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).

  • Patent number: 8325901
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Robert Smith, David S. Trandal
  • Patent number: 8325886
    Abstract: Methods and systems for call processing are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a call processing system answers a call from a caller intended for a first party and records a message from the caller. The call processing system stores call information and the caller message. Some or all of the caller message is transmitted in substantially real time to a terminal associated with the first party. Further, at least a portion of the caller message is converted to text, which is transmitted to a terminal associated with the first party and is stored for later access. The first party can then submit a search query with respect to the stored information. When a search query is received from the first party, the system searches a data store to determine if there is matching call and provides the first party with information related to a matching call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 8214338
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems related to managing the storage of telephony-related data, such as calls, contacts, and/or messages. An illustrative embodiment receives media via a telephonic device. The media is stored in a first data store with a first degree of compression as a first file of a first size. A search interface is provided via which a user can search for the media. After a first period of time and/or at least partly in response to determining that the media has not been accessed or has been infrequently accessed, the media is stored in a second data store with a second degree of compression as a second file of a second size, wherein the second degree of compression is higher than the first degree of compression, and wherein the second size is smaller than the first size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 8165278
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, David F. Hofstatter, Bob F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120087484
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: j2 Global Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 8081337
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: j2 Global Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 8000455
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Van Haaften, David Giannini, Eric Johnson, David F. Hofstatter, David S. Trandal, Robert Duva, Robert Smith, John R. Day
  • Publication number: 20110096369
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: j2 Global Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, Leland W. Kirchhoff, Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 7869076
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: j2 Global Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: David S Trandal, David J Brahm, Leland W Kirchhoff, Robert A Dolan, David F Hofstatter
  • Publication number: 20100232588
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: CALLWAVE, INC.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J. Brahm, David F. Hofstatter, Bob F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7742586
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: David S Trandal, David J Brahm, David F Hofstatter, Bob F Smith
  • Publication number: 20100142685
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: CALLWAVE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Lee Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 7688958
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Lee Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 7555110
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Robert Smith, David S. Trandal
  • Patent number: 7480065
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: David S Trandal, David J Brahm, Leland W Kirchhoff, Robert A Dolan, David F Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 7397910
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 6898275
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Publication number: 20030142807
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 6477246
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Callwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter