Patents by Inventor Diane E. Herr
Diane E. Herr 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: 5185781Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automatically processing operator assistance calls. A caller is connected to an automated operator position. The automated position has speech recognition facilities to replace those of an operator, has announcement capabilities to replace those of an operator, and has control apparatus for transmitting and receiving the same set of messages transmitted and received by an operator position. Advantageously, the operator assistance switch has the same interface to an automated position as to an operator position and interacts with the two identically. Since the capabilities of the automated position are limited by its program, the automated position switches a call to an automated position when a situation occurs for which it has not been programmed. Advantageously, a switch need not be specially programmed to communicate with an automated position.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1991Date of Patent: February 9, 1993Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas C. Dowden, Richard W. Hemmeter, Diane E. Herr, William K. McCormick, Robert Petrelli, Richard J. Piereth, Samuel M. Salchenberger, Chander S. Sehgal, Mahendra K. Verma
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Patent number: 5181237Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automatically processing operator assistance calls. A caller is connected to an automated operator position. The automated position has speech recognition facilities to replace those of an operator, has announcement capabilities to replace those of an operator, and has control apparatus for transmitting and receiving the same set of messages transmitted and received by an operator position. Advantageously, the operator assistance switch has the same interface to an automated position as to an operator position and interacts with the two identically. Since the capabilities of the automated position are limited by its program, the automated position switches a call to an automated position when a situation occurs for which it has not been programmed. Advantageously, a switch need not be specially programmed to communicate with an automated position.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1991Date of Patent: January 19, 1993Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas C. Dowden, Richard W. Hemmeter, Diane E. Herr, William K. McCormick, Robert Petrelli, Richard J. Piereth, Samuel M. Salchenberger, Chander S. Sehgal, Mahendra K. Verma
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Patent number: 5163083Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automatically processing operator assistance calls. A caller is connected to an automated operator position. The automated position has speech recognition facilities to replace those of an operator, has announcement capabilities to replace those of an operator, and has control apparatus for transmitting and receiving the same set of messages transmitted and received by an operator position. Advantageously, the operator assistance switch has the same interface to an automated position as to an operator position and interacts with the two identically. Since the capabilities of the automated position are limited by its program, the automated position switches a call to an automated position when a situation occurs for which it has not been programmed. Advantageously, a switch need not be specially programmed to communicate with an automated position.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1990Date of Patent: November 10, 1992Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Douglas C. Dowden, Richard W. Hemmeter, Diane E. Herr, Richard J. Piereth, Samuel M. Salchenberger, Chander S. Sehgal, Mahendra K. Verma
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Patent number: 4544804Abstract: A dial-up audio/data conference arrangement is disclosed wherein the originator of the conference has certain speaker priorities and control capabilities e.g., adding and deleting conferees, etc. The originator, under the guidance of voice prompts, can transfer this control to another party on the conference.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1983Date of Patent: October 1, 1985Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Diane E. Herr, Laddie E. Suk, David F. Winchell
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Patent number: 4540850Abstract: A communication network including a conference arrangement is disclosed. When a conferee disconnects from a conference, a tone is coupled to the bridge to inform the remaining conferees. The identity of the disconnected conference station is then transmitted to the controller who can cause the connection to be reestablished automatically.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1983Date of Patent: September 10, 1985Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Diane E. Herr, Laddie E. Suk, David F. Winchell
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Patent number: 4509167Abstract: An arrangement for conferencing a plurality of data terminals via a data conference bridge. The bridge includes apparatus for negotiating a common set of communication parameters when data terminals having differing capabilities are connected to the same conference. All terminals connected to an existing conference must agree to accept any differing capabilities of a data terminal about to join the conference or the new terminal will be rejected.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1983Date of Patent: April 2, 1985Assignees: AT&T Bell Laboratories, American Bell, Inc.Inventors: Richard G. Bantel, Diane E. Herr
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Patent number: 4479195Abstract: A communications network having a multiport data conference system is disclosed. The data conference system includes a multilevel processor arrangement with the lower level port processors communicating directly with data terminals and higher level processors controlling conference configuration. Data to be conferenced is put in a buffer memory which is shared by all levels of processors. The ports can be configured to be compatible with different type terminals that operate at different data speeds.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1982Date of Patent: October 23, 1984Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Diane E. Herr, Reinhard Metz, Larry A. Russell
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Patent number: 4475189Abstract: A network services complex having an audio conference bridge, a data conference bridge, a tone receiver and a data store announcement system is disclosed. The complex is connected to a telephone network via a host toll switching center. Customers dialing over the network using a keyset can selectively establish audio-only, data-only and combined audio/data conferences. Announcements from the data store prompt the customer in the use of the arrangement and request the user to reenter information when the customer makes an error. Should the customer make too many errors, an operator is summoned.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1982Date of Patent: October 2, 1984Assignee: AT&T Bell LaboratoriesInventors: Diane E. Herr, Reinhard Metz, Laddie E. Suk, Paul R. Wiley, David F. Winchell