Patents Represented by Attorney Scott P. Zimmerman, PLLC
  • Patent number: 8336865
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and products are disclosed for welding ground wires to a grounding rod. A jig retains the ground wires to the grounding rod. The jig has a first horseshoe oriented to a second horseshoe to form a crucifix. Each horseshoe has a pair of legs supporting the jig from earth and providing electrical ground to the earth. A central passage bisects each horseshoe through which the grounding rod inserts. Mechanisms are included for clamping a ground wire to at least one of the legs, such that the ground wire is retained for welding to the grounding rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Thomas Vandergrift, II
  • Patent number: 8341018
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing contextual information regarding communication devices and/or services. Profile information relating to a user is stored by a communications manager. Data about a communication for the user may be received from a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network. A comparison is made between the profile information and the data about the communication. Based on the comparison, contextual information relating to the communication is presented. The contextual information may be presented while the user participates in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a communication device and/or service used in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a discrepancy between the profile information relating to the user and the originating communication device and/or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, Richard A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8280019
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for locating files. Upon receipt of caller identification information, a search is performed to identify all files associated with the caller identification information. A presentation of the caller identification information is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Edward M. Silver, Linda A. Roberts, Hong T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8272008
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for retrieving audio signals. A video signal is received that is associated with a content identifier and an alternate audio tag. In response to the alternate audio tag, a query is made for an alternate audio source that corresponds to the content identifier. A query result is received that identifies at least one alternate audio signal that corresponds to the content identifier and that is separately available from the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dennis R. Meek, Robert A. Koch
  • Patent number: 8271591
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing communications of a user. Identity information relating to the user is received, and a notification of a communication from a communicating partner is received. The user's preference for withholding the communication is obtained. An entry in a message log is created for the withheld communication. The message log is displayed to the user, such that the user is not notified of receipt of the withheld communication, yet receipt of the withheld communication is logged in the message log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale Malik, Robert A. Koch, Peter Hill, Richard A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8257084
    Abstract: A method and system for providing substantially real-time data into a virtual setting comprises launching a simulation program on a computing device, receiving data gathered from a live event, accessing the data by the computing device and incorporating at least a portion of the accessed data into the simulation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Steven A. Wright, Christian Kuhtz
  • Patent number: 8254536
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a communication from an originating party, with the communication intended for a receiving party. A database of pre-created messages is accessed, with the database storing a pre-created message having a common association between the receiving party and the originating party. The pre-created message is then communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert A. Koch
  • Patent number: 8255005
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for presenting a custom alert to a recipient of an incoming data communication. A data message is received that specifies the custom alert associated with the data communication. The customer alert is then visually and/or audibly presented to provide notice of the data communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert A. Koch
  • Patent number: 8233796
    Abstract: A timing interface module with daughter timing reference modules. The timing modules are provided in a rack platform to eliminate routing problems and which is compliant with all relevant industry standards. The timing reference module includes a face plate having first and second substantially rectangular openings, the face plate further comprising mounting slots for receiving mounting hardware therein and first and second timing modules, the first and second timing modules disposed within the first and second substantially rectangular openings. The first and second timing modules provide timing terminations for timing reference signals for network elements of a synchronized optical network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Stephen Culpepper, Jack C. Martin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8233605
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for monitoring a conference. A first bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from all conference participants. A second bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from i) a subset of the conference participants, ii) an output of the first bridging function, and iii) a monitor of the conference. The second bridging function isolates the monitor's signals from the conference such that only the subset of the conference participants may communicate with the monitor during the conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lloyd Whitfield, James Carlton Bedingfield
  • Patent number: 8229094
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing communications. A communication is received that originates from a sender's communications address and that is addressed to at least one of a recipient's multiple communications addresses. The recipient's multiple communications addresses are all associated with a single device identifier. The recipient's communications addresses are associated to account numbers, and at least one of the account numbers is billed for the communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Carliss Renée Cato
  • Patent number: 8224662
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for developing tailored content. A selection of content is received. Content information is received that describes the selected content. Clickstream data is received that describes at least one subscriber's action while receiving the selected content. A category is assigned to the selected content information. The content information is merged with the clickstream data to create content-choice information, and the content-choice information is stored in a database. The database is queried to obtain the content-choice information matching a search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 8225410
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices secure content in memory. When the content is received, the content includes a lock that prohibits reading the content from memory. Prior to expiration of the lock the content cannot be read from memory. At expiration, however, the content is then readable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Lloyd T. Whitfield, Jr., Randy Zimler
  • Patent number: 8219411
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for targeting advertisements. Clickstream data is received that describes at least subscriber actions. Content information is received that describes what content is available. A criterion is also received for determining which subscribers should receive a targeted advertisement. The clickstream data is merged with the content information to generate data describing at least one event timeline. When the data describing the at least one event timeline matches the at least one criterion, then at least one subscriber is targeted to receive the advertisement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: William R. Matz, Scott R. Swix
  • Patent number: 8213591
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing a ring tone. A communication is processed from a calling number to a called number. An electronic database is queried for the calling number, and contact information associated with the calling number is retrieved. A ring tone database is queried for the contact information, and the ring tone database stores an association between the contact information and a ring tone. The ring tone associated with the contact information is retrieved and processed to alert the called number to the communication from the calling number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven M. Belz, Larry Pearson
  • Patent number: 8204201
    Abstract: A ringtone system is provided to a called party that wishes to have a particular ringtone annunciated for each of several types of calls from calling parties. In the ringtone system, for a call from a calling party, the calling party is prompted to identify the type of the call. The type of the call is received from the calling party, and if no type is received, the call is typed in a particular manner. A list of types of calls with respect to and as specified by the called party is maintained, where each type of call on the list has a corresponding ringtone specified therefor. The typed call is processed by determining from the list of types of calls for the called party the corresponding ringtone specified for the typed call, and by putting the call through to the called party with the determined ringtone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Valois Gonzalez, Douglas B. Alston
  • Patent number: 8197345
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide centralized control of gaming applications. A request is received from a destination to store a status of a gaming application associated with a username. A bookmark is received that identifies a logical location in the gaming application. The bookmark is associated to the username and to the gaming application. A request is received for the status of the gaming application associated with the username. A query is made for the bookmark associated with the gaming application and with the username. The bookmark is sent to the destination, such that the destination may resume the gaming application from the bookmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Jason Godfrey, Toby Bearden, Michele L. Smith
  • Patent number: 8188704
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for managing energy consumption. Electrical power from an auxiliary battery system is received. The electrical power is shared with peripheral devices. A characteristic of a vehicle battery is received from an interface to an on board diagnostic system. When the electrical power received from the auxiliary battery system is less than a threshold value, then the auxiliary battery system is charged from a connection to the vehicle battery. The charging of the auxiliary battery system is disabled when the characteristic of the vehicle battery is less than the minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Kevin Reese, Alfonso Jones, Steven McDonald
  • Patent number: 8191165
    Abstract: A method for controlling distribution of digital content includes fragmenting a digital content file into fragments and tagging at least some of the fragments with corresponding tags to provide tagged fragments for distribution. The tags may be generated using a pseudo-random number (PRN) bit sequence. A digital rights license is generated for the digital content file based on the tags and/or fragments. The digital rights license is configured to allow reassembly of the tagged fragments to provide the digital content file. Later, the fragments may be re-tagged with corresponding second tags to provide second tagged fragments for distribution that are different from the first tagged fragments. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Aaron
  • Patent number: 8180704
    Abstract: A system and method for notifying one or more credit card companies of lost or stolen credit cards relatively automatically upon noticing that the one or more credit cards are missing. A user profile is created and stored on a server computer system, wherein the user profile has user verification information, credit card account information and credit card company contact information, typically for each credit card owned by a particular user. Using the user profile, the server computer system receives a request to cancel one or more of the owner's credit cards. The server computer system then communicates with each individual credit card company, relatively automatically, to notify of the loss. The communication may involve the request to cancel the credit card(s), as well as a request for a replacement credit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Arnold Chester McQuaide, Jr., Linda A. Roberts, Robert A. Koch