Patents Assigned to Embarq Holdings Company LLC
  • Patent number: 7864035
    Abstract: A phone, method, and system are presented for determining whether a cordless handset is positioned on a base unit of a cordless telephone. An on-base unit signal may be generated in response to a cordless handset being positioned in contact with a base unit of a cordless telephone and an off-base unit signal may be generated in response to the cordless handset not being positioned in contact with the base unit. The on-base unit signal or the off-base unit signal, depending upon the position of the cordless handset, may be communicated over a communications network with which the base unit is in communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Amar Nath Ray
  • Patent number: 7864747
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a clock for data transmissions. A data packet is received at a remote node. A timing characteristic of the data packet corresponds to a tick of a clock form a reference clock. A tick of the clock is determined based on the timing characteristic of the data packet. A secondary clock is disciplined with the reference clock by adjusting the secondary clock based on a difference between times measured by the reference clock and the secondary clock to generate a clock signal. The clock signal is communicated to one or more interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Wolfe, Michael Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 7843831
    Abstract: A system and method for routing non-real-time content over a packet network. A call request to communicate data packets including non-real-time content over a packet network may be received. A determination of at least one network node over which a call path for a call to be established for the call request is to be routed may be made. Network performance information associated with communications over the network node(s) may be established. A determination as to whether the network node(s) are impaired or congested may be made and, if the network node(s) are determined to be impaired or congested, communications of the data packets including non-real-time content over the network node(s) may be altered. Otherwise, if the network node(s) are not determined to be impaired or congested, the call may be established on the network node(s). In one embodiment, a call control manager may manage the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Morrill, William L. Wiley, Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 7840984
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for delivering digital audio/visual content over a facilities analog-based television network, such as the cable network of a school. An administrator is provided that includes a video server, a DVD/decoder, a controller for the DVD/decoder, and a modulator. The system enables the school to access video on demand while bypassing its existing computer network. This avoids congesting the computer network with the streamed video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Steve B. Owens, Alan Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7840982
    Abstract: A system and method using digital technologies to deliver a live-video-all-call bulletin over a local area network (LAN) in a facility, e.g., a school. The live video overrides all the facility's video-player devices by pausing them. Once the live-feed-video presentation is over, the system returns all of the facilities video players to the same state of operation each was in before the all-call presentation began.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holding Company, LLC
    Inventor: Steve B. Owens
  • Patent number: 7825626
    Abstract: A device integrated charger and holder for wireless headsets are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An electronic device integrated holder and charger includes a first holder built into the electronic device to hold an object. A second holder is built into a wireless headset to couple to the first holder. A first set of contacts is accessible from the first holder and is configured to provide electrical power. A second set of contacts is accessible from the second holder and configured to receive electrical power from the first set of contacts when the second holder is coupled to the first holder. A method for holding and charging a device includes fastening a wireless headset to an electronic device, providing electrical power from the device to the wireless headset, and charging a power source in the wireless headset using the electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC
    Inventor: Steven E. Kozisek
  • Patent number: 7822183
    Abstract: Converting a toll calling area to an extended area service (EAS) is provided. The present invention allows customer, regional, and equipment data to be collected into a computing device with a set of assumptions. The data is processed using calculations, regression analysis, and statistics to provide a migration plan in an automatic manner. Results may be derived from the various information detailing an impact of migrating to an EAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC
    Inventor: Farooq I. Cheema
  • Patent number: 7808918
    Abstract: A system for dynamically shaping data packet traffic on a packet network including at least one customer access node for communicating the data packets on the packet network; at least one customer premises equipment in communication with the at least one customer access node; at least one Internet gateway for communicating the data packets from an Internet, the at least one Internet gateway in communication with the at least one customer access node through the packet network; and at least one data packet rate shaper in communication with the at least one Internet gateway for shaping the rates of transmission of the data packets through the packet network based on network performance data transmitted by the at least one customer access node to the Internet gateway. A method for dynamically shaping data packet traffic on a packet network is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 7797379
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing unwanted communications. A communication is received from a sending party. A user input indicating the communication is to be filtered is received. Filtering information is retrieved from the communication. The communication and future communications are filtered based on filtering information. The filtering information is communicated to multiple telecommunications platforms registered with a user. The multiple telecommunications platforms are prevented from receiving the future communications based on the filtering information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Johnny Hawkins
  • Patent number: 7792538
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling subscribers of a first communications carrier to communicate over wireless access points of subscribers hosted by a second communications carrier. In response to receiving a request signal from a wireless device via a wireless access point within a first network of wireless access points, a determination may be made as to whether the user is a first subscriber of the first communications carrier. In response to determining that the user is not a first subscriber, a determination as to whether the user is a second subscriber having a subscription agreement enabling the second subscriber to communicate over the communications network via the first network of wireless access points. The wireless device may be enabled to access the wireless access point in response to determining that the user is a second subscriber having a subscription agreement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Steven E. Kozisek
  • Patent number: 7787739
    Abstract: A system and method for testing a bare fiber optic. An actuator disposed on an adapter is engaged. The bare fiber optic is received in an insertion hole of the adapter for ensuring contact between the bare fiber optic and a test adapter in response to the actuator being engaged. The actuator is released in order to secure the bare fiber optic for testing. The bare fiber optic is tested through the test adapter in contact with the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew A. Munn
  • Patent number: 7788176
    Abstract: In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, a system and method is presented for providing online SMS games to any SMS equipped device without having to install any additional applications on the SMS equipped device. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a text message from a SMS equipped device. The method sends a text message that includes a list of available online SMS games to the SMS equipped device. The method receives a text message from the SMS equipped device that indicates a selected SMS game from the list of available online SMS games. The method sends a text message to the SMS equipped device to initiate playing of the selected SMS game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Shekhar Gupta, Mike A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7786891
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying video in a residence. An indication of an alert is received as communicated from a security system of a residence. The indication of the alert is communicated to a cellular telephone. A selection of a television communicated from the cellular telephone is received. The television is selected from multiple televisions located within the residence. A command is communicated to display one or more images on the selected televisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Steve B. Owens, Mark Glenwood Kelly
  • Patent number: 7782884
    Abstract: A method for expanding a data connection. A first user selection of a first profile is received from a plurality of profiles. The first profile selected by the user is implemented. A determination of a current time is made. Bandwidth available to the user is increased through a data connection in response to determining that the first profile allows for the bandwidth increase at the current time. A second user selection of a second profile is selected from the plurality of profiles. The second profile being implemented to adjust the bandwidth available to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jade Kerr, Andrew Cook, Mike Morrissey, Clinton Smoyer, Mohit Mathur
  • Patent number: 7769011
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating and maintaining Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) addresses is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a requestor that includes an element identifier corresponding to a network element to be ultimately associated with the ATM address, validating the request, providing a unique identifier that corresponds to the network element, grouping the unique identifier with a set of parameters to create the ATM address without user intervention, and storing the ATM address in a repository. The system includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for receiving one or more parameters to be used to generate the ATM address and a set of computer-useable instructions accessible by the GUI that perform a method for generating the ATM address without user intervention based in part on the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Lisa Kay McLellan, Jennifer Susan Istok, Deborah Maria Robinson, Mary (“Cathy”) Brown Etheridge, Richard Charles Glover, David Eugene Maas, Dana Darlene Liston
  • Patent number: 7765294
    Abstract: A system and method for managing subscriber usage of a packet network. The system may include at least one database configured to store network performance information of data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content communicated over a packet network. The database may further be configured to store the network performance information as related to respective subscribers of a communications carrier managing the communications network. In one embodiment, the database may include an indicia associated with each subscriber and the network performance information may be collected during communications by respective subscribers over the packet network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen K. Edwards, Robert J. Morrill, Michael K. Bugenhagen
  • Patent number: 7760869
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the transmit volume level of a speakerphone includes receiving a transmit audio signal. If the speakerphone is in a speakerphone mode, the method further includes measuring a send output level of the transmit audio signal, comparing the send output level of the transmit audio signal with a send output level threshold value, and controlling the send output level of the transmit audio signal based upon the comparison of the send output level of the transmit audio signal and the send output level threshold value using automatic gain control. Some embodiments further include determining the send output level threshold value based upon a send loudness rating (SLR) target difference value between a speakerphone SLR target value and a handset SLR target value. In some embodiments, if the speakerphone is in a handset mode, the send output level of the transmit audio signal remains substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Amar Nath Ray
  • Patent number: 7761318
    Abstract: An exemplary method and system for administering a construction activity for a telecommunications company can include designing the activity, transmitting the activity to a second datastore, and communicating the one or more tasks. The first datastore may include an inventory of at least one of one or more tasks and inventory items and the second datastore may provide a communication interface for a first entity managing the activity and a second entity completing the one or more tasks to accomplish the activity at a construction site, where the one or more tasks can be communicated to the second entity. Moreover, the second entity can create a change in plan and communicate the change in plan to the second datastore, which in turn communicates the change in plan to the first datastore. Generally, once the change in plan is approved, a task is completed for the activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Traci Olson, Brian Hattaway, Guy Bower
  • Patent number: 7760866
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automatically auditing code routing instructions on switches in a telecommunication network. Code routing information is retrieved from at least one source containing code routing information. Based on the retrieved code routing information, the correct code routing instructions for a switch are automatically determined. The actual code routing instructions programmed on the switch are retrieved and discrepancies between the actual code routing instructions retrieved from the switch and the determined correct code routing instructions are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Zyad Ahmad Dwekat, Jeffrey M. Fries, Robert Michael Raines, Robert A. Hanford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7752234
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing utility pole information is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A method for managing the utility pole information may include creating several audit forms and searching those forms for an audit of a selected pole. The method may further include pre-populating the audit form with data from a repository of engineering work orders. The method may further include recording general pole information, a pole inspection information, a pole test information, a first attachment information, and inspector's notes about the selected pole on the audit form resulting in an updated audit form. The method may then transfer the updated audit form to a repository of utility poles audit information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: William A. Radel, Dana Morris, Eric Chaitman