Patents Examined by Bing Q. Bui
  • Patent number: 7369650
    Abstract: A system for service control and operations for a telecommunications network. In particular, an architecture and method for a service control and operations element system. The system communicates with a plurality of interconnected telecommunications network elements via a switching and signaling subsystem. The system provides and controls the various functions of the telecommunications network, such as call processing and routing, automatic fault detection and correction, providing services to customers in an interactive manner, fraud detection and control, identification of patterns of abuse of the network, collecting data regarding call activity at each network element, and producing a record of each call placed within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Gurcharan S. Bhusri
  • Patent number: 7305081
    Abstract: Signaling messages are exchanged for a call between a calling party to a called party. A setup message for the call is exchanged through at least one gate controller. Network resources are reserved for the call based on the exchanged setup messages. An end-to-end message for the call is exchanged without the end-to-end message being routed through the at least one gate controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Charles Robert Kalmanek, Jr., William Todd Marshall, Partho Pratim Mishra, Douglas M. Nortz, Kadangode K. Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7289622
    Abstract: A method including receiving a call connection request message having a prefix number and determining a corresponding IP address based on the prefix number. Then, assigning a label based on the corresponding IP address. Further, routing the call connection request message based on the label. An apparatus implementing the method described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Liesenberg
  • Patent number: 7263182
    Abstract: In operational environments where local loop generation equipment is used, communication interruptions between a central office and a customer premises device is minimized by using a dedicated communications link between the local loop generation equipment and the central office. A processing mechanism at the central office determines if, when, and under what circumstances the customer premises device will be notified in response to the activation of local loop generation equipment. This eliminates the need to place local loop generation equipment in series with a communications path that runs between the central office and the customer premises. The central office may provide the dedicated communications link in the form of a telephone line which is equipped to place outgoing local calls, but not equipped to receive incoming calls, and not equipped to place long-distance calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Verizon Services Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Allen, Douglas R. Jones, Daniel J. O'Callaghan
  • Patent number: 7263181
    Abstract: A telephony system (100) is disclosed as including a number of telephone sets (116a-116f), a home server (110), a fingerprint scanner (102), a keypad (104), a smart card reader (106), and such other identification devices which are adapted to detect the occurrence of location-related events relating to users of the system (100), and the home server (110) is adapted to assess, on the basis of occurrence of the location-related events, the respective probability of the users being in the vicinity of each of the telephone sets (116a-116f). There is also disclosed a method of operating a telephony system (100), including providing a number of telephone sets (116a-116f); providing a home server (110); detecting the occurrence of location-related events relating to users of the system (100 ); and assessing the respective probability of the users being in the vicinity of each of the telephone sets (116a-116f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Intexact Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Hau Leung Stephen Chung
  • Patent number: 7260204
    Abstract: The multifunction machine which functions as a telephone terminal equipment requests a connection to an Internet terminal equipment evoked from a transfer operation while the multifunction machine is connected to a telephone terminal equipment. The multifunction machine can be connected to the Internet terminal equipment if this Internet terminal equipment responds to the request. After the multifunction machine is connected to the both terminal equipments, an audio call among three parties; the multifunction machine, the telephone and Internet terminal equipments can be achieved with input/output sound corresponding to audio signals input/output between the multifunction machine and the respective terminal equipments from a telephone transmitter/receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Chida, Shozo Kabeya, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7260202
    Abstract: A method for providing a wait-time service in a telecommunications network and a telecommunications system, comprising user terminals connected to a network via radio path. When a terminal user must wait for a requested service from the service provider, this is often indicated by a queue tone, a busy tone, or a piece of music, depending on the terminal used. The objective of this invention is, on the one hand, to avoid compressing and coding messages, such as a piece of music, and on the other hand, to avoid wasting a lot of spectrum. This objective is achieved by offering a new service by means of which it is possible to start and execute a wait-time service at the terminal of the user when the requested connection is not available immediately. However, the wait-time service can be provided in fixed networks, too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Maarit Laanti
  • Patent number: 7260200
    Abstract: A system to enable detection of a response of a communications system to timed interruption of communications includes a computer that transmits and receives signals using at least one communication path and a device that disables the communications path based on a control signal. The control signal instructs an intended interruption in communications in the communications path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Richard Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7260205
    Abstract: Alerting an intended recipient of a phone call includes identifying an account based on a phone call received from a caller and accessing configuration data related to the account. The configuration data is used to identify an identity associated with the ccount. One or more external online service provider systems are queried across a network to determine whether the identity is available to receive an electronic communication associated with the phone call. The electronic communication associated with the phone call is sent across the network to the one or more external online service provider systems conditioned on whether the identity is determined to be available to receive the electronic communication. The one or more external online service provider systems send the electronic communication to the identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Vaughan Murphy, Bradford L. Spencer
  • Patent number: 7257396
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method for collecting, storing and time-stamping telematics data. A programmable logic control unit is described that is connected to one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle to capture, time-stamp and store telematics data. And, upon the happening of a triggering event, time-stamped telematics data is transferred from the control until to an external device via wireless or other communications methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: John Olsen, David Bradley, Rhesa Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7257211
    Abstract: At least one MULAP line in a communication installation is controlled and/or monitored using an application. To simplify the combination of MULAP lines and CTI applications, or to allow it at all, each MULAP line has an associated MULAP call number, and a plurality of terminals can access these MULAP lines, each of the MULAP lines having a respective associated terminal as master terminal. First, the application sends an order for a MULAP call number to the communication installation. The communication installation then converts the MULAP call number into the terminal call number of the master terminal associated with this MULAP line and carries out the order for this terminal call number, all messages relating to MULAP line being sent as those associated with the master terminal from the communication installation to the application as messages associated with this MULAP call number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Luc Crevits, Freddy De Clercq
  • Patent number: 7248686
    Abstract: A system and method of routing calls made to a called party Universal Access Phone Number (UAPN) in a telecommunications network is provided. The method includes determining the time the call is made, determining the day the call is made, selecting a time/day-phone number for a destination phone number based on the time the call is made and the day the call is made, and routing the call to the called party terminal using the destination phone number. The system selects a time/day-phone number for a destination phone number based on the time the call is made and the day the call is made, and routes the call to the called party terminal using the destination phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjeev Mahajan, Deborah Lewandowski Barclay, David S. Benco, Thomas Lee McRoberts, Raymond Leroy Ruggerio
  • Patent number: 7248685
    Abstract: Three-way call detection is an important component of correctional facility telephone equipment because it helps restrict calling access by certain persons to certain restricted telephone numbers. Various three-way call detection methods exist, but all of these implementations suffer from one major limitation-the detection accuracy is not as high as is desired by the industry. The present invention improves detection accuracy, using “steganography.” Steganography involves hiding one set of data or signals within another signal or carrier in such a way that its presence is typically imperceptible to the human ear, and potential even the originator of the carrier signal. The present invention involves a device that connects to a telephone, either at the line or the handset interfaces, and produces a known signal that is steganographically hidden within the user's normal voice signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Inmate Telephone, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Martin
  • Patent number: 7245907
    Abstract: In the mobile communication terminal remote control system, when the control unit of a mobile communication terminal judges that remote control data sent from a remote control device such as a portable telephone or a personal computer is consistent with remote control data previously stored in a first storage part of the mobile communication terminal, desired information to be concealed which is stored in a second storage part of the mobile communication terminal is masked. Therefore, the desired information to be concealed is protected under remote control. This remote control is performed through a mail transmission/reception function provided as a standard function on the mobile communication terminal such as a portable telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichi Numata
  • Patent number: 7245884
    Abstract: An RF module includes a multi-layered substrate. A base-band IC, a memory IC, a quartz oscillator and surface-mount components are mounted on the upper surface of the multi-layered substrate. A metallic cap also is attached to the upper surface of the multi-layered substrate. A cavity is formed in the lower surface of the multi-layered substrate substantially at the center thereof. A first RF-IC and a second RF-IC are embedded in the cavity. Wiring patterns for providing connections between the base-band IC and the memory IC, through-holes, RF passive components, and the shield ground electrode pattern are disposed inside of the multi-layered substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Oida, Takahiro Watanabe, Eigoro Ina, Norio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7245715
    Abstract: Phone systems for an integrated chat client service are provided. A representative phone system includes a call processing system operable to check a chat server for accessibility of a calling party chat client associated with a calling party and coupled to the internet, the call processing system being further operable to prompt a called party to select to talk or chat. Methods to connect telephone calls and answer telephone calls are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Gao, David Scott
  • Patent number: 7242756
    Abstract: The present invention provides a caller with an arbitrary sound chosen by a called subscriber instead of a conventional RBT (RingBack Tone) without fails even in a flexible paging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Hyeok Hahm, Ki Mun Kim, Sang Yun Lee, Yeong Tee No
  • Patent number: 7242757
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing an arbitrary sound chosen by a called subscriber for a caller instead of a conventional RBT (RingBack Tone).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Hyeok Hahm, Ki Mun Kim, Sang Yun Lee, Yeong Tae No, Jae Young Park
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7236583
    Abstract: A method for optimizing a workload of an agent of the transaction processing system is disclosed, where the agent handles inbound and outbound calls and the calls are based on voice-dialog communication and/or text-dialog communication. The method includes obtaining historical data from a database based on a category of a current call handled by the agent, where the historical data provides an indication of an expected duration of the call. The method also includes determining a predicted end time of the current call. If an inbound call is pending, the inbound call is routed to the agent after the current call terminates. If an inbound call is not pending, then an outbound call number is obtained from a list of outbound call numbers to be placed, the outbound call is placed a determined amount of time prior to the predicted end time of the current call, and the outbound call is routed to the agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Electronic Commerce Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert P. Beckstrom, Eric James