Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Huey

Christopher A. Huey 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: 8938060
    Abstract: A user may utilize a communication device, e.g., a wireless phone, mobile device or personal digital assistant (PDA), to contact an information/call center where an operator provides personalized information and communications services to the user in accordance with the invention. Such services may include, e.g., private directory and calendar data synchronization, identity pre-validation, etc. To personalize the services, at least one profile record associated with the user which may specify, among others, the devices used by the user to communicate with the information/call center, and preferred information/call center to which an information assistance call is routed. Accordingly, services and service features provided to the user may be tailored for use with the specified devices. Security measures may also be instituted in the profile record to restrict use of certain services and service features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, Nathan B. Baker, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich, Gary E. Henry
  • Patent number: 8666035
    Abstract: A method for providing a communication assistance service by a communication assistance service provider includes receiving a communication at the communication assistance service provider from a first person seeking a contact information to communicate with a second person and receiving from the first person identifying information associated with the second person. A profile of the second person is retrieved including at least one contact information and at least one contact preference associated with the contact information. Communication is provided between the first person and the second person in accordance with the contact preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich, Karen L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8090090
    Abstract: Telephone users desiring directory assistance services are connected via standard telephone procedures to a directory assistance provider, such as an operator. An operator provides the destination number and initiates a connection to that number. Once that connection is initiated, the connection is monitored for the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a busy signal. If no such condition is detected, the caller proceeds with the call in the normal manner. If, however, such a condition is detected, the caller is automatically transferred to a directory assistance provider for further help.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey
  • Publication number: 20110064209
    Abstract: A method for providing a communication assistance service by a communication assistance service provider includes receiving a communication at the communication assistance service provider from a first person seeking a contact information to communicate with a second person and receiving from the first person identifying information associated with the second person. A profile of the second person is retrieved including at least one contact information and at least one contact preference associated with the contact information. Communication is provided between the first person and the second person in accordance with the contact preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich, Karen L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7724878
    Abstract: A service providing information assistance may maintain for a subscriber contacts folders comprising private directories of the subscriber, and a personal profile containing the subscriber's preferences. When a user calls the service to attempt to communicate with a desired party through the service, the service can ascertain whether the desired party has a personal profile and/or a contacts folder associated with him/her. If so, the caller is allowed to communicate with the desired party on the terms and conditions defined by the desired party in his/her personal profile and/or contacts folder. For instance, the desired party may have defined therein who should be allowed to contact him/her, when he/she should be contacted, by what communication means, and whether the caller can be told any of the desired party's communication addresses (e.g., telephone number, email address, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich, Karen L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090252304
    Abstract: In communications systems where multiple users may be associated with the same account, the voiceprint of a user is used to identify a profile of the user, facilitating identification of the user's preferences without requesting additional information from the user. The system may also monitor messages played to individual users, to control the playing of the messages to users. Calls made by users associated with the same account may be allocated to the caller initiating the call in bills, based on voiceprints. Voiceprints may be collected for use in deriving voiceprint samples during registration of a user with the system and during conversations between the user and the system. A voiceprint comparison threshold may be set based on the type of phone calling the system, to compensate for noise. Changes in phone numbers and/or addresses of users are monitored and the threshold is adjusted if changes are found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Nathan B. Baker, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich
  • Publication number: 20090067608
    Abstract: Telephone users desiring directory assistance services are connected via standard telephone procedures to a directory assistance provider, such as an operator. An operator provides the destination number and initiates a connection to that number. Once that connection is initiated, the connection is monitored for the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a busy signal. If no such condition is detected, the caller proceeds with the call in the normal manner. If, however, such a condition is detected, the caller is automatically transferred to a directory assistance provider for further help.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 7493101
    Abstract: A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Elsey, Jonas S. Reyes, Corvin F. Swick, Christopher A. Huey
  • Publication number: 20080247517
    Abstract: A broadband telecommunications carrier routes a location-based service call, e.g., an emergency service call, through a facility shared by an information/call center. This facility receives the call, along with information indicative of the location of the call originating device and, thus, the caller's location. Based on such location information, it searches a database for contact information concerning the location-based service provider, e.g., an emergency dispatch service provider, in proximity to the call-originating device location. The call is then transferred to the service provider based on the contact information identified in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 7103589
    Abstract: A system and method for searching, accessing updating database records on a plurality of geographically dispersed databases is provided. Update databases consisting of a plurality of update records having at least one field capable of being set to at least one particular value are used to update records in target databases. When a database search is conducted on one or more target databases, a search is also conducted on update databases associated with the target databases. The results of the searches are processed. If the at least one field in an update record is set to a predefined value, then all returned records equivalent to the update record are discarded. Otherwise, the update record is added to the search result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey, Runping Qi, Christopher A. Wake
  • Patent number: 6917678
    Abstract: Telephone users desiring directory assistance services are connected via standard telephone procedures to a directory assistance provider, such as an operator. An operator provides the destination number and initiates a connection to that number. Once that connection is initiated, the connection is monitored for the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a busy signal. If no such condition is detected, the caller proceeds with the call in the normal manner. If, however, such a condition is detected, the caller is automatically transferred to a directory assistance provider for further help.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 6871082
    Abstract: A call management system is provided to manage the use of specified wireless telephones in order to limit or manage their use for unofficial calls and to report on official as well as unofficial uses. Calls originated from or directed to a controlled wireless telephone are routed to a call management center from a wireless central office. The call management center determines whether the call is approved by consulting a database of approved telephone numbers. If the call is approved it is completed normally. If the call is not approved, the caller is prompted to provide an access code. The call is completed if the access code matches a predetermined security code. Customizable exception reports are generated to reflect unofficial usage, incorrect access attempts, and other detailed information concerning the use of the specified wireless telephones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, Christopher A. Huey, Michael A. Kepler, Paul W. Filliger, A. Peter Powell
  • Patent number: 6816727
    Abstract: A wireless telephone subscriber who wishes directory assistance in the form of directions from one specified location to another is connected to a directory assistance agent. The subscriber identifies a destination location and any requested travel criteria. The directory assistance agent collects the subscriber's travel parameters and a routing algorithm on the server draws upon geographic, transportation, and related information stored on the server to generate an appropriate route to the destination location. The selected route may be divided into multiple segments. Directions according to each segment are provided to the subscriber. The subscriber may remain connected to the directory assistance center for all or any portion of the travel, may disconnect and reconnect as necessary, or may receive the entire route of travel in a single communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 6801763
    Abstract: A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Elsey, Jonas S. Reyes, Corvin F. Swick, Christopher A. Huey
  • Publication number: 20040190688
    Abstract: In communications systems where multiple users may be associated with the same account, the voiceprint of a user is used to identify a profile of the user, facilitating identification of the user's preferences without requesting additional information from the user. The system may also monitor messages played to individual users, to control the playing of the messages to users. Calls made by users associated with the same account may be allocated to the caller initiating the call in bills, based on voiceprints. Voiceprints may be collected for use in deriving voiceprint samples during registration of a user with the system and during conversations between the user and the system. A voiceprint comparison threshold may be set based on the type of phone calling the system, to compensate for noise. Changes in phone numbers and/or addresses of users are monitored and the threshold is adjusted if changes are found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Nathan B. Baker, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich
  • Publication number: 20040161093
    Abstract: Telephone users desiring directory assistance services are connected via standard telephone procedures to a directory assistance provider, such as an operator. An operator provides the destination number and initiates a connection to that number. Once that connection is initiated, the connection is monitored for the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a busy signal. If no such condition is detected, the caller proceeds with the call in the normal manner. If, however, such a condition is detected, the caller is automatically transferred to a directory assistance provider for further help.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 6754326
    Abstract: Telephone users desiring directory assistance services are connected via standard telephone procedures to a directory assistance provider, such as an operator. An operator provides the destination number and initiates a connection to that number. Once that connection is initiated, the connection is monitored for the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a busy signal. If no such condition is detected, the caller proceeds with the call in the normal manner. If, however, such a condition is detected, the caller is automatically transferred to a directory assistance provider for further help.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Cox, A. Peter Powell, Paul W. Filliger, Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 6745177
    Abstract: A search-routing database is used to direct database search requests to only those databases that may contain results to the search request. The search-routing database contains a subset of the data fields from the other databases in the network, along with a field indicating the database to which the search request should be routed. When a database search request is received, a modified search request is generated based on the overlap between the type of information contained in the search request and the type of information contained in the data-fields of the search routing database. This modified search request is submitted to the search-routing database, which returns a list of database candidates which could produce results to the original search request. The original search request is then submitted to those database candidates, and the results are returned to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Kepler, Christopher A. Huey, Runping Qi, Christopher A. Wake
  • Publication number: 20040096043
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to using an information assistance service to send a message to a desired destination, e.g., an e-mail address, or other addresses associated with wireless telephones, pagers, SMSs, PDAs, PIM systems, etc. The message may include multimedia information, e.g., audio, video and/or text information. The information assistance service provider obtains “message overhead” data, as opposed to message content or body, from the caller or from external or internal databases such as the caller's contacts folders (also known as private directories) and user profiles. Such message overhead data may include “envelope” information such as the destination address (e.g., e-mail address) to which the message is to be delivered, destination name, sender's name and return address (e.g., return e-mail address).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey
  • Publication number: 20040029567
    Abstract: A user may utilize a communication device, e.g., a wireless phone, mobile device or personal digital assistant (PDA), to contact an information/call center where an operator provides personalized information and communications services to the user in accordance with the invention. Such services may include, e.g., private directory and calendar data synchronization, identity pre-validation, etc. To personalize the services, at least one profile record associated with the user which may specify, among others, the devices used by the user to communicate with the information/call center, and preferred information/call center to which an information assistance call is routed. Accordingly, services and service features provided to the user may be tailored for use with the specified devices. Security measures may also be instituted in the profile record to restrict use of certain services and service features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, Nathan B. Baker, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich, Gary E. Henry