Patents by Inventor Bill Long
Bill Long 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).
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Patent number: 8842817Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes submitting a local number portability (LNP) order for the TN directly to a first telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from, triggering a port of the TN in accordance with the LNP order, and porting the TN from the first telecommunications carrier to the second telecommunications carrier, wherein the second telecommunications carrier is bypassed by the customer during the submitting and the triggering of the LNP order. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Patent number: 8761371Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes requesting a real-time (RT) customer service record (CSR) request for a telephone number (TN) associated with a local number portability (LNP) order, the requesting occurring prior to a second CSR request that occurs as part of a submit process for the LNP order; receiving, in response to the request for the RT CSR request, a RT CSR response from a telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from as part of the LNP order; and validating data in the RT CSR response in order to prevent rejections of the data in the second CSR during the LNP process. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Publication number: 20130003958Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes submitting a local number portability (LNP) order for the TN directly to a first telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from, triggering a port of the TN in accordance with the LNP order, and porting the TN from the first telecommunications carrier to the second telecommunications carrier, wherein the second telecommunications carrier is bypassed by the customer during the submitting and the triggering of the LNP order. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Patent number: 8265259Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a telephone number (TN) to test for its porting activity as part of a local number portability (LNP) order, accessing a LNP call tester (LCT) to determine a current local routing number (LRN) for the TN, and determining, based on the TN and current LRN, whether the porting activity is completed for the TN in relation to a core telecommunications carrier servicing an owner of the TN. The porting activity may include at least one of port in, port out, and migration of the TN. In one embodiment, the planned porting activity for the TN associated with the LNP order is known prior to determining whether the porting activity has been completed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Patent number: 8265258Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes submitting a local number portability (LNP) order for the TN directly to a first telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from, triggering a port of the TN in accordance with the LNP order, and porting the TN from the first telecommunications carrier to the second telecommunications carrier, wherein the second telecommunications carrier is bypassed by the customer during the submitting and the triggering of the LNP order. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Patent number: 8060101Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) telephone number provisioning and voicemail routing by a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes: provisioning a telephone number (TN) and its associated mobile subscriber identification (MSID) owned by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on a home location register (HLR) of a third party carrier, the third party carrier is not the owner of the TN; routing a call to the provisioned TN from a calling party by utilizing the HLR, wherein a called party of the TN is at least one of providing no answer or unreachable; receiving an indication from a gateway mobile switching center (GW MSC) of the third party carrier that there is no voicemail transfer number associated with the TN; and initiating a new call to a voicemail server of the MVNO, the new call to provide voicemail associated with the TN to the calling party.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Bill Long, Wayne Simpkins
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Patent number: 7961863Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Bill Long, Dan Jordan, Alissa Baan, Janis Griffin
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Patent number: 7657017Abstract: A method includes jurisdictionalizing a long distance intra-MTA call as a local call. The method may further include receiving an intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection to a terminating network, and routing the intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call directly to the terminating network via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies the terms of use of the direct connection. A method for routing calls includes determining that a received intrastate call is an intra-MTA call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection bypassing a Local Exchange Carrier, and routing the intra-MTA call for termination via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of the direct connection. A system includes a switch configured to jurisdictionalize a long-distance intra-MTA call as a local call, and may be further configured to route the call over a local route.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Bill Long, Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri, Dan Jordan
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Publication number: 20090310773Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC.Inventors: Bill Long, Dan Jordan, Alissa Baan, Janis Griffin
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Patent number: 7580516Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Bill Long, Dan Jordan, Alissa Baan, Janis Griffin
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Publication number: 20090010418Abstract: A method includes jurisdictionalizing a long distance intra-MTA call as a local call. The method may further include receiving an intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection to a terminating network, and routing the intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call directly to the terminating network via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies the terms of use of the direct connection. A method for routing calls includes determining that a received intrastate call is an intra-MTA call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection bypassing a Local Exchange Carrier, and routing the intra-MTA call for termination via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of the direct connection. A system includes a switch configured to jurisdictionalize a long-distance intra-MTA call as a local call, and may be further configured to route the call over a local route.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventors: Bill Long, Richard Terpstra, Greg Gualtieri, Dan Jordan
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Publication number: 20090003573Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Bill Long, Dan Jordan, Alissa Baan, Janis Griffin
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Publication number: 20080305803Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) telephone number provisioning and voicemail routing by a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes: provisioning a telephone number (TN) and its associated mobile subscriber identification (MSID) owned by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on a home location register (HLR) of a third party carrier, the third party carrier is not the owner of the TN; routing a call to the provisioned TN from a calling party by utilizing the HLR, wherein a called party of the TN is at least one of providing no answer or unreachable; receiving an indication from a gateway mobile switching center (GW MSC) of the third party carrier that there is no voicemail transfer number associated with the TN; and initiating a new call to a voicemail server of the MVNO, the new call to provide voicemail associated with the TN to the calling party.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Bill Long, Wayne Simpkins
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Publication number: 20080130840Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a telephone number (TN) to test for its porting activity as part of a local number portability (LNP) order, accessing a LNP call tester (LCT) to determine a current local routing number (LRN) for the TN, and determining, based on the TN and current LRN, whether the porting activity is completed for the TN in relation to a core telecommunications carrier servicing an owner of the TN. The porting activity may include at least one of port in, port out, and migration of the TN. In one embodiment, the planned porting activity for the TN associated with the LNP order is known prior to determining whether the porting activity has been completed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Level 3 Communications LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Publication number: 20080130863Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes placing a local number portability (LNP) order for the TN to be serviced by a core telecommunications carrier; and triggering the port of the TN via the core telecommunications carrier to occur prior to a time during which a typical port of the TN would have automatically occurred. A customer-initiated triggering may occur on a firm order commitment date associated with the LNP order. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Level 3 Communications LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Publication number: 20080130862Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes requesting a real-time (RT) customer service record (CSR) request for a telephone number (TN) associated with a local number portability (LNP) order, the requesting occurring prior to a second CSR request that occurs as part of a submit process for the LNP order; receiving, in response to the request for the RT CSR request, a RT CSR response from a telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from as part of the LNP order; and validating data in the RT CSR response in order to prevent rejections of the data in the second CSR during the LNP process. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: Level 3 Communications LLCInventors: Gregory K. Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg A. Land, Bill Long, Troy D. Lynette, Richard D. Moore
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Publication number: 20080101585Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for local number portability in a telecommunication network are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes submitting a local number portability (LNP) order for the TN directly to a first telecommunications carrier that the TN is to be transferred from, triggering a port of the TN in accordance with the LNP order, and porting the TN from the first telecommunications carrier to the second telecommunications carrier, wherein the second telecommunications carrier is bypassed by the customer during the submitting and the triggering of the LNP order. Other embodiments are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: Level 3 Communications LLCInventors: Gregory Brown, James Carlson, Maria Farnon, Greg Land, Bill Long, Troy Lynette, Richard Moore
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Patent number: 4700395Abstract: A recreational cooler and speaker system includes an audio signal input terminal, such as an audio jack, on an outer wall of the cooler for driving speaker elements mounted to the cooler enclosure through an electrical path within the enclosure walls.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1985Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Inventor: Bill Long