Patents Assigned to Ameritech Corporation
  • Patent number: 6487285
    Abstract: A system and method for exchanging telecommunication service information between a telecommunication service provider and a telecommunication service customer include electronically receiving a request in a predefined format to establish an interactive session with a telecommunications customer, determining whether the telecommunications customer is authorized for electronically exchanging information and continuing only if the customer is authorized, parsing the request to identify information related to at least one telecommunications service offered by the telecommunications services provider, the telecommunications service having an associated identification code, determining whether the requested telecommunications service is available in a particular location, and automatically generating information associated with the requested telecommunications service and transmitting the information using the predetermined format to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Gilles, Joseph Anthony Rogers, Richard Alan Dishman
  • Patent number: 6487278
    Abstract: A system and method for interfacing unified message processing systems with legacy voice mail, e-mail and facsimile systems, located behind corporate firewalls. The system includes a unified message server, a proxy interface and a message protocol convertor. The proxy interface is configured to access the legacy system in response to a request from a unified message server. Messages stored on the legacy system are converted by a protocol convertor to a predetermined format compatible with the unified message server. The converted messages are then transferred to a unified message server which is capable of providing messages from different messaging system, such as voice mail, e-mail and facsimile to users in a predetermined format. The invention permits enterprise wide communication systems to provide unified messaging without abandoning pre-existing legacy messaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Skladman, Robert J. Thornberry, Jr., Bruce A. Chatterley, Alexander Siu-Kay Ng, Bruce L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6483898
    Abstract: A system and method for receiving information regarding a telephony platform and for retrieving the object of the services provided by the telephony platform corresponding to the information received. The system includes a customer premises equipment having a display device and a plurality of function keys. The customer premises equipment is connected to the general switched telephone network and to a supplemental service network via a central office switch. A telephony platform is connected to the general switched telephone network for providing accessory services such as voice mail, electronic mail and facsimile services. When calls are made to the customer premises equipment, an event identifier is generated to identify the calling event. The event identifier may be attached to a message having caller identifier information. The event identifier is used if the user of the customer premises equipment does not answer and the caller is transferred to voice mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Gavin Sueo Lew, Thomas Steven Woods, Paul H. Vlasek, Crystal Roney
  • Publication number: 20020167970
    Abstract: A system for implementing multiple communication channels on a single twisted pair transmission line is disclosed. The system derives additional communication channels by way of a separate transceiver unit for each derived line. Each transceiver unit communicates in a separate predetermined frequency band. Each transceiver unit, upon connection to the transmission line, automatically utilizes the lowest unoccupied frequency band by monitoring each frequency band for the presence of signal poser. Thus, as many derived lines as will be supported by the customer transmission loop can be readily added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: AMERITECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas J. J.Starr
  • Patent number: 6480592
    Abstract: A method for providing the names of the city and state of a calling party to a called party when the calling party's name is unavailable. The method utilizes the calling party's telephone number to determine the names of the city and state from which the calling party is calling. The method incorporates a database that contains combinations of telephone numbers and the names of the cities and states that correspond to the various combinations of numbers. In response to an indication that the name of the calling party is unavailable, the method accesses the databases and searches for the matching telephone number and corresponding city and state names. If the names are found, they are delivered to the calling party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Ron Urban, Jim Kovarik, Nancy Book
  • Publication number: 20020155836
    Abstract: A system and method for providing telecommunications service to users in a service area using a wireless link. An office-side connection system is provided for connecting a local distribution system to the central office switch. The local distribution system includes a cross-connect system and a radio for linking to a second local distribution system. The second distribution system includes subscriber connections for connecting to the user telecommunications devices. The radio may be enclosed in a hut or cabinet with the cross-connect system. The radio may also be enclosed in a hut while the cross-connect system is enclosed in a cabinet. The radio may be temporary to provide a temporary radio link until a permanent optical or copper cable can replace the radio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kevin Owens, Dennis Aldon Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6466653
    Abstract: A telephone subscriber unit (22) includes a caller identification device (120), a memory unit (114), a pre-processor (124) and a text-to-speech synthesizer (TTS) (110). The caller identification device (120) receives caller ID information of a calling party in a first textual format and stores the caller ID information in the memory unit (114) The pre-processor (124) converts textual caller ID information from the first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis by the text-to-speech synthesizer (110). The text-to-speech synthesizer (110) generates audible caller ID information responsive to receiving the textual caller information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Mendel Kieth Hamrick, Kelly Ann Multach, Elizabeth Marie Hart, Kevin D. Kaschke, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Thomas Joseph McBlain
  • Publication number: 20020146220
    Abstract: The present method and kit provide for effective and efficient patching of fiber optic cables. The kit comprises mechanical fiber optic splicers, a fiber optic patch, a splice housing, and a protective housing. The mechanical fiber optic splicers can be used to splice the fiber optic cable and the fiber optic patch. The mechanical fiber optic splicers, the fiber optic patch, and a portion of the fiber optic cable can be enclosed within the splice housing. The splice housing can then be enclosed within a protective housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Glen Edward Gould, Andrew Matulica, Dennis Joseph Byrne
  • Patent number: 6463127
    Abstract: A method for minimum supervision of an offender required to report in to an electronic supervision system. The method includes pre-enrolling the offender in the electronic supervision system and assigning an authorized telephone number. A telephone call is placed by an individual from a telephone located at a remote location, the remote location telephone having an originating telephone number. The telephone call from the remote location is accepted and it is determined whether an ANI of the originating telephone number is available. If available, the ANI of the originating phone number is captured. An enrollee ID number assigned to the offender is entered. The originating telephone number is validated against the authorized telephone number assigned to the offender to verify the location of the remote telephone. It is determined whether a voice template is on file for the offender. The individual is prompted to respond to a plurality of user definable inquiries regarding the status of the offender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Frank Maier, Nancy Olds Hendrix, Terese Brand
  • Patent number: 6463143
    Abstract: A dialed number of a called party is received from a calling party. Based on the dialed number, a name of the called party is retrieved from a database. An audio message which includes the name of the called party is generated and communicated to the calling party. A call is routed between the calling party and the called party after said communicating the audio message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Walden Bennett, III, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Gayle Roberta Ekstrom, Laura Marie Griffith, Edmond W. Israelski, Denise Violetta Kagan, Richard Peter Krupka, Donald Bernard Liebrecht, Jordan Howard Light, Karen Jeanne Pelletier, Michael Steven Pickard, Bruce Edward Stuckman, Barry James Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6459779
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for creating a billing record with a called party's name. Providing the called party's name on the billing record facilitates the calling party's review of the billing record by reducing the amount of time and effort needed to determine the identity of the called parties. In addition to identifying fraudulent and misbilled calls, the called party's name allows a person reviewing the billing record to quickly identify long distance calls, quickly discern business from personal calls, and audit calls made from phone lines with multiple users (e.g., employees or kids). Additionally, the billing record reviewer saves time and money by avoiding the need to call directory assistance or a billing service to identify the calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: William Konrad Wardin, Melanie Louise Murphy
  • Patent number: 6453018
    Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Tricia Ehlers Henry, Victor Piollet Mills, Jr., Margaret Jean Andrietsch, Diana Inara Tiliks, Rodney T Brand, Carlos H Donoso, Diane Marie Thomas
  • Patent number: 6453348
    Abstract: An extranet that includes a network which couples a plurality of non-related participants and a server coupled to the network. The server stores a plurality of applications including workgroup applicants, transaction applications, security applications and transport circuits and equipment. The server is programmed to load particular ones of the plurality of applications onto the network for use by the plurality of participants in response to a request by one of the participants for a particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Glen Barnier, Randy S. Mueller, Thomas Terence Dean, Richard T. Madrid
  • Publication number: 20020126827
    Abstract: A system and method for providing telephony services, such as caller ID, voice mail, selective call forwarding, and the like, to a remote subscriber, typically located outside the provider's regional territory. The system can include customer premise equipment (CPE) selectively connectable to a remote central office (CO), a packet-switched network gateway, such as an Internet telephony gateway (ITG), for remotely communicating service requests to a local service node. The local service node can be located within the service provider's territory and returns telephony service responses via the packet-switched network gateway to the remote CO, and ultimately the remote CPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Karen Jeanne Pelletier, Rex Norman Bull, Bruce A. Chatterley, David Anthony Orwick, Wayne Robert Heinmiller
  • Patent number: 6449351
    Abstract: A system (20) for providing a caller identification with name service includes a destination service switching point (22) having a plurality of destination numbers (24). A switching control point (26) has a caller identification with name database (30) and a customer caller identification with name database (32). A signaling system seven link (28) connects the destination service switching point (22) to the switching control point (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: John Wesley Moss, Richard John Ebel, James Daniel Kovarik, Teresa Farias Latter
  • Publication number: 20020122545
    Abstract: A method of routing incoming telephone calls and programming routing options and apparatus that allows incoming calls to be routed according to various criteria programmed by a subscriber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen Cecilia Schwab, Gayle Roberta Ekstrom, Gisele Arlette Marcus, Edward Alan Ossello
  • Patent number: 6445781
    Abstract: The invention uses the advanced intelligent network to provide caller identification for calls placed over the internet (24). A long distance call placed with an internet carrier results in the originating SSP (14) forwarding the call to an originating POP (22) for the internet carrier. The caller ID information is routed through the signaling system 7 network (16) to the SSP (32) in the terminating network. The call is routed to a terminating POP (26) and then to the SSP (32) in the terminating network. The SSP (32) inserts the caller ID information received through the SS7 network (16) and routes the call to the terminating line (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Robert Heinmiller, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Bruce Edward Stuckman
  • Patent number: 6442246
    Abstract: A method for providing multiple calling service announcements on a single circuit card within a telephone network. The method reduces the number of stored speech files necessary to generate announcements regarding a calling service such as Automatic Call Back or Enhanced Repeat Dial. By reducing the amount of speech data stored on a circuit card, multiple calling service announcements can be provided on a single circuit card, thereby reducing equipment costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Carol Ann Rice, Ronald Dale Crumpler, John David Downey
  • Patent number: 6442574
    Abstract: A structured document browser includes a constant user interface for displaying and viewing sections of a document that is organized according to a pre-defined structure. The structured document browser displays documents that have been marked with embedded codes that specify the structure of the document. The tags are mapped to correspond to a set of icons. When the icon is selected while browsing a document, the browser will display the section of the structure corresponding to the icon selected, while preserving the constant user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Schumacher, James E. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6442262
    Abstract: A system (100) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided, even when a subscriber to the service has per line blocking. A service control point (106) detects the directory number to which a terminating attempt trigger is assigned and places this directory number in a parameter for transmission to a service switching point (102) using a forward_call message (206). The per line blocking function does not interfere with transmission of this parameter so that the called party's directory number can be passed for processing and call completion by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Ameritech Corporation
    Inventors: John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain