Patents Assigned to SBC Knowledge Ventures
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AN ASYMMETRIC TRANSPORT NETWORK
    Publication number: 20080080391
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting an asymmetric transport network is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element having a number of bidirectional switching cards each logically reconfigured as at least one among ingress and egress switching elements for transporting asymmetric unidirectional packet traffic. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: CHENG-HONG HU, KUO-HUI LIU
  • Integrated mobile phone ring scheduler
    Patent number: 7353047
    Abstract: A mobile telephone comprises a ringer to provide an audible alert of an incoming telephone call. The mobile telephone has a ringer schedule interface to receive a ringer control schedule. The ringer control schedule indicates times at which a parameter of the ringer is to change. The mobile telephone further comprises an integrated ringer controller to automatically change the parameter of the ringer according to the ringer control schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventor: Martha Karen Boyd
  • System and method for billing for video content
    Publication number: 20080077950
    Abstract: Methods and systems of billing for video content are disclosed. The methods include determining a viewing duration. The viewing duration includes an amount of time that a device displays or has access to display video content. The method also includes determining a billing rate for the viewing duration. The billing rate includes a cost per unit of time. The method also includes generating a billing record including the viewing duration and the billing rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LP
    Inventors: Richard Burke, Canhui Ou, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen A. Sposato
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING INTERNET CONTENT
    Publication number: 20080071792
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing Internet content is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet content manager (ICM) having a computing element that monitors Internet content supplied to subscribers of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) by one or more Internet content providers according to a process established by the ISP to certify said Internet content of the one or more Internet content providers. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: ZHI LI, RAGHVENDRA SAVOOR
  • METHOD FOR PROVISIONING A TERMINAL DEVICE IN A MULTI-USER SETTING
    Publication number: 20080069323
    Abstract: A method for provisioning a terminal device in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a provisioning element that selectively establishes a telephony usage profile for each of a plurality of users sharing the terminal device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: EDWARD WALTER, LARRY B. PEARSON
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ABSTRACTING TELEPHONY FUNCTIONS
    Publication number: 20080072148
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for abstracting telephony functions is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a User Interface (UI) element that presents a plurality of Graphical User Interface (GUI) elements that abstract a corresponding plurality of telephony functions, and a telephony element that initiates a telephony process in response to a selection by an end user of the terminal device of two or more of the plurality of GUI elements to form a combined telephony function. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: EDWARD WALTER, LARRY B. PEARSON
  • Shared Usage Telecommunications Billing System and Method
    Publication number: 20080069324
    Abstract: A telecommunications billing system includes a customer database, a usage database and a billing module. The customer database is configured to store subscription data identifying a pricing plan including an allotment of shared telecommunication units in connection with at least one of a first telecommunications service and a second telecommunications service. The usage database is configured to store a first set of telecommunications service usage data associated with the first telecommunications service and a second set of telecommunications service usage data associated with the second telecommunications service. The billing module is configured to calculate excess charges when a cumulative usage that includes a sum of the first set of telecommunications service usage data and the second set of telecommunications service usage data exceeds the allotment of shared telecommunications units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Guy Bevente, Michael Paquette, Gregg Koeppen, Douglas Moran, Danny Roper, Kimberly Wolken, Jennifer Anderson
  • Apparatuses having spool assembly for absorbing jumper slack
    Publication number: 20080069510
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a trough for routing jumpers along a surface of the trough. The apparatus further includes a spool assembly having a spool supported on a mount. The mount has an adhesive surface. The adhesive surface is attached to the trough surface to attach the spool to the trough such that the spool stores slack of jumpers routed along the trough surface upon the jumpers being wrapped around the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Weinert, Michael Yeilding
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING VOICEMAIL MESSAGES IN A MULTI-USER SETTING
    Publication number: 20080069316
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing voicemail messages in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Call Processing System (CPS) having a processing element that receives a redirected call initiated by a calling party attempting to communicate with at least one among a plurality of users sharing one or more terminal devices associated with a targeted communication identifier, presents the calling party an option to select one or more among the plurality of users, and directs the calling party to a voicemail system for storing a voicemail message in one or more voicemail accounts associated with the one or more users selected. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: EDWARD WALTER, LARRY B. PEARSON
  • System, computer readable medium and method for multi-tiered data access
    Patent number: 7346756
    Abstract: A system, computer readable medium, and method for multi-tiered data access. The method includes the steps of determining a first search parameter and a second search parameter in response to an operator initiated command, determining a physical location of a data unit corresponding to the first search parameter, identifying a data member corresponding to the second search parameter, and outputting the data member to an operator interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Andre Fuetsch, Baofeng Jiang, Jerold Osato, Mengfeng Tsai, Xidong Wu
  • Intelligently providing dialup access numbers using an automated voice response system
    Patent number: 7346152
    Abstract: A method for an automated voice response system to present access numbers to dial-up Internet users. The automated voice response system can perform the step of establishing a telephony communication with a party responsive to a received telephone call from the party. An indicator a service region within which dial-up Internet access is requested can be received by the automated voice response system. At least one data store can be queried for access numbers associated with the service region. A response to the querying step can be dynamically generated. The generated response can be customized specifically for the telephony communication. When the response includes at least one access number, the included access number or numbers can be presented to the party across the telephone communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Jonathan Paden, Bobby Sams, Kurt M. Joseph, Wei Li
  • System and method of distributing multimedia content
    Publication number: 20080066126
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for enhanced multimedia distribution. The method can include displaying a multimedia selection at a display device coupled to a first receiver of a video distribution system, where the multimedia selection is determined by a user of a second receiver. A multimedia device can include a user interface module to receive a command from a first user to accept a channel selection of a second user. An indication of an attribute of multimedia content associated with a channel selected at a multimedia device can be received from a server having a channel content guide and stored to a database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LP
    Inventors: Edward Walter, Thomas H. Adams, Michael Thomas Raftelis
  • System and method of displaying system content
    Publication number: 20080066137
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of providing system information. The method can include sending system content to display concurrently with video content on a display device. The video content may be associated with a last selected channel of a set-top box prior to a trigger event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LP
    Inventors: Ross Cox, Roland Noll, Mary McCarthy, Scott Pettit, Christopher Lee
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING QUALITY INFORMATION IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20080062887
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting quality information in a communication system is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a controlling element for processing Voice over IP (VoIP) data exchanged with a communication system, and a display element that presents one or more quality indicators adjusted according to quality information retrieved from the VoIP data. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.
    Inventors: Satish Parolkar, Anil Doradla
  • Method and apparatus for sending stored advertising data from an internet protocol television end user network interface device
    Publication number: 20080066096
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for sending stored IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network end user network interface device. The method includes receiving the IPTV advertisement data from an IPTV network server at the IPTV end user network interface device; storing the IPTV advertisement data in a memory of the IPTV network end user network interface device; determining at the IPTV network end user network interface device whether an IPTV subscription is active for the IPTV network end user device; and sending the advertisement data from the IPTV network device to a client device for display when the IPTV subscription is not active for the IPTV end user network interface device. The system includes a processor, memory and instruction for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventors: Steven M. Wollmershauser, William R. Hurst
  • AMA Access Over Local Audit Analysis (AAOLA)
    Publication number: 20080063164
    Abstract: A system of evaluating automatic message accounting records associated with telephony calls is disclosed. The system includes correlation logic to collect originating AMA records having an originating call code to identify a record of an originating long distance call and further to collect terminating AMA records that correspond to the collected originating automatic message accounting records. The system also includes evaluation logic to determine when a call may be by-passing terminating access charges by identifying calls that have been correlated with an originating AMA record having the originating code and with a terminating AMA record having a local termination code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Frederick Armanino, Carol Mingst, George McLain, David Kimble, John Estes
  • Method and system for conditionally invoking an IMS service
    Publication number: 20080063176
    Abstract: A pushed value associated with a party is received by a telephone network element. The pushed value is a function of a plurality of pushed values associated with the party. An incoming call for the party is received after receiving the pushed value. An Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service for the incoming call is conditionally invoked based on the pushed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LP
    Inventors: Christopher J. Strieter, Stephen W. Gevers
  • System and method of voting via an interactive television system
    Publication number: 20080061142
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method of voting via an interactive television system. In a particular embodiment, the method includes identifying data embedded within video content sent to a set-top box device via an access network of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system, the data indicating a voting event related to the video content. The method also includes sending data related to a voting indicator to the set-top box device, wherein the voting indicator includes a selectable indicator of an option to cast a vote related to the video content. The method also includes determining whether payment information is required in order to accept a vote related to the video content. The method also includes sending data related to a voting interface to the set-top box device and receiving a voting selection from the set-top box device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, LP
    Inventors: Jerald Robert Howcroft, Kathy Goode Piatt
  • Agent call flow monitoring and evaluation
    Publication number: 20080063178
    Abstract: Agent performance is monitored. Multiple segments of a first communications session are monitored based on corresponding triggers that trigger the monitoring of the multiple segments. Characteristic data of the multiple segments is obtained. The characteristic data of the first communications session and characteristic data of a second communications session are grouped. The characteristic data of the first communications session is subject to common evaluation with the characteristic data of the second communications session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Jonathan Paden, Jon Harris, Matthew A. Dixon, Kurt Joseph
  • Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone apparatus and communications systems for carrying VoIP traffic
    Patent number: 7342920
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone apparatus and a communication system for carrying VoIP traffic. In a particular embodiment, the VoIP telephone apparatus includes an encoder and decoder module responsive to a handset of the VoIP telephone apparatus, a data processor responsive to the encoder and decoder module, a point to point over Ethernet (PPPoE) client software module responsive to the data processor; a memory to store PPPoE session information, and a PPPoE function key that is used to launch a PPPoE communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Goangshiuan Shawn Ying, Eugene L. Edmon, Steve M. Aspell