Patents Assigned to SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
  • System and method of providing television ratings information
    Publication number: 20070157221
    Abstract: A system and method of providing television ratings information is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes determining aggregated audience data associated with a program carried over a channel. The aggregated audience data is collected from a number of set-top box devices associated with a multicast group of the channel. The method also includes receiving a request for real-time ratings information from a set-top box device and transmitting the real-time ratings information to the set-top box device. The real-time ratings information includes the aggregated audience data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Canhui Ou, Peter Wong
  • System and method for identifying redirected calls
    Patent number: 7239690
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system for identifying redirected calls that includes a service switch point and a service control point. The service switch point is coupled to a communications network. The service switch point is configured to receive a call termination request that indicates call redirection. The service control point is coupled to the service switch point and is configured to direct the service switch point to utilize a distinctive ring in response to receiving the call termination request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Larry B. Pearson, Diana Tiliks, John W. Moss, Barbara Allyn Vozar, Robert Carl Hager
  • Automated method to ensure network route diversity
    Publication number: 20070150177
    Abstract: Routing diversity is evaluated. Utility line route mapping coordinates are obtained for a first utility line route and a second utility line route. At least one utility line route mapping coordinate of the first utility line route is compared with at least one utility line route mapping coordinate of the second utility line route, to obtain at least one comparison result. The at least one comparison result is evaluated for route diversity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Smith, Charles Esser
  • Network assessment and short-term planning procedure
    Publication number: 20070147264
    Abstract: A method for predicting node blockage in a telecommunications network includes determining an aggregated load on a network node and determining a current level of blockage on the node. A demand on the node is projected based on the determined aggregated load. A level of blockage of the node is then projected based on the projected demand and the determined current level of blockage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Ali Zolfaghari, Christine Bouamalay, Miguel Molina, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen Sowell, Ronald Crawford
  • Carrier interoperability for critical services
    Publication number: 20070150615
    Abstract: A system processes communication path requests in an autonomous system. The system includes a proxy server that receives a request message from an external system requesting establishment of a communication path through the autonomous system. The request message includes a desired communication path profile including a desired level of redundancy. The system also includes a management server in the autonomous system that receives the request message from the proxy server, generates a response message indicating whether a communication path corresponding to the desired communication path profile is available, and sends the response message to the proxy server. The proxy server receives the response message and transmits the response message to the external system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Michael Raftelis
  • Last mile high availability broadband (method for sending network content over a last-mile broadband connection)
    Publication number: 20070147234
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a method transmitting a network content, comprising: receiving a first data stream of a network content over a first link; forming a second and third data streams from the first data stream; sending the second data stream over a second link and the third data stream over a third link; and aggregating the second and third data streams to form the first data stream. In the present method, the first data stream may be split or load-balanced over the second and third data streams. The method further provides pulling packets from the second and third data streams; discarding duplicate packets; and assembling the remaining packets according to a protocol sequence number. The method also provides for monitoring links and for switching the data stream from a link that may be degraded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Yolius Diroo, Michael Raft
  • Synchronous optical network (SONET) demarcation device
    Publication number: 20070147259
    Abstract: A synchronous optical network (SONET) demarcation device can be placed on a customer premises to enable remote testing and trouble shooting of customer premises equipment. The device includes a SONET signal analyzer that extracts SONET data, such as section, line and path overhead. The SONET demarcation device also includes a SONET fault condition, performance statistics, and alarm generator that generates fault conditions, performance statistics, and alarms based upon the extracted SONET data. The device also includes a transmitter that transmits the alarm and/or performance data to a remote site. The SONET demarcation device does not include ring functionality and/or multiplexing functionality, thus being lower in cost than a SONET multiplexer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventor: Barbara Smith
  • Network access device
    Publication number: 20070147420
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and apparatus for providing a network service, such as Frame Relay. The apparatus transmits the service to the network utilizing a G.SHDSL transmission standard; converts data between data utilizing a DS-1 transmission standard and data utilizing a G.SHDSL transmission standard; stores a parameter relating to the network service (e.g., bandwidth); and provides access to the parameter to the network. The apparatus further includes a database for storing the parameters relating to the network service, and a processor for running a program, such as an emulator, to convert the data. The processor also may set an operation in response to a signal received from the network, including synchronizing a clock in the apparatus with a network clock, changing a bandwidth of the apparatus, and upgrading a computer program at the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventor: Douglas Dean
  • System and method for configuring a packet-switched network based on a network quality survey
    Publication number: 20070143453
    Abstract: A method is presented for configuring a packet-switched network. The method provides for emulating a variable quality of service for the network and collecting survey data for the variable quality of service. In another embodiment a system is presented for configuring a packet-switched network based on quality of service survey data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventor: Alexander Huang
  • Method for providing quality-of-service based services in a packet network
    Publication number: 20070140113
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for providing a service in a packet-switched network at a selected Quality of Service (QoS) level. The method includes receiving a request for a service from a customer gateway at server connected to the packet-switched network; correlating the requested service to available network resources; and enabling the network to provide the requested service based on a result of the correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventor: Steven Gemelos
  • Method and apparatus for a telephone user interface control for enabling and disabling a web interface
    Patent number: 7233648
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to activate or deactivate a web interface to a voicemail system through a telephone user interface to the voicemail system. During a setup procedure that runs on the first use of the telephone user interface, the method and apparatus asks the subscriber if the subscriber wants the web interface activated. The method and apparatus then activates the web interface and allows the subscriber to specify a sequence of both digits and letters as the subscriber's initial web password and username. The present invention also provides the capability to activate or deactivate the web interface via the telephone user interface at any time after the initialization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventor: Larry B. Pearson
  • Frame having offset inner door section
    Patent number: 7231124
    Abstract: A frame includes a cabinet, a door, and a bracket. The cabinet has an opened front face. The door has a door frame and an inner door section. The door frame is connected to the cabinet for the door to open and close relative to the front face of the cabinet. The bracket connects the inner door section to the door frame such that the inner door section is offset from the front face of the cabinet by a separation distance and covers the front face of the cabinet from the separation distance when the door is closed. The bracket has a sufficient length such that the separation distance between the inner door section and the front face of the cabinet when the door is closed permits fiber optic components to extend through the front face of the cabinet without being compressed by the inner door section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Weinert
  • Method and system for directly interconnecting a TDM PBX to a voice mail system
    Publication number: 20070127662
    Abstract: A method is presented for routing a call from a PBX to a voice mailbox on a communication platform wherein a call is received from an originating device at the PBX and the PBX is associated with a voice mail box on a communication platform. A redirecting number associated with the PBX is assigned to an ISDN message set-up string. The call is forwarded to the communication platform along with the ISDN set-up string information. After verification against a subscriber database, the forwarded call, including related ISDN information is delivered to the communication platform voice mail box server for storage and further processing. The redirecting number may represent the voice mail box identifier, and for increased security and privacy, the voice mail box may be different from the number for the PBX extension from which the voice and data messages are received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventor: Glen Morehead
  • System and method for bulk network data collection
    Publication number: 20070130322
    Abstract: A system and method for bulk data collection for multiple network elements is provided. The method includes initiating a session between a data collection server and a network server, maintaining a correlation between a plurality of queries and a corresponding plurality of network elements, and concurrently sending the plurality of queries over the initiated session to collect data from the network server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventors: Keith Cambron, Baofeng Jiang, Xidong Wu, Jim Otsuka
  • Dynamic electronic rating and ranking system
    Publication number: 20070130204
    Abstract: A computer rates applicants to different business relationship programs. For an application of a company to a business relationship program, the computer receives a program value, company information values and company sales values, and determines a rating value based thereon. Potentially different rating formulas are associated with the different business relationship programs. The computer may determine the rating value by processing the company information values and the company sales values according to a rating formula associated with the program value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Seelig, Seth Merriman, Bilal Muzaffar
  • Method and system of creating customized ringtones
    Publication number: 20070129114
    Abstract: Method and system of customizing ringtones. The method and system including features to facilitate synthesizing a sample recording and converting the synthesized sample recording to a customized ringtone suitable for use with a phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Nalesh Chandra
  • Network element recovery process
    Publication number: 20070121487
    Abstract: A method for recovering circuits of a network element in a communications network includes determining a recovery interval in response to a failure occurring in the network element, and collecting recovery data relating to at least one circuit provisioned in the network element during the recovery interval to support a network service. The recovery data includes identification data and provisioning data. A connection with the network element is established based on the identification data, and the circuit is reprovisioned based on the provisioning data. The method may also include detecting whether an error occurred while reprovisioning the circuit, and logging any detected errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy Klos, John Vallely, Cynthia Green, Randall Leet, Gary Martens, Craig Milloshewski
  • System and method for automated double-ended field management of DSL service
    Publication number: 20070121520
    Abstract: A system and method to perform double-ended measurements of a network is provided. The system includes a test device that makes measurements at the customer end and a portable computing device that interfaces with the test device, a customer gateway and database at a network location to analyze the data and determine a performance metric of the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventors: Kapil Shrikhande, Raghvendra Savoor, Xidong Wu, Jin Wang, John Slyke, Richard Hart
  • System and method of routing data packets
    Publication number: 20070121588
    Abstract: A system and method of routing data packets is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a first Internet Protocol (IP) data packet at a first access port of an access line card within a data router. The method also includes transmitting the first IP data packet from the first access port to a network line card within the data router, via a first trunk port of the access line card. The first access port is coupled to the first trunk port and not coupled to at least one other access port. The method further includes receiving a second IP data packet at a second trunk port of the access line card from the network line card. In addition, the method includes transmitting the second IP data packet from the second trunk port to a second access port of the access line card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Wenge Chen, Yetik Serbest, Stephanie Karasick, Eric Puetz
  • Second-order hubbing-and-grooming constrained by demand categories
    Publication number: 20070116008
    Abstract: An end-to-end demand between a pair of nodes of a telecommunication network is determined is categorized into a category based on hub assignments for the nodes. A route for the end-to-end demand in the telecommunication network is determined using a hubbing-and-grooming algorithm. The hubbing-and-grooming algorithm constrains which one or more links are eligible to be considered in determining the route based on the category of the end-to-end demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Miguel Molina, Christine Bouamalay, Ali Zolfaghari