Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Todd Mitchem
  • Patent number: 6813981
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for cutting cable. The apparatus has an elongate handle with a longitudinal axis extending from a first to a second end. An eyelet extends from the second end and defines an opening through which the cable is inserted. A first cutting surface slides within the elongate handle and extends beyond the inner wall of the eyelet. When the end of the cable is inserted into the opening of the eyelet, the first cutting surface may be extended beyond the inner wall of the eyelet and into contact with the cable. As the handle is rotated about the cable, the first cutting surface cuts the cable. A second cutting surface may protrude from the handle for slitting an outer sheath of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Blake R. Urban, Issac D. M. White, James E. Dickens, Kevin Forsberg, Charles Sawyer
  • Patent number: 6805334
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for pulling communication cable through conduit. The apparatus has a winch mounted to a stand. The stand includes a base connected to an upper frame by at least three supports. At least one of the supports is pivotally mounted to at least one of the base and the upper frame such that the upper frame collapses toward the base. The stand is positioned above the conduit, the communication cable is attached to the winch, and the winch is used to pull the communication cable through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Forsberg, Tracy L. Selig, Isaac D. M. White
  • Patent number: 6801766
    Abstract: A method and system for sending information to a pager regarding information pertaining to a previously occurring telephone call. After receiving a call offered to a called party, a signal is transmitted from a switch to a service control point, which then obtains transmitted information relating to the call. A signal is transmitted from a service control point to a switch to instruct the switch to process the call. Another signal including the information relating to the call is transmitted preferably from the service control point to a service node and then to a communications service provider. The communications service provider is preferably a paging service provider which transmits a page including the information relating to the call to a pager associated with the called party. The information relating to the call then may be displayed on the pager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth Buchanan, Karl Koster
  • Patent number: 6788215
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for sensing an electromagnetic field. A Global Positioning System (GPS) is disposed in a housing, and the GPS acquires global positioning system information describing a location of the apparatus. An electromagnetic sensor is also disposed in the housing and senses the electromagnetic field. An alarm couples to the electromagnetic sensor, the alarm produces an indication of at least one of i) the sensed electromagnetic field and ii) the location of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Isaac D. M. White
  • Patent number: 6773294
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed for electrically connecting a conductor to a terminal. The connector has a body and an electrically conductive member. The body has a passage for positioning the conductor therein. The passage has an aperture to an outer surface of the body. The electrically conductive member has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends through the aperture for crimping the conductor in the passage, and the second portion is for electrically connecting to the terminal. The electrically conductive member moves to disconnect the second portion from the terminal while still crimping the conductor in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Blake R. Urban, Isaac D. M. White, James E. Dickens, Kevin Forsberg, Charles Sawyer
  • Patent number: 6753809
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for enhancing telephone line records with Global Positioning System coordinates. One embodiment acquires Global Positioning System information associated with a telephone number. This embodiment uses the Global Positioning System information to create a telephone line record for a telephone number. The Global Positioning System information describes latitude, longitude, and elevation associated with the telephone number. The Global Positioning System information, for example, could define the location of a customer's service address, a service terminal, a cross-connect box, a wire center, and/or a central office.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Ingman, Charles E. Reddick, Steven G. Smith, Marvin R. Hamrick
  • Patent number: 6750801
    Abstract: A remote control device including a processor and a motion detector in communication with the processor. The device also includes at least one input device in communication with the processor and a directional mode indicator in communication with the processor, the directional mode indicator for indicating the mode of operation of the device based on a signal generated by the motion detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Stefanik
  • Patent number: 6729587
    Abstract: An apparatus for routing a communication cable within a drop ceiling. The apparatus has a main body having an eyelet at one end. A grommet is disposed within the eyelet, and the grommet has at least one passage through which the communication cable passes. The apparatus also has means for securing the apparatus to a framework of the drop ceiling. The passage in the grommet reduces deformation of the communication cable during installation and helps maintain a desired routing of the communication cable once installed within the drop ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Isaac D. M. White
  • Patent number: 6697469
    Abstract: A calling-party-pays gateway operative for billing a surcharge for a telecommunication service to an account associated with a calling line number. The calling-party-pays gateway is configured for connection between a telephone system and a switch servicing a group of terminating stations such that all communications directed to terminating stations serviced by the switch are routed through the gateway. When the gateway receives a connection request defining a communication directed to a terminating station serviced by the switch, the gateway determines whether the terminating station is associated with an account that requires the surcharge to be billed to the account associated with the calling line number. If the terminating station is associated with an account that requires the surcharge to be billed to the account associated with the calling line number, the gateway determines whether the account associated with the calling line number is pre-approved to receive the surcharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Karl Koster
  • Patent number: 6685497
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for connecting at least two conductors. One embodiment has a body and a cap engaging the body. The body has an open top to an interior region. The body has at lest two apertures extending through a body side wall and into an interior region of the body. The cap has a cavity downwardly extending from a top surface of the cap toward a bottom surface of the cap. The cavity terminates at a floor between the top surface and the bottom surface of the cap, and the floor has a puncturable thickness to provide access to the interior region of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Blake R. Urban, Isaac D. M. White, James E. Dickens, Kevin Forsberg, Charles Sawyer