Patents by Inventor Deanna D. Willoughby

Deanna D. Willoughby 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).

  • Call blocking based on call properties
    Patent number: 6763098
    Abstract: Non-toll calls originating from payphones may be blocked. An intelligent node is provided within the telecommunications network to identify whether a non-toll call originated from a payphone. The intelligent node may apply a number of different criteria to determine whether to block a non-toll call that is determined to have originated from a payphone. The intelligent node may be customized to apply criteria based upon customer request. The customer may also identify additional processing that is to be performed when a call is to be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis E. Allen, Phillip D. Crable, Deanna D. Willoughby
  • Transaction billing for special service telephone numbers
    Patent number: 6522734
    Abstract: A telecommunications network includes computing intelligence for billing call processing on a per transaction basis. In particular, a customer is charged separately for each usage of a remote computing resource that assists in call processing. The remote computing resource, may be, for example, an intelligent call router located within the telecommunications network or on a customer's premises. The transaction billing performed by the present invention results in equitable billing of customers based upon use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: MCI WorldCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis E. Allen, Phillip D. Crable, Shannon S. Smith, Deanna D. Willoughby