Patents Examined by Paul Loomis
  • Patent number: 6052450
    Abstract: A method and apparatus produce a bill for usage of a telecommunications network. The system obtains from the telecommunications network a set of events on the network; provides a set of schema applicable to a set of products available to the user, the schema for processing events retrieved from the network, selects from the set of schemas, schemas applicable to the products used by the user; and applies the selected schemas to the set of events to process the events into a form ready for bill production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: British Telecommunications public limited company
    Inventors: David Stephen Allison, David Martin Hawthorne, Andrew Mairs, William George Glass
  • Patent number: 6052588
    Abstract: A method for storing and retrieving telemetry which can reduce the size of a data storage tape and the time for retrieving data by overcoming the problems in a conventional satellite control system wherein all telemetry received from a satellite are stored without being subject to a filtering operation in a hard disk or memory of a computer for a predetermined time, and when needs arise for replaying previously stored data, a tape which stores required data is first located and mounted on a driver in order to load the required data. In accordance with the method of the present invention, data is filtered with respect to a variation of each telemetry. The data is stored step by step according to the period for which data should be stored. The data which should be stored for a long term is compressed and stored as an average value, maximum value, minimum value and variance of daily data. The generation and storage of long term data are offline processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hee Sook Mo, Won Chan Jung, Kyung Sin Kim
  • Patent number: 6052560
    Abstract: A satellite system and method for facilitating communications of mobile terminal users operating in a satellite-based communications mode. In particular, the present invention is directed to a satellite system employing at least one satellite air interface standard modeled after at least one terrestrially-based, cellular air interface standard, forming a satellite/cellular mode pair such as ACeS/GSM. One or more of such pairs are utilized for communications within the satellite system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc
    Inventor: Peter D. Karabinis
  • Patent number: 6052448
    Abstract: A method for formatting CDRs to reduce storage and processing requirements within a switch or telecommunications network which formats CDRs in accordance with the disclosed techniques. A switch includes a call condense agent for collecting raw call information for calls handled thereby and a formatting agent for selecting, based upon an examination of said raw call information, an optimal data structure for formatting the raw call information and for producing a CDR by formatting said raw call information in accordance with said optimal data structure. The optimal data structure is that which best fits the raw call information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventor: William J. Janning
  • Patent number: 6049590
    Abstract: Originating instructions are generated from a functional definition of a plurality of interacting modules. These modules have respective internal functional specifications and interfacing specifications. The originating instructions are converted into control instructions that are downloaded for execution by said telecommunications switching means. Instructions are tested using testing procedures before the control instructions are downloaded. The testing procedures are generated by processing the interfacing specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Bond, Phillip William Hobson, Kevin John Twitchen
  • Patent number: 6047074
    Abstract: A digital hearing aid is employable for tinnitus therapy, as well as for retraining tinnitus therapy, in combination with correction of other hearing impairments of a user of the hearing aid. For this purpose, the hearing aid contains a signal processing chain, between a hearing aid input and a hearing aid output, which is responsible for producing a useful signal by acting on the input signal in a manner to correct the hearing impairment of a user of the hearing aid. The signal processing chain also includes an arrangement for generating a tinnitus therapy signal, which is combined in the signal processing chain with the useful signal, dependent on a mode of operation which has been selected or set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventors: Fred Zoels, Ullrich Sigwanz, Inga Holube, Raimund Martin
  • Patent number: 6047051
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the implementation of charging in a telecommunications system including customer terminals used by customers for ordering services and servers for providing services to customers. In order to implement the charging of services easily especially in a multimedia environment, at least one separate billing server is used in the network so that each customer terminal has a dedicated billing server. A contract message is sent to the customer terminal stating that the customer must make a contract on the selected service, and the customer's acceptance of the contract is sent from the customer terminal to the billing server in the network. The billing servers of the network are used for transferring charging records to the billing system so that the transfer of the charging record(s) concerning the selected service involves at least one billing server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
    Inventors: Philip Ginzboorg, Jan-Erik Ekberg, Antti Yla-Jaaski
  • Patent number: 6047178
    Abstract: A method of providing direct communication between a pair of mobile stations over a single voice channel is disclosed, as well as a novel mobile station equipped with the capability to function in a so-called base-station-emulation (BSE) mode. A mobile switching center (MSC) first determines whether direct communication between two mobile stations is possible, by verifying that at least one of them can function in BSE mode. The MSC then establishes whether a clear radio link between the two mobile stations can be established and assigns a single voice channel for the conversation. In this way, the number of base station transceivers required to service a cell can be reduced. If the locations of the two mobile stations are known, feasibility of direct communication can be easily determined. Optionally, the MSC might order the two mobile stations to exchange modulated audio tones and report measured received signal strengths. Direct communication is then established subject to an evaluation by the MSC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Frlan
  • Patent number: 6047061
    Abstract: A telecommunications system includes an access terminal coupled to subscriber lines, a local exchange carrier (LEC) network, and a channel unit card coupling the access terminal to the LEC network. The channel unit card includes a processor configured to convert call processing signals received from the LEC network and formatted according to a protocol used by the LEC network to a message-oriented signal whose format is independent of the protocol used by the LEC network. The message-oriented signal then can be delivered to the access terminal. The channel unit card processor is further configured to convert message-oriented signals representing call processing communications received from the access terminal and having a format independent of a protocol recognized by the LEC network to one or more signals formatted according to the protocol recognized by the LEC network. The signals converted to the format recognized by the LEC network then can be routed to the LEC network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Alcatel USA Sourcing LP
    Inventors: Martin P. J. Cornes, Keith W. Herndon, Christopher James Koath
  • Patent number: 6047052
    Abstract: A data collection method and system is provided, by which blank time due to a time lag is not generated and a call probability to be broadcast can be calculated based on the number of potentially calling terminals which was counted as recently as possible. In the method, the center broadcasts to terminals a call probability and a control ID number which is increased by one for each broadcast. Each terminal calls up the center based on the received probability value, and if calling up, the terminal informs the center of terminal data and the received ID number. The center manages the probability value and the number of received calls for each ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakai, Katsumi Kishida, Tomoki Watanabe, Kouichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6047045
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for testing a telephone data interface system. The telephone data interface is tested by reading one or more data records, connecting to the telephone data interface system, connecting the telephone data interface system to a external system emulator, sending one or more messages using the one or more data records to the telephone data interface system, formatting the one or more data records into one or more formatted messages that are compatible with the external system emulator, sending the one or more formatted messages to the external system emulator, and processing the one or more formatted messages. The present invention also provides a testing system comprising a test data source, a telephone data interface, an external system emulator, a first communications link connecting the test data source to the telephone data interface system, and a second communications link connecting the telephone data interface system to the external system emulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Deborah Bauer, Ross Edward Button, Mike Cavanagh, Susan Jane McQuigge Ernst, Kevin Germann, Ralph Holmes, Samuel S. Howlette, William Kalyn, Steve Sauve, Francis Cornelius Sommers
  • Patent number: 6047049
    Abstract: The audio system attachable to furniture located in a kitchen, living room, bed room or office is disclosed. The system includes the digital clock, audio, telephone, interphone, voice recording, indoor broadcasting and air cleaning functions. Accordingly, the user can relieve the tedium of housekeeping labor by listening to the audio system, and make the telephone call and interphone call while at work without moving to the telephone and interphone. The user can directly record the telephone conversation while he or she is on the phone, and record a voice message to be transmitted to the family when he or she goes out. The user can call the family in the house using the indoor broadcasting function. It is possible to rapidly effectively clean the polluted air and the various smell generated in the kitchen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Costel Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gong Huyn Yoo
  • Patent number: 6044139
    Abstract: A coin receptacle for use with a locking coin receptacle cover and for use within a pay telephone. The coin receptacle comprises a molded one-piece plastic (polycarbonate) receptacle body having a bottom and four sides extending therefrom. The four sides define a top opening adapted to be covered by a coin receptacle cover. The receptacle body includes slots and a tang for releasably retaining the receptacle cover. The receptacle body further comprises a pull for facilitating removal of the coin receptacle from a pay telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Quadrum Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Michael Faes
  • Patent number: 6044163
    Abstract: A hearing aid has an input transducer, an amplifier and transmission circuit, an output transducer and a calculating unit working according to the principle of a neural structure. The calculating unit responds to a tap signal taken at the amplifier and transmission circuit and units an event signal that is supplied to the amplifier and transmission circuit and influences an output signal emitted thereby. At least the calculating unit is implemented in digital circuit technology. Such a hearing aid can be manufactured with little development and circuit outlay, works reliably and enables an optimum matching to the specific requirements of the hearing aid user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Weinfurtner
  • Patent number: 6041228
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a vendor- and version-independent information model that a cellular telephone base station can use to communicate its capabilities in a plug and play fashion to a network element is disclosed. The information model can also be used to communicate configuration information back to the base station from the network element. The capabilities and configuration information is automatically communicated and utilized, thus reducing the possibility of human operator error in configuring and pre-configuring new or modified base station equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: H.ang.kan Niska, Bo Kvarnstrom, Jan Oom
  • Patent number: 6041131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hearing aid receiver (10) having a coil (12) with a tunnel (14) therethrough, a magnetic structure (16) having a central magnetic gap (18), an armature (20), and a fluid (30, 32) with a viscosity greater than air to provide shock protection to the receiver (10). The tunnel (14) and the magnetic gap (18) collectively form an armature aperture (28). The armature (20) extends through the armature aperture (28). The fluid (30, 32) lies within the armature aperture (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Ray Kirchhoefer, Thomas Edward Miller, Paris Tsangaris
  • Patent number: 6041231
    Abstract: In a mobile communication system of this embodiment, when a terminal device starts communications using a system that does not register the terminal device, it transmits a temporary use registration request to an exchange apparatus after it confirms based on message information from the exchange apparatus that use registration is permitted. Upon reception of the temporary use registration request, the exchange apparatus authenticates the request source terminal device, and thereafter, supplies the terminal identification number of the own system to the terminal device. In addition, the exchange apparatus stores the supplied terminal identification number in correspondence with the home terminal identification number of the request source terminal device, so as to process incoming/outgoing traffic or calls associated with the terminal device on the basis of the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hirokazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6041217
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement on a handset for monitoring changes in the system parameters of a personal handyphone system by hardware checking the broadcasting reception indication (BRI) pattern. The circuit arrangement includes a memory portion for storing the previous BRI pattern received at the circuit arrangement, and an interrupt generator for comparing the stored previous BRI pattern with a current BRI pattern and for generating an interrupt to activate the handset processor when the previous BRI pattern differs from the current BRI pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Varenka Martin, Denis Archambaud, Patrick Feyfant, Philippe Gaglione, Satoshi Yoshida, Laurent Winckel, Oliver Weigelt
  • Patent number: 6041107
    Abstract: A computer integrated telephony system embodied in a PC that includes a telephony interface connected to the local loop that detects whether one or more extension phones are off-hook by using the signal generating and detection capabilities found on a typical telephony interface card. In the preferred embodiment, the telephony interface is based on a programmable DSP that generates and injects onto the local loop a subsonic signal having a known shape and amplitude. If one or more extensions are off-hook, the amplitude of the subsonic signal detected on the line will be significantly attenuated. The amplitude of the detected signal is compared against a threshold value and an indication is made if the detected signal amplitude is below the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Jones, Greig R. Detering
  • Patent number: 6041105
    Abstract: An external adapter circuitry is plugged into the printer port of a host computer to provide the utility of computer telephony for the host computer. The circuitry is housed in a compact box which is about the size of a common parallel port connector. The circuitry consists of a telephone line interface for receiving and sending signals from/to the telephone line; a printer port interface for sending data to and receiving data from the host computer; a couple of registers for latching signal-in and signal-out; a A/D converter for converting analog signals to digital signals; and a D/A converter for converting digitized signals to analog signals. More specially, the electricity of the entire circuitry is supplied from a signal-to-power converter which obtains voltages from the printer port. Therefore, the external adapter circuitry does not need a power line for external power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Umax Data Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Yu Wu, Ching-Piao Su