Patents Assigned to Communications Networks, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6477374
    Abstract: A telecommunications system is provided whereby call routing may be based on a pre-programmed calendar of time-date associations. Moreover, the routing may be selective, based on caller-identification information. In particular, when a call arrives at a messaging server (804), such as a PBX or TOL server, a LAN database is checked. The LAN database points to a calendar (916, 918) corresponding to the user. The calendar (918) is queried to determine the user's location. The caller ID information is checked to determine whether the caller is authorized for forwarding. If so, the call is forwarded based on the calendar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, William J. Beyda
  • Patent number: 6473437
    Abstract: A service and apparatus for enabling supplementary service functions, such as call parking, to be implemented in a communication network having one or more servers. The call parking service is adapted to enable the called party to park the call anywhere within the network, including outside the local server in a multi-server network. The call parking service includes an invite request unit for invoking the call parking service. A call park request unit is provided to respond to the invite request unit by establishing a connection to a call park destination for enabling the caller to be parked at the call park destination. A retrieval request unit is provided for connecting a call pickup party with the parked caller for completing the connection. An exception handler may also be provided to ensure that network problems in the call parking procedure do not result in a lost call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Peggy M. Stumer
  • Patent number: 6470358
    Abstract: Synchronization techniques that improve the ease with which synchronization operations can be performed are disclosed. Synchronization is performed between resources on a portable computing device and resources stored on a remote server. The synchronization can be centralized across different types so that user interaction to achieve the different types of synchronization is minimal. Battery power can also be conserved during synchronization. A user can also be informed as to when the portable computing device should be shut-down or placed in a low-power state to have sufficient battery power remaining to perform the synchronization. The synchronization operations can be easily activated without much user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: William Joseph Beyda, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6470188
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile communication system including a network constituted of at least one switching center and a plurality of base stations, and a mobile station which communicates with the base stations simultaneously. The system permits varying transmission delay between the switching center and the base stations according to the type of services available to the mobile station. The object of the present invention is to propose a communication which permits varying transmission delay according to the type of service currently employed, and to promptly recover a synchronization state even if an out-of-sync state happens. To attain the object, a memory means (mobile switching center processor 32) stores transmission delay characteristics corresponding to services which are available to the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ohtani, Motoshi Tamura, Akiko Nakashima, Hisashi Shimizu, Takaaki Satoh
  • Patent number: 6466782
    Abstract: A system with a mobile phone capable of receiving a paging message. A method and apparatus automatically transmits a callback message to a callback number associated with the caller in response to a page message. The user of the system prepares a data structure in which a caller ID of each of the prospective callers in associated with information on the caller as well as the caller's communication device. In response to the reception of a page message, the user can display a response message used for calling back the caller when the user is busy. When the user selects the response message, the call back message is compiled using a call back number associated with a caller ID contained in the page message. The callback message can then be sent to the caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignees: Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd., NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Hironari Ishikawa, Hitoshi Itakura, Hisashi Nakagomi
  • Publication number: 20020143962
    Abstract: Techniques for dynamically loading protocol stacks under signaling control (e.g., a message) are provided. A message can be sent to load a protocol stack. If the protocol stack cannot be loaded, a different protocol stack (such as an unused protocol stack) is unloaded so that the desired protocol stack can be loaded. Memory can be more efficiently utilized and non-sharable protocol stacks can be easily shared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Carter
  • Patent number: 6459776
    Abstract: A method and system for personalized multimedia messaging include multiple communication mode interfaces which enable the system to communicate with multiple types of communication devices. Caller profiles are configured for preselected callers such that each caller profile includes at least one caller identifier representative of data patterns in incoming. calls received over the communication modes. The caller profiles are selectively configured to include personalized messages intended for a subset of the preselected callers and can also include caller identity verification data. A caller identification subsystem monitors the communication modes for incoming calls which include the data patterns. Upon detecting one of the data patterns, a processor accesses a corresponding caller profile and determines if the caller profile includes a personalized message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph A. Aktas, Bernard M. Guillot
  • Patent number: 6456618
    Abstract: A method of transmitting DTMF signals over a compressed computer network (24) comprises sending a packet containing a compressed DTMF signal followed by a confirmation packet. The confirmation packet preferably comprises an uncompressed DTMF signal which is transmitted on the same logical channel as the packets that represent voice signals. To detect the DTMF signal transmitted, a telephony Internet server (28) decompresses packets as they are received. If a packet appears to contain a compressed DTMF signal, the telephony Internet server looks for the presence of the confirmation packet before processing the previously received packet as a DTMF signal. In an alternative embodiment, the confirmation packet comprises a code that represents a DTMF signal. The packets that represent the voice signal and the code representing the DTMF signal are sent on separate virtual channels of the same logical channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kozdon, Eli Jacobi, Shmuel Shaffer, William J. Beyda, Leroy E. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 6456601
    Abstract: A method and a system of providing call progress tones in a packetized network include storing the call progress tones and pre-programmed audio deliveries at a first device and includes multicasting or broadcasting the tones and deliveries from the first device to a number of telephony-enabled devices. The multicasts are in a format that enable the telephony-enabled devices to individually control transmissions of the tones and deliveries to other devices, particularly calling devices for incoming calls. Typically, the audio deliveries include memory intensive signals, such as announcements and music-on-hold. The progress tones include conventional call status tones, such as ringback, busy and error tones. In one embodiment, the telephony-enabled devices are telephones to which the calls are directed. In another embodiment, the telephony-enabled devices include proxies that process the system-wide multicasts for telephones of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kozdon, Markku Korpi, Rudolph Bitzinger, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6456619
    Abstract: A system and method for supporting an interactive decision tree with placeholder capability include an interactive decision tree-based expert unit with an input enabled to receive user data that includes a user identification and with an output enabled to transmit system data. A memory is connected to the expert unit for storing the system data. Optionally, the user memory stores the identification and an associated decision tree node identifier representing a node in the decision tree visited by a user prior to termination of a communications link between the expert unit and the user. A device is provided for accessing the decision tree node identifier from the memory utilizing the associated user identification, so that a connecting device can automatically connect the user to a node within the decision tree based solely upon the user identification. Alternatively, the decision tree node identifier is transmitted to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sassin, Neal J. King, Matthew T. Dean, Eli Jacobi
  • Publication number: 20020131374
    Abstract: A Telecommunications Management Network TMN system is described that utilizes Adaptive Enterprise Management techniques to create an intelligent TMN. In particular, according to one characterization of the invention, neural objects; fuzzy logic servers; artificial intelligence servers; and the introduction of an Abstract Intelligence Stratum (AIS) into the TMN model, create the intelligent TMN. According to one embodiment of the invention, the intelligent TMN platform, comprises a multilayer TMN platform, and means for providing cross-boundary analytical services and knowledge domains in the multilayer TMN platform. The means for providing cross-boundary analytical services and knowledge domains in the multilayer TMN platform is the aforementioned AIS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Information and Communications Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnathaun D. Lee
  • Patent number: 6452946
    Abstract: A method and a system for improving the exchange of data between a master system and multiple slave systems involves bundling multiple abbreviated messages into a single frame and transmitting the single frame across a long delay communications link. The abbreviated messages do not comply with a given transmission protocol such as high-level data link control (HDLC), while the single frame does comply with the transmission protocol. The abbreviated messages are then used to build multiple protocol-compliant frames that are sequentially transmitted across short delay communications links. By bundling multiple abbreviated messages into a single frame, the number of frame transmissions required across the long delay communications link is minimized, while the sequential transmission of protocol-compliant frames to and from the slave systems is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communications Network, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcel Manzardo
  • Patent number: 6452614
    Abstract: A user interface is organized using different personae. When in a master persona mode, a user is provided access to a full list of contacts and to a full set of data files. When in a first alternate persona mode, user access is provided to only a first subset of the full list of contacts and to only a first subset of the full set of data files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Siements Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal J. King, Michael Sassin, Eli Jacobi, Matthew T. Dean
  • Patent number: 6453336
    Abstract: Techniques to dynamically control the allocation of resources between audio and video (and perhaps data) streams of a video conference are disclosed. By providing the dynamic control, a participant to a video conference is able to alter the quality levels for the audio and video (and perhaps data) streams that they receive while the video conference is ongoing. A tool bar, window or the like can be used to enable a participant to dynamically control the quality levels. The techniques are particularly well suited for personal computer based video conferencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: William Joseph Beyda, Shmuel Shaffer, Vinesh R. Mehta
  • Patent number: 6453166
    Abstract: A decision is made as to whether a radio base station acting as an interference source is present in a macrocell or microcell, so that the interference from a mobile station transmitting high power can be presented in advance. The base station inserts its transmission power value of a forward broadcast channel into broadcast information. A newly installed base station C, receiving a forward frequency band, measures the received level of the broadcast channel, and captures the transmission power value. When the transmission power value is large, the threshold value is reduced (THRb), and when the transmission power value is small, the threshold value is increased (THRa). If the received level L is less than the threshold value, a decision is made that the channel is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ishikawa, Etsuhiro Nakano, Minami Ishii, Masafumi Hata, Seizo Onoe
  • Patent number: 6449260
    Abstract: An automatic call distribution system utilizes a number of H.323 compatible devices. An automatic call distribution (ACD) server (52) interfaces with a computer telephony interface gateway (54) to route calls to agents or to a music/video server (56). Calls are received by a gateway and supplied to a gatekeeper that determines an IP address of the destination. The ACD server selects the destination in response to the number of agents available. In addition, customer calls can be received via e-mail, facsimile or the Internet. The call distribution system can instruct an agent to return an e-mail or facsimile message or to call a customer if desired. Calls from one H.323 device can be routed to another H.323 device by a third party application by sending a call control message to the device's application program interface that executes the message as if it were generated at the device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sassin, Markku Korpi, Richard W. Crouch, Leon Xu, Uwe Wrede, Robert W. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6449247
    Abstract: A telecommunications system (20) includes a fail-safe subsystem (22) capable of maintaining call services to remote users in the event of a communication failure. The fail-safe subsystem (22) is coupled to a communication link (16) between a main switch (12) and a remote shelf (14). The subsystem (22) passively monitors the status of the communication link (16). Upon detecting a failure, the subsystem (22) provides a limited set of call services to remote users by providing local switching services. Upon re-establishing communications with the main switch (12), the fail-safe subsystem (22) re-synchronizes the main switch (12) and remote shelf (14) by emulating a conventional call setup procedure for each call placed through the remote shelf (14) during the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Manzardo, Abid Farooq
  • Patent number: 6449315
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an accompanying method, for transmitting a frame synchronization signal and a data signal simultaneously through a serial transmission medium (170). Specifically within a data transmitter (105), a frame synchronization signal, a clock signal and a data signal, are encoded to form a single bi-phase mark signal having the frame synchronization signal incorporated into the bi-phase mark signal as a phase-shift. The bi-phase mark signal is then transmitted through a suitable serial transmission medium. A receiver (175), connected to the transmission medium, receives and amplifies an incoming bi-phase mark signal appearing on the medium, and, in turn, synthesizes the clock, frame synchronization, and data signals from this bi-phase mark signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn L. Richards
  • Patent number: 6442149
    Abstract: An improvement of an ATM transmission system between a mobileservices switching center and a base station in a mobile communication system. A delay time for generating/sending out a cell is minimized to ensure the information quality required for real time transmission. When the transmission interval of a call type a is T, call types b and c whose periods are twice and four time that of the call type a should be transmitted at intervals twice and four times that of the call type a. A transmitted frame assembler/disassembler 104 in the base station prepares transmitted frames 201 each including the cell slots 201-1, 201-2 and 201-3 for transferring the respective call types, and schedules such that the transmitted frames are sent out to a channel 112 at the interval T, thereby enabling the transmission to be carried out without delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc.
    Inventors: Masatomo Nakano, Masafumi Onuki, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6442146
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a TDMA communication system which is adapted to different communication environments or prepares different communication environments and allows each mobile station to be set for working in any one of the different communication environments. The communication system commonly uses a TDMA format that has a fixed frame-length and a constant number of bits for each of the slots composing the frame. The communication environments have prepared respective sets of communication conditions, each set including a transmission power, a modulating method, the number of multiplexed signals, error-correction, an antenna gain, a frequency hopping value and a diversity value. At each mobile station and each base station, one of plural sets of communication conditions for respective environments is selected to establish communication with each other under the selected environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Hitachi Ltd., Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Communication Research Laboratory, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation, NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc., YRP Mobile Telecommunications Key Technology Research Laboratories Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Onodera, Hiroshi Usami, Akihiro Shibuya, Eimatsu Moriyama, Kiyoshi Hamaguchi, Yoichi Saito, Tadashi Matsumoto, Mitsuhiko Mizuno