Patents Assigned to Protel, Inc.
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Patent number: 7239694Abstract: Circuit configurations designed for use with public telephones to provide standard telephone functions with higher reliability, lower cost, and lower packaging densities, include first and second channel means for providing both transmit and receive multiplexing control, a one-wire compatible user interface, and embedded PIC microcontroller for both digital control and monitoring of analog measurement and multiplexing circuits, and bitstream format conversion techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Gary Lee Stirk
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Patent number: 6850607Abstract: An intelligent vending system such as a pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraud prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and detailed reporting. Information regarding each transaction is recorded and is useful in verification, by way of example. The system includes a delta-sigma driver for reducing circuit complexity and improving circuit reliability, and a one-wire, high speed communication controller which facilitates high speed downloading and uploading of data, records, and operating program code. Battery management techniques, memory management, and coin detection circuits add to the system's capabilities and reliability. Firmware security techniques and operating system formats also promote product firmware security and configuration control.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Rolf Meyer, Kenneth L. Bryan, Raymond F. Felch, Tony L. McBride, Gary L. Stirk, Stephen J. Hayes
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Patent number: 6625267Abstract: A billing system for a service provider-client environment, which includes a service provider site, a first computer-based device disposed at the service provider site having billing software operably associated with the first computer-based device for enabling logging of client data and service provider data. The billing software prompts a service provider to select one of a logging and no logging of time for one of a matter and a call and can accrue an amount of time and associate the time with a client upon selection of the logging. The billing software also prompts a service provider to select one of a logging and no logging of print cost and postage cost in response to a printer job being initiated for one of a print document and an envelope document and associate the time with a client upon selection of the logging.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1999Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: R. William Graham, Tony Xu, David M. Tumey
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Patent number: 6301344Abstract: An intelligent pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraudulent call prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and call detail reporting. Information regarding each call placed from the telephone is recorded and is useful in verifying operator service provider communications, long distance bills, local measured usage charges, and call volume discounts, by way of example. The intelligent pay telephone includes a delta-sigma voice driver for reducing circuit complexity and improving circuit reliability, and a one-wire, high speed communication controller facilitates high speed downloading and uploading of pay telephone data, records, and operating program code. The pay telephone also includes a low impedance, low power hookswitch for resisting damage from weather, as well as a pin fraud prevention circuit for deterring fraud.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1998Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Rolf Meyer, Kenneth L. Bryan, Raymond F. Felch, Tony L. McBride, Gary L. Stirk, Stephen J. Hayes
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Patent number: 5903629Abstract: An audio teleconferencing apparatus includes one or more conference bridges for establishing an audio teleconference between conference attendees, and a conference controller for controlling the conference bridges to permit a conference scheduler to reserve an audio teleconference and facilitate connection of the conference attendees during the audio teleconference. The conference controller facilitates reconfiguring the audio teleconference, especially during and immediately before the teleconference. The conference controller may reconfigure the reserved audio teleconference responsive to a conference attendee, and based upon availability of the conference resources. In one embodiment, the reconfiguring is for permitting the audio teleconference to begin prior to a reserved starting time for the audio teleconference if a conference attendee calls into the audio teleconference a predetermined time before the reserved starting time.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: James H. Campbell, IV, William E. Pinnell
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Patent number: 5841847Abstract: A billing system includes a telephone, a detector operably associated with said telephone for detecting when the telephone is in use and generating a signal in response to the use, a first cpu operably associated with said detector and having billing software resident on the first cpu for enabling logging of client data, user data, wherein the billing software is automatically initiated in response to the signal and prompts a user to select one of a logging and no logging of the use, the billing software includes an accrual associating device for accruing an amount of time of the use and associating the time with one client upon selection of the logging and the billing software includes a writing storing component for writing and storing data corresponding to the amount of time and the client in a memory associated with the first cpu.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: R. William Graham, David M. Tumey
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Patent number: 5828743Abstract: An audio teleconferencing apparatus includes one or more conference bridges for establishing an audio teleconference between conference attendees, and a conference controller for controlling the conference bridges to permit a conference scheduler to reserve an audio teleconference and facilitate connection of the conference attendees during the audio teleconference. The conference controller may receive an account number of the conference scheduler via a telephone of the conference scheduler, and determine the validity of the account number. The conference controller generates an audio prompt menu at the telephone of the conference scheduler for directing the conference scheduler to input conference reservation information via the telephone responsive to a valid account number from the conference scheduler, and for reserving the audio teleconference based upon the input conference reservation information.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1995Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: William E. Pinnell, James H. Campbell, IV
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Patent number: 5719928Abstract: An audio teleconferencing apparatus includes one or more conference bridges for establishing an audio teleconference between conference attendees, and a conference controller for controlling the conference bridges to permit a conference scheduler to reserve an audio teleconference and facilitate connection of the conference attendees during the audio teleconference. The conference controller may selectively overbook conference resources so that resources do not sit idle in the event a reserved audio teleconference does not occur. Various billing options are also prompted and implemented by the conference controller. In addition, alternate reservation information may be generated by the conference controller for selection by the conference scheduler. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1995Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: William E. Pinnell, James H. Campbell, IV
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Patent number: 5687830Abstract: An item discriminating method and apparatus are provided for discriminating between an acceptable and unacceptable item. An apparatus for item discriminating preferably includes characteristics for determining selected characteristics of an item under test and a deviation value determiner responsive to the characteristic determiner for determining a deviation value between the item under test and predetermined statistical variables for the selected characteristics of a plurality of acceptable items. An accepting or rejecting device responsive to the deviation value determiner accepts or rejects the item under test based upon whether the deviation value falls within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1996Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Hayes, Patrick R. Gorman
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Patent number: 5568854Abstract: An electronic coin detector and method for sensing the presence of a valid coin and for providing an indication of the valid coin's type. A coin is guided into position between a first set of inductor coils. The coin is then guided through a channel surrounded by a second inductor coil. A first oscillating signal is then fed to the first set of inductor coils and a second higher frequency oscillating signal is fed to a second inductor coil. An altered signal is then provided in response to the effect of the coin passing through the inductor coils. After the coin has passed adjacent one of the inductor coils, the inductor coils are fed a calibration signal to produce a calibrated signal. This calibrated signal is then used to scale the altered signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1994Date of Patent: October 29, 1996Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Hayes, Patrick R. Gorman
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Patent number: 5430797Abstract: Pay telephone coin opening cover assemblies which include portions of the pay telephone and a mask fashioned to cover the coin return opening. The mask includes a structural element or elements which cooperate with coin return opening structure and existing interior portions of the pay telephone structure to secure against the opening a face plate which is attractive and unobtrusive in appearance. The invention allows a conventional pay telephone to be recycled into a coinless pay telephone which is attractive in appearance, friendly to the user, and cost competitive.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1993Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Michael H. Hornsby
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Patent number: 5351798Abstract: An electronic coin detector and method for sensing the presence of a valid coin and for providing an indication of the valid coin's type. A coin is guided into position between a first set of inductor coils. The coin is then guided through a channel surrounded by a second inductor coil. A first oscillating signal is then fed to the first set of inductor coils and a second higher frequency oscillating signal is fed to a second inductor coil. An altered signal is then provided in response to the effect of the coin passing through the inductor coils. After the coin has passed adjacent one of the inductor coils, the inductor coils are fed a calibration signal to produce a calibrated signal. This calibrated signal is then used to scale the altered signal. The frequency and amplitude of the scaled altered signal for the first set of inductor coils and the second inductor coil are combined with prestored statistical variables corresponding to frequency and amplitude values of a sample of valid coins.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1993Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Hayes
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Patent number: 5191957Abstract: An electronic coin detector and method for sensing the presence of a valid coin and for providing an indication of the valid coin's type. A coin is guided into position between a first set of inductor coils. The coin is then guided through a channel surrounded by a second inductor coil. A first oscillating signal is then fed to the first set of inductor coils and a second higher frequency oscillating signal is fed to a second inductor coil. An altered signal is then provided in response to the effect of the coin passing through the inductor coils. After the coin has passed adjacent one of the inductor coils, the inductor coils are fed a calibration signal to produce a calibrated signal. This calibrated signal is then used to scale the altered signal. The frequency and amplitude of the scaled altered signal for the first set of inductor coils and the second inductor coil are combined with prestored statistical variables corresponding to frequency and amplitude values of a sample of valid coins.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1991Date of Patent: March 9, 1993Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Hayes
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Patent number: 5027390Abstract: A coin collection and analyzation apparatus has a coin track extending between a coin opening and an escrow relay which escrows coins and then diverts them either to a collection box or to a customer return. The coins are analyzed while passing along the coin track to provide an output for operating the escrow relay for determining whether the coin is acceptable or is to be rejected.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1989Date of Patent: June 25, 1991Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Larry M. Hughes
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Patent number: 4860345Abstract: A telephone having a hook switch is coupled to tip and ring conductors for receiving loop current from a central office responsive to an off-hook condition at the hook switch. The electronic circuity within the telephone for facilitating various functions is powered entirely from the loop current flowing from the central office during the off-hook condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1988Date of Patent: August 22, 1989Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Regis B. Mellon
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Patent number: 4860346Abstract: A telephone having a hook switch is coupled to tip and ring conductors for receiving loop current from a central office responsive to an off-hook condition at the hook switch. The electronic circuitry within the telephone for facilitating various functions is powered entirely from the loop current flowing from the central office during the off-hook condition; with loop current being maintained after termination of the off-hook condition in order to perform certain call functions.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1986Date of Patent: August 22, 1989Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Regis B. Mellon
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Patent number: D375953Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventors: Terry W. Smith, Donald W. Plungis
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Patent number: D429711Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Shahram Afshar-Ghochani
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Patent number: D429712Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Shahram Afshar-Ghochani
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Patent number: D430149Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Protel, Inc.Inventor: Shahram Afshar-Ghochani