Patents by Inventor David F. Hofstatter
David F. Hofstatter 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: 9838542Abstract: Methods and systems for call processing are described. A call from a caller intended for a first party is received at a call processing system, which stores call signaling information associated with the call. A greeting is played to the caller, and a voice communication is received and recorded. At least a first portion of the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time to a terminal associated with the first person. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text and the text is stored and transmitted to a terminal associated with the first party. When a search query is received from the first party, the system searches the data store to determine if there is matching call having related matching call information. If there is a matching call, related information may be provided to the first party.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: CALLWAVE COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 9491297Abstract: Methods and systems for call processing are described. A call from a caller intended for a first party is received at a call processing system, which stores call signaling information associated with the call. A greeting is played to the caller, and a voice communication is received and recorded. At least a first portion of the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time to a terminal associated with the first person. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text and the text is stored and transmitted to a terminal associated with the first party. When a search query is received from the first party, the system searches the data store to determine if there is matching call having related matching call information. If there is a matching call, related information may be provided to the first party.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 9413885Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing call blocking instructions and for managing mobile messaging. A method of processing call blocking instructions is described. A call processing system receives a call from a caller intended for a first user. A notification regarding the call is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the first user. A message from the user is received via the mobile device, wherein the message is a text or multimedia type message. At least partly in response to the message, the caller is placed on a blacklist indicating that future calls from the caller to the user are to be blocked.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, Colin D. Kelley, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 9319523Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin D. Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David F. Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
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Patent number: 9258412Abstract: Service levels for call-processing are enhanced based on the subscriber status of at least one of the calling party and the called party. In one example, a calling party (caller) places a call to a called party (recipient). At least one of the parties subscribes to a call-processing service and the call normally would be processed according to a predetermined service level. However, the service level is enhanced in response to a subscriber status for at least one of the parties, and the call is processed according to the enhanced service level.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, David F. Hofstatter, Robert F. Smith
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Publication number: 20150215459Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin D. Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David F. Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
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Patent number: 8958782Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing call blocking instructions and for managing mobile messaging. A method of processing call blocking instructions is described. A call processing system receives a call from a caller intended for a first user. A notification regarding the call is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the first user. A message from the user is received via the mobile device, wherein the message is a text or multimedia type message. At least partly in response to the message, the caller is placed on a blacklist indicating that future calls from the caller to the user are to be blocked.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, Colin D. Kelley, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 8929258Abstract: Service levels for call-processing are enhanced based on the subscriber status of at least one of the calling party and the called party. In one example, a calling party (caller) places a call to a called party (recipient). At least one of the parties subscribes to a call-processing service and the call normally would be processed according to a predetermined service level. However, the service level is enhanced in response to a subscriber status for at least one of the parties, and the call is processed according to the enhanced service level.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, David F. Hofstatter, Robert F. Smith
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Patent number: 8891753Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, Colin Kelley, David J. Brahm, Robert F. Smith, David F. Hofstatter, Robert A. Dolan
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Patent number: 8774785Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing call blocking instructions and for managing mobile messaging. A method of processing call blocking instructions is described. A call processing system receives a call from a caller intended for a first user. A notification regarding the call is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the first user. A message from the user is received via the mobile device, wherein the message is a text or multimedia type message. At least partly in response to the message, the caller is placed on a blacklist indicating that future calls from the caller to the user are to be blocked.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, Colin Kelley, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 8750469Abstract: Systems and methods are described for processing calls. A call is received at a softswitch or other call processing system from a caller intended for a first subscriber. The first call is associated with signaling information, the signaling information including a phone number associated with the caller. A determination is made as to whether the first subscriber has previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch. If the first subscriber has not previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch, a first message is played to the caller. An indication that the first message was played to the caller is stored in association with an account record associated with the first subscriber.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Adrian Van Haaften, David Giannini, Eric Johnson, David F. Hofstatter, David S. Trandal, Robert Duva, Robert F. Smith, John R. Day
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Patent number: 8670536Abstract: Service levels for call-processing are enhanced based on the subscriber status of at least one of the calling party and the called party. In one example, a calling party (caller) places a call to a called party (recipient). At least one of the parties subscribes to a call-processing service and the call normally would be processed according to a predetermined service level. However, the service level is enhanced in response to a subscriber status for at least one of the parties, and the call is processed according to the enhanced service level.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, David F. Hofstatter, Bob F. Smith
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Publication number: 20130343205Abstract: The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: CALLWAVE COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Robert Smith, David S. Trandal
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Patent number: 8594287Abstract: The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Lee Kirchhoff
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Patent number: 8548447Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing call blocking instructions and for managing mobile messaging. A method of processing call blocking instructions is described. A call processing system receives a call from a caller intended for a first user. A notification regarding the call is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the first user. A message from the user is received via the mobile device, wherein the message is a text or multimedia type message. At least partly in response to the message, the caller is placed on a blacklist indicating that future calls from the caller to the user are to be blocked.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, Colin Kelley, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 8526582Abstract: Methods and systems for call processing are described. A call from a caller intended for a first party is received at a call processing system, which stores call signaling information associated with the call. A greeting is played to the caller, and a voice communication is received and recorded. At least a first portion of the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time to a terminal associated with the first person. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text and the text is stored and transmitted to a terminal associated with the first party. When a search query is received from the first party, the system searches the data store to determine if there is matching call having related matching call information. If there is a matching call, related information may be provided to the first party.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 8472592Abstract: Systems and methods are described for processing calls. A call is received at a softswitch or other call processing system from a caller intended for a first subscriber. The first call is associated with signaling information, the signaling information including a phone number associated with the caller. A determination is made as to whether the first subscriber has previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch. If the first subscriber has not previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch, a first message is played to the caller. An indication that the first message was played to the caller is stored in association with an account record associated with the first subscriber.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Adrian Van Haaften, David Giannini, Eric Johnson, David F. Hofstatter, David S. Trandal, Robert Duva, Robert Smith, John R. Day
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Patent number: 8447285Abstract: Systems and methods that can be utilized to convert a voice communication received over a telecommunication network to text are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a call processing system coupled to a telecommunications network receives a call from a caller intended for a first party, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. At least a portion of the call signaling information is stored in a computer readable medium. A greeting is played the caller, and a voice communication from the caller is recorded. At least a portion of the voice communication is converted to text, which is analyzed to identify portions that are inferred to be relatively more important to communicate to the first party. A text communication is generated including at least some of the identified portions and including fewer words than the recorded voice communication. At least a portion of the text communication is made available to the first party over a data network.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Anthony Bladon, David Giannini, David F. Hofstatter, Colin Kelley, David C. McClintock, Robert F. Smith, David S. Trandal, Leland W. Kirchhoff
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Patent number: 8401164Abstract: System and method for putting control of incoming telephone calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for handling calls, and learns which callers the called party always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control software on the called party's computer which is connected to the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone companies and by the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
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Patent number: 8400664Abstract: A fax processing system handles faxes that are originally destined for a recipient's phone number. The fax processing system communicates with the fax recipient via a data communications network (for example, the Internet) and can provide more sophisticated fax handling capabilities than conventional fax machines.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: j2 Global Communications, Inc.Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter