Patents Assigned to AT & T
  • Method for redirection of web streaming clients using lightweight available bandwidth measurement from a plurality of servers
    Patent number: 7451251
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method for selecting a server to provide content to a client is presented. A media controller receives a request from a client for content. The media controller instructs a plurality of servers each storing the content required by the client to perform a bandwidth measurement referred to in the disclosure as a bandwidth probe. The result of the bandwidth probe is communicated to the media controller. The media controller selects a server (i.e., an identified server) for communication with the client based on the result and communicates the selection in the form of a redirect command to the client. The client then communicates directly with the identified server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: David Shur, Aleksandr Zelezniak
  • System and method of utilizing a hybrid semantic model for speech recognition
    Patent number: 7450698
    Abstract: A method for processing a call is disclosed. The method receives a speech input in connection with a call and transforms at least a segment of the speech input into a first textual format. The method also generates a first list of entries based, at least partially, on a consideration of the first textual format, the first list comprising at least one action with a corresponding confidence level and at least one object with another corresponding confidence level, selects an entry of the first list having a higher corresponding confidence level, outputs a second textual format. The method further generates a second list based, at least partially on consideration of the selected entry and the second textual format and suggesting a routing option for the call based on the selected entry and a pairing entry in the second list having a high corresponding confidence level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert R. Bushey, Benjamin Anthony Knott, John Mills Martin
  • System and method for providing advanced wireless telephony services using a wireline telephone number
    Patent number: 7450945
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing advanced telephony services to telephone numbers served by telecommunications networks lacking the infrastructure to provide these advanced services directly are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, a service-providing network, which has the capability of providing advanced telephony services to a service subscriber for calls that traverse it, provides advanced telephony services to calls directed to a telephony device on a native transport network. The native transport network is a network that naturally carries a subscriber's calls but does not have the capabilities required to provide advanced services. In one embodiment, the system switch provisioning and trunking configurations to provide the advanced telephony services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: James C. Bedingfield
  • Methods and systems of verifying EMS compliance via NMS interface
    Patent number: 7451452
    Abstract: A test harness tests an element management system (EMS) via a network management system (NMS) interface for compliance with a particular interface standard. The test harness may be used by a party other than a vendor of the EMS to verify compliance of the EMS to the particular interface standard, such as Q.834.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda Jean Freede Garbanati, Mark Yampanis, Mehrad Yasrebi
  • Apparatus and method for automatically bypassing a load coil in a digital subscriber line circuit
    Patent number: 7450615
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for bypassing a load coil in a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) circuit. An interface is provided for making a connection with the DSL circuit and receiving a combined multichannel signal. The combined multichannel signal includes a high frequency or DSL signal and a low frequency signal or voice signal. A high pass filter is utilized to block the voice signal and route the DSL signal over a communications path to bypass the load coil in the DSL circuit. The voice signal is then routed by a low pass filter to the load coil in the DSL circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Properties I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Ryals, Donald Smith
  • Home office communication system and method
    Patent number: 7450700
    Abstract: A home office communication system (10) has a control and display system (16). A modem (12) is controlled by the control and display system (16) and connected to a telephone line (14). A multiplexer (18) is connected to the modem (12) and multiplexes a plurality of outgoing data streams in a predefined format and demultiplexes an incoming data stream from the modem (12). A speech encoding system (20) generates a plurality of speech packets to form one of the plurality of outgoing data streams. A telephone line control system (22) venerates a plurality of control packets forming one of the plurality of outgoing data streams and an information channel (24) forms one of the plurality of outgoing data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond Walden Bennett, III, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Wayne Robert Heinmiller, Jordan Howard Light
  • Methods and systems for obtaining data from legacy computer systems
    Patent number: 7451404
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems of accessing data via a legacy computer system. A screen field configuration file for a legacy computer system is accessed, where the screen field configuration file storing screen field information. One or more screen fields are identified. Each identified screen field has a screen field identifier and one or more screen field location identifiers stored in the configuration file. One or more screen field objects are created, where each screen field object corresponds to an identified screen field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark A. Kirkpatrick, John A. Strohmeyer
  • Method and system for presenting customized call alerts in a service for internet caller identification
    Patent number: 7450701
    Abstract: An advanced intelligent network (AIN) based system and method that allows a subscriber connected to the Internet to receive customized call alerts and caller identification information concerning an incoming telephone call. Using client software, the subscriber associates telephone numbers to sound files. Then, when an incoming call with caller identification information is received, the client software determines whether the incoming telephone number points to a sound file. If so, the client software directs the sound file to play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, James Daniel Kovarik, Kenneth Robert Stroud, Dianna Inara Tiliks, William R. Trost, Paul H. Vlasek, Scott Ryan Watry, Thomas Joseph McBlain
  • Knowledge management, capture and modeling tool for multi-modal communications
    Patent number: 7450696
    Abstract: Via a user interface, a user creates a device group that identifies communication devices of the user, the devices having different communication addresses. At least one of the devices is user-designated to receive an aggregated list of communications made with the devices in the user-defined device group. Communications made using devices in the group are detected, entries for the aggregated list are generated based thereon, and the entries are provided to the designated communication device(s). Thereafter, the user edits the user-defined device group via the user interface to add a communication device thereto or to remove a communication device therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Claire Svetlana Vishik, Lalitha Suryanarayana
  • Method and apparatus for recursively analyzing log file data in a network
    Patent number: 7451145
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing log data produced by a network is described. In one example, entries in the log data are filtered using a plurality of filters to select first entries from the entries. The first entries are filtered using a plurality of false positive filters associated with the plurality of filters to select second entries from the first entries. Unique IP addresses are identified in the second entries. The entries in the log data are then filtered using the unique IP addresses to select third set entries. The third entries are analyzed to detect one or more patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: James Boxmeyer
  • Call setup request confirmation
    Patent number: 7450563
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a call setup request, and automatically providing an indication that the call setup request is being processed. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising providing a call setup request to a network, and receiving an indication that the call setup request is being processed. 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. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, II, L.P.
    Inventors: Debra Lee Cook, Gerald Joseph Kersus
  • System and method for identifying redirected calls
    Patent number: 7450710
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying redirected calls are provided. A method may include receiving data related to a call termination request. The call termination request may indicate call redirection. The method may also include selecting one of a plurality of distinctive rings in response to the data related to the call termination request. A first distinctive ring is selected when a redirect number address associated with the call termination request does not match a specified redirect number address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Larry B. Pearson, Dianna Tiliks, John W. Moss, Barbara Allyn Vozar, Robert Carl Hager
  • Methods for providing overdraft protection for post-paid communication service plans
    Patent number: 7450928
    Abstract: Methods for adding minutes to a calling plan having a calling plan period. The methods including determining whether a threshold number of minutes have been reached during the calling plan period; and incrementally adding minutes to the calling plan when the threshold number of minutes has been reached. The cost per minute of the added minutes is less than the high-cost per minute rate normally associated with exceeding the threshold number of minutes during the calling plan period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Coulter C. Henry, Jr., Francis Richard Lazaro, Jr.
  • Ambient noise cancellation for voice communication device
    Patent number: 7450691
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing or entirely canceling background or ambient noise from a voice transmission from a communications device. A communications device, such as a mobile telephone, is configured with an ambient noise compensation signal generator that is connected between a microphone and a mixer. The original output of the microphone and a compensation signal generated by the ambient noise compensation signal generator are mixed together prior to being passed to a transmitter. In one embodiment a buffer is provided between the microphone and the mixer to help synchronize the timing of the signals to be mixed. In another embodiment a second microphone is employed to detect ambient noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Shannon M. Short, William A. Hartselle, Vernon Meadows
  • Automated instant messaging state control based upon email persona utilization
    Patent number: 7451218
    Abstract: Embodiments, among others, of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for integrating communication services. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A communication suite includes several communications accounts for a first communications service and several communications for a second communications service. Logic is configured to detect when one of the communications accounts in the first communication suite for the first communications service is being actively utilized by a user. Upon detection, the logic is configured to make the second communications service available to the user via the communications accounts in the communication suite for the second communications service. Other systems and methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale W. Malik, W. Todd Daniell
  • System and method for text translations and annotation in an instant messaging session
    Patent number: 7451188
    Abstract: A system and method for translating received input from a sender to recipient in an instant messaging dialog is disclosed. The method comprises receiving instant messaging input from a sender for recipient, wherein the instant messaging input comprises at least one subculture specific term. A category is identified the defines a difference between the sender and the recipient and the received instant messaging input is modified from the sender by generating an output associated with the least one subculture specific term and based on the identified category. Multiple recipients in a chat session may also each receive a translated or annotated message according to characteristics of each individual recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp
    Inventors: Eric Cheung, Kermin Hal Purdy
  • System and method of spoken language understanding in a spoken dialog service
    Patent number: 7451089
    Abstract: A voice-enabled help desk service is disclosed. The service comprises an automatic speech recognition module for recognizing speech from a user, a spoken language understanding module for understanding the output from the automatic speech recognition module, a dialog management module for generating a response to speech from the user, a natural voices text-to-speech synthesis module for synthesizing speech to generate the response to the user, and a frequently asked questions module. The frequently asked questions module handles frequently asked questions from the user by changing voices and providing predetermined prompts to answer the frequently asked question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Narendra K. Gupta, Mazin G. Rahim, Giuseppe Riccardi
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring the potential impact of traffic surges
    Patent number: 7450502
    Abstract: The present invention enables a graphical display of network call volumes in a predefined period before and after network alarm indications that show serious service disruptions to help determine if surges in call volumes precipitated the service disrupting event. When a surge of call volumes occurs and subsides, the graphical display of current network call volumes can be compared against historical trends of normal call traffic volumes and rates. The network will be placed in a high alert state and monitored for the predefined period of time. If the comparison shows aberrations between the historical trends and the current trend within the predefined period time window, then the network operator will be informed to take actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Fiber and wire communication system
    Patent number: 7450850
    Abstract: This invention provides a new architecture for a communication system between head-ends and end-users which expands bandwidth and reliability of the communication system. A mux-node receives communication signals from a head-end and forwards the received communication signals to one or more mini-fiber nodes. The connection to the head-end is via a small number of optical fibers and the connections to each of the mini-fiber nodes may be via one or more optical fibers that may provide full duplex communication. The head-end may communicate with the mux-node using digital or digital and analog signals. The mini-fiber nodes may combine the signals received from the head-end with loop-back signals used for local media access control prior to forwarding the signals to the end-users. Upstream data are received by the mini-fiber nodes and transmitted to the mux-node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Charles D. Combs, Thomas Edward Darcie, Bhavesh N. Desai, Alan H. Gnauck, Xiaolin Lu, Esteban Sandino, Oleh J. Sniezko, Anthony G. Werner, Sheryl Leigh Woodward
  • Interactive communication service account management system
    Patent number: 7450927
    Abstract: A system and method permit a customer obtaining communication services to modify account parameters governing terms on which that service is provided. Customer account parameters are stored in one or more databases and accessed by one or more servers. The customer, upon accessing the communication service, is provided with an opportunity to modify the account parameters via automated interactive communication with the server. The invention can applied to wireless communication services such as wireless telephone service, wireless internet access, paging, or other forms of interactive wireless communication; to telephone or other wired interactive communication; to cable services; and to any other form of interactive subscriber communications. The invention may be implemented using existing equipment, and can be optimized for the type of communication device at issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Carroll W. Creswell, Jeffrey J. Farah, Gregg A. Toney