Patents by Inventor Christopher Helbling

Christopher Helbling 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: 8488766
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Verizon Data Services LLC, Telesector Resources Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L. Reding, Mahesh Rajagopalan, Christopher Helbling
  • Patent number: 8472931
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for managing one or more communications devices associated with a user of a communications network are disclosed. The methods and systems are capable of receiving an indication regarding wireless communications between a first device and a second device. This indication may indicate that the first device has entered or left a vicinity (or range) of a second device. Additionally, this may be accomplished by using a protocol such as Bluetooth protocol, the IEEE 802.11(b) protocol, and/or the IEEE 802.11(g) protocol. For example, in an embodiment, if a first device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone) enters the vicinity of a second device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled user computer), calls for the user may be automatically forwarded to a phone of the user that is located near the second device. Likewise, in an embodiment, if the first device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone) leaves the vicinity of the second device (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Telesector Resources Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L. Reding, Christopher Helbling
  • Publication number: 20100151831
    Abstract: A system may include a load balancer that includes a receiver configured to receive a first notification of voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox. The system may also include a group of servers and each of the group of servers may include a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be configured to receive the first notification of the voicemail message information from the load balancer, and the transmitter may be configured to send a second notification of the voicemail message information to a communication device associated with the voicemail mailbox, wherein the second notification causes the communication device to determine whether to request a list of voicemail messages. The load balancer may also include a processor to select a first one of the plurality of servers and a transmitter to send the first notification to the first one of the plurality of servers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: VERIZON DATA SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Jack Jianxiu Hao, Dahai Ren, Shuai Wu, Robert Baruch, Christopher Helbling, Gerald Y. Honma, Xuefeng Yao, Haiyan Zhou
  • Publication number: 20070038720
    Abstract: An exemplary method and apparatus for facilitating contact sharing between users of a communication network are described. The method may include maintaining contact information in first and second address books associated with first and second users, respectively, and forwarding, from the first user to the second user, a request to copy contact information from the first address book to the second address book. The method may further include receiving a confirmation from the second user in response to the request, and copying the contact information from the first address book to the second address book in response to the confirmation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicants: MCI FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CORP., VERIZON DATA SERVICES INC., VERIZON SERVICES CORP.
    Inventors: Craig Reding, Ashutosh Sureka, Sandeep Chakravarty, Paula Dromlewiez, Christopher Helbling, Shuchi Patel, John Reformato
  • Publication number: 20060276179
    Abstract: Methods and systems providing access to integrated communications services are disclosed. A notification of a call to a user is received at a device associated with the user, the device being connected to a data network and including a base unit, a handset, and a user interface, wherein the device is determined based on retrieved data corresponding to the user, and the retrieved data was retrieved using information pertaining to the call. Input from the user indicative of a response to the notification is also received at the device. Response information reflective of the response to the notification is then sent to the server, wherein the server instructs a service control point to connect the call based on the response to the notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Reza Ghaffari, Afshin Moshrefi, Shadman Zafar, Shaygan Kheradpir, Robert Chingon, Stephen Brennan, Christopher Helbling, Nagendra Kunuturi, Ravi Penumatsa, Mahesh Rajagopalan, Craig Reding, John Reformato, John Wurster, Sandeep Chakravarty, Byron Pinto, Alin D'Silva, Zlauddin Majid, Satya Raju
  • Publication number: 20060177030
    Abstract: Methods and systems for routing a communication to a preferred device are disclosed. A service center consistent with the present invention is operable to receive information pertaining to a communication to a user from a calling party, and retrieve data corresponding to the user using the received information. The service center also determines a preferred device of the user based on the retrieved data, wherein the preferred device is one of a plurality of devices associated with the user. Thereafter, the service center ascertains whether the preferred device of the user requires a new mode of delivery, and routes the communication to the preferred device of the user based on the ascertaining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Mahesh Rajagopalan, Nagendra Kunuturi, Craig Reding, Jagmit Singh, Christopher Helbling
  • Publication number: 20050117714
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a call in real-time are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention manage a call in real-time based on input from a user. A service center receives information pertaining to a call to the user from a service control point and sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the user. The service center receives a response to the notification from the user. Thereafter, the service center instructs the service control point to connect the call based on the response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Chingon, Stephen Brennan, Christopher Helbling, Nagendra Kunuturi, Ravi Penumatsa, Mahesh Rajagopalan, Craig Reding, John Reformato, John Wurster, Sandeep Chakraverty, Byron Pinto
  • Publication number: 20050053206
    Abstract: Methods and systems for screening a call are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention screen calls. A first server receives information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party. The first server then determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user and determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid when the real-time call management function is not enabled. A call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid. The first server provides a notification of the call to a device associated with the user when the real-time call management function is enabled. A second server initiates the call screening function when the user selects a call screening option included in the notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Chingon, Shadman Zafar, Craig Reding, Christopher Helbling, John Reformato
  • Publication number: 20050053214
    Abstract: Methods and systems for conference call buffering are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention record a conference call between a plurality of users. A service center in conjunction with a conference bridge and conference server establishes a conference call between a plurality of users. The service center may also ascertain the identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, where the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users. An audio streaming server provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices. Memory located centrally and/or local to the destination devices stores the audio stream. A user of one of the destination devices may choose to replay a selected portion of the audio stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Craig Reding, John Reformato, Ziauddin Majid, Christopher Helbling, Brian Roberts, Loren Swingle
  • Publication number: 20050053220
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining contact-related information associated with a party using an identifier. The identifier may include a calling party number, a previously-dialed number, and/or a number specified by a user. The identifier could also include an e-mail address, an instant messenger address, a photograph, etc. A request for contact-related information may be initiated by a user and/or a device associated with the user. The request may include an identifier associated with a party. Methods and systems may retrieve contact-related information associated with the party using the identifier. Methods and systems may leverage one or more networks to retrieve the contact-related information. Contact information may be retrieved in order to add a contact to a user's address book.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Helbling, Craig Reding, John Reformato, Mahesh Rajagopalan, Shadman Zafar
  • Publication number: 20040213212
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for managing one or more communications devices associated with a user of a communications network are disclosed. The methods and systems are capable of receiving an indication regarding wireless communications between a first device and a second device. This indication may indicate that the first device has entered or left a vicinity (or range) of a second device. Additionally, this may be accomplished by using a protocol such as Bluetooth protocol, the IEEE 802.11(b) protocol, and/or the IEEE 802.11(g) protocol. For example, in an embodiment, if a first device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone) enters the vicinity of a second device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled user computer), calls for the user may be automatically forwarded to a phone of the user that is located near the second device. Likewise, in an embodiment, if the first device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone) leaves the vicinity of the second device (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Craig L. Reding, Christopher Helbling
  • Publication number: 20040156491
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Craig L. Reding, Mahesh Rajagopalan, Christopher Helbling