Patent number: 6738458
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for changing the association of a mailbox from a first domain to a second domain in a messaging system that includes mailboxes organized into domains. Advantageously, the change is effected with only minor interruption to messaging services to the subscriber of the mailbox. With respect to a mailbox record including fields for mailbox name and for a list of other names, the new mailbox name is added to the list of other names and new corresponding names are added also to the list of other names. A change is made to the domain in the record for the mailbox in the table of incoming trunk configuration. After the change in the table, the new mailbox name and the new corresponding names are removed from the list of other names in the mailbox record. The old mailbox name is changed to the new mailbox name in the mailbox name field of the mailbox record. The old mailbox name is added to the list of other names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Bell South Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Cline, Darrell Morgan, Joe H. Myers
  • Patent number: 6714995
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obtaining capacity in the storage of an intelligent peripheral or other network element for additional entries without losing information relating to entries that have already been held in the storage. Such capacity is obtained by selecting certain entries from the storage, by sending the entry information as opposed to the certain entries to a repository, and by deleting the certain entries from the storage. Also, methods and apparatus are provided to retrieve the entry information that has been sent to the repository when such entry information is needed. Further, methods and apparatus are provided to update as necessary the entry information that has been sent to the repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Koch, Dale W. Malik, Scott Crandall Holt, Ward M. Chewning, III
  • Patent number: 6628761
    Abstract: Methods and systems to provide a particular subscriber of a messaging system with access to a selected messaging platform (SMP) by making a call to a pilot number from a line number other than a line number of the subscriber. The call is routed to the SSP serving the line number from which the call originated. Based on the use of the pilot number, the SSP receives instructions from an intelligent network element (INE) to route the call to a messaging platform serving the line number from which the call originated. If the messaging platform receives a backout indicator in the call, then the messaging platform provides a backout notice to the SSP. The SSP engages in an exchange with the INE so as to result in the SSP obtaining a selected number from the particular subscriber and providing the selected number to the INE. The selected number is used by the INE to obtain an address for the SMP. The INE then instructs the SSP to route the call to the address for the SMP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Maria Adamczyk, James Carlton Bedingfield
  • Patent number: 6356756
    Abstract: A method and system for routing calls to a wireless platform uses local number portability searches to achieve advanced intelligent network capabilities. The method and system of the present invention “ports” wireless subscriber numbers to a number for a platform providing a specific service. When a caller dials the subscriber's wireless number, a switch determines whether the number is portable. Since the number has been ported, the switch launches a query to a local number portability service control point to obtain additional routing instructions. The service control point accesses a local number portability database to determine the proper routing number. The new routing number allows calls to be routed to a service platform in the wireless network. The service control point transfers the routing number to the switch which then translates the routing number to a directory number for the platform. The call is then routed to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: BellSouth Corporation
    Inventor: Karl H. Koster
  • Patent number: 6327356
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling incoming calls when call waiting is active. If the called party is not on a call when an incoming call occurs and the called party does not answer the incoming call then a message is played to the calling party that the called party did not answer, and the called party is given the opportunity to record a message for the called party. If the called party is on a call when an incoming call occurs and, after the call waiting signal is played to the called party, the called party does not answer the incoming call then a message is played to the calling party that the called party is busy, and the called party is given the opportunity to record a message for the called party. If the called party is engaged in a first call and a second call when an incoming call occurs then a message is played to the calling party that the called party is busy, and the called party is given the opportunity to record a message for the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 6327655
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide for a unit that is locked against use for communications until the unit is unlocked and that may be activated on a selected network in conjunction with the unit being unlocked. A unit includes a memory for storing an unlock code specific to the unit. The unlock code is used to unlock the unit and is unbreakable without knowledge of a secret code and an algorithm. The unlock code is generated by using the algorithm with the secret code and an identifier unique to the unit. The unit also includes a control for receipt of an input code and a system identification number with the input code and the system identification number having originated from the selected network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Charles M. Link, II, Donald Lee Batson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6324269
    Abstract: A method and system for billing remote calls includes the provisioning of an active terminating attempt trigger on a subscriber's primary line. To make a long-distance call from a remote location, the subscriber calls a service control node and provide a destination calling line number and the subscriber's primary line number (e.g., home telephone number). The SCN assembles the data into a string and includes a feature access code. This string is transmitted to a switch that recognizes the feature access code and transmits a message to a service control point. The service control point also recognizes the feature access code and reassembles the message into a call structure containing the primary line number, the destination line number, and a code indicating that the message should be reassembled. This message is transmitted back to the switch which then routes the call to the primary line switch where the trigger is encountered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: BellSouth Corporation
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 6301349
    Abstract: Methods and systems in a telecommunications system having a call forwarding service to connect an unanswered forwarded communication directly to a voice mail service of the called party. Upon notice that a communication for a subscriber has gone unanswered at a forwarded location, a call is placed to a code followed by voice mail information. As the call is routed, the code is recognized and the voice mail information is parsed into call instructions including a voice mail directory number as the redirected number. The call is further routed based on the call instructions until a recognition of the designated directory number in the call instructions results in call termination instructions. These instructions direct the serving switch to connect the call to the redirected number which is the voice mail service directory number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Dale W. Malik
  • Patent number: 6295351
    Abstract: A method and system to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system. To invoke the check, probe information received from a user is arranged and provided to a call probe assembler. This call probe assembler assembles the arranged probe information into a call probe including a called number that corresponds to an SPA. The call probe is associated with a communication which is routed through the telecommunications system based on the called number. In the course of this routing, a recognition is made that the called number corresponds to the SPA and a check is made of the SPA with respect to the communication. The check may result in the SPA performing certain operations based on the type of call probe. An external call probe may result in the SPA applying an advanced service with respect to the communication based on the information in the call probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Propety Corporation
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Robert A. Koch
  • Patent number: D504772
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Southern States Marketing, Inc.
    Inventor: David Sanders
  • Patent number: D451086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: John Stefanik
  • Patent number: D517704
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Christopher L. Pettis
  • Patent number: D488415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ian Gough
  • Patent number: D488756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Ian Gough
  • Patent number: D488757
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Ian Gough
  • Patent number: D488758
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Ian Gough
  • Patent number: D499550
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Southern States Marketing, Inc.
    Inventor: David Sanders