Patents by Inventor Alan R. Blackburn

Alan R. Blackburn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7933390
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that allow for the exchange of voice mail messages between different VMSs of different service providers and/or in different networks by the transmission of such messages through a data network using a standard protocol of the data network. Methods and systems also are disclosed that validate message transactions among subscribers receiving regional messaging services over the PSTN. The subscribers are located in different geographic areas and may be provided their voice, facsimile or data messaging services by different companies. The present invention validates passing messages (data) among customers of potentially different companies located in different areas by assessing the validity of the transaction in light of a number of conditions, including applicable regulatory or business conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Neil Gilmartin, Maria Adamczyk, Navneet Patel, N. Peter Hill, Gary J. Leonard, Alan R. Blackburn, Robert E. Braudes, Gary Lamothe, Ann V. McLaughlin, Donald H. Barstow, Doug Varney, Joel Brand
  • Patent number: 7646856
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that allow for the exchange of voice mail messages between different VMSs of different service providers and/or in different networks by the transmission of such messages through a data network using a standard protocol of the data network. Methods and systems also are disclosed that validate message transactions among subscribers receiving regional messaging services over the PSTN. The subscribers are located in different geographic areas and may be provided their voice, facsimile or data messaging services by different companies. The present invention validates passing messages (data) among customers of potentially different companies located in different areas by assessing the validity of the transaction in light of a number of conditions, including applicable regulatory or business conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Neil Gilmartin, Maria Adamczyk, Navneet Patel, N. Peter Hill, Gary J. Leonard, Alan R. Blackburn, Robert E. Braudes, Gary Lamothe, Ann V. McLaughlin, Donald H. Barstow, Doug Varney, Joel Brand
  • Patent number: 7342919
    Abstract: An Internet Call Waiting—Voice over Internet Protocol (ICW-VOIP) service that uses a service control point and service node of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), acting as a gatekeeper and bridge respectively, to enable ICW subscribers to answer telephone calls during an internet session without having to disconnect internet access. The primary network components of the ICW-VOIP service comprise a proxy firewall, a service node, and a gateway. When a PSTN call is placed to a subscriber whose line is being used for internet access, the service control point accesses the subscriber's internet address from a database and transmits a message over the internet to the subscriber giving the subscriber the option to accept the call as a VOIP call. Once accepted, the subscriber places an H.323 call through the gateway to the service node. The service control point also forwards the PSTN call to the service node. Using bridging information, the service node matches the subscriber H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Phase Systems LLC
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Jeffrey P. Cassanova, Alan R. Blackburn, Robert B. Collicott
  • Publication number: 20040090954
    Abstract: An Internet Call Waiting-Voice over Internet Protocol (ICW-VOIP) service that uses a service control point and service node of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), acting as a gatekeeper and bridge respectively, to enable ICW subscribers to answer telephone calls during an internet session without having to disconnect internet access. The primary network components of the ICW-VOIP service comprise a proxy firewall, a service node, and a gateway. When a PSTN call is placed to a subscriber whose line is being used for internet access, the service control point accesses the subscriber's internet address from a database and transmits a message over the internet to the subscriber giving the subscriber the option to accept the call as a VOIP call. Once accepted, the subscriber places an H.323 call through the gateway to the service node. The service control point also forwards the PSTN call to the service node. Using bridging information, the service node matches the subscriber H.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Jeffrey P. Cassanova, Alan R. Blackburn, Robert B. Collicott
  • Patent number: 6661785
    Abstract: An Internet Call Waiting-Voice over Internet Protocol (ICW-VOIP) service that uses a service control point and service node of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), acting as a gatekeeper and bridge respectively, to enable ICW subscribers to answer telephone calls during an internet session without having to disconnect internet access. The primary network components of the ICW-VOIP service comprise a proxy firewall, a service node, and a gateway. When a PSTN call is placed to a subscriber whose line is being used for internet access, the service control point accesses the subscriber's internet address from a database and transmits a message over the internet to the subscriber giving the subscriber the option to accept the call as a VOIP call. Once accepted, the subscriber places an H.323 call through the gateway to the service node. The service control point also forwards the PSTN call to the service node. Using bridging information, the service node matches the subscriber H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Jeffrey P. Cassanova, Alan R. Blackburn, Robert B. Collicott
  • Publication number: 20030165219
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that allow for the exchange of voice mail messages between different VMSs of different service providers and/or in different networks by the transmission of such messages through a data network using a standard protocol of the data network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Neil Gilmartin, Maria Adamczyk, Navneet Patel, N. Peter Hill, Gary J. Leonard, Alan R. Blackburn, Robert E. Braudes, Gary Lamothe, Ann V. McLaughlin, Donald H. Barstow, Doug Varney, Joel Brand