Patents by Inventor Donna K. Hodges

Donna K. Hodges 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: 10438108
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of selectively sorting post-consumption items that are associated with radio-frequency tags based on data received from the RF tag. One embodiment includes a conveyor, a picker arm, and an RF reader. Another embodiment includes an RF reader and a receptacle for selectively holding post-consumption items based on data retrieved from the associated RF tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Patent number: 10230658
    Abstract: Service providers may subcontract some services to subcontractors. Electronic packets of data may be outsourced for a subcontracted processing service provided by a server or other element. A result of the subcontracted processing service may then be received and incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven N. Tischer, Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Publication number: 20160247058
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of selectively sorting post-consumption items that are associated with radio-frequency tags based on data received from the RF tag. One embodiment includes a conveyor, a picker arm, and an RF reader. Another embodiment includes an RF reader and a receptacle for selectively holding post-consumption items based on data retrieved from the associated RF tag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: BARRETT M. KREINER, Donna K. Hodges
  • Publication number: 20160094472
    Abstract: Service providers may subcontract some services to subcontractors. Electronic packets of data may be outsourced for a subcontracted processing service provided by a server or other element. A result of the subcontracted processing service may then be received and incorporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven N. Tischer, Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Patent number: 9240901
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products receive a request for communications service at a service provider. A subcontracted processing service is determined to fulfill the request for communications service. Packets of data are subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received from the different service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20140237030
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide communications services. A request for communications service is received. When at least a portion of the communications service requires a processing service, packets of data are subcontracted to a service provider to receive the processing service. A result of the processing service is received and incorporated in the communications service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett M. Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8711868
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide communications services. A request for communications service is received at a service provider and a best-value scenario is determined. Packets of data are subcontracted to another service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is incorporated in the best-value scenario, and the communications service is provided to fulfill the request for communications service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8606929
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a first data stream at a computer, with the first data stream comprising packets of data packetized according to a packet protocol. The first data stream is recursively segmented into segments, and at least one of the segments is dispersed via a network for a subsequent processing service. A result of the processing service is received, and the result is aggregated into a second data stream. The second data stream is then communicated via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8567675
    Abstract: A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Publication number: 20120160915
    Abstract: A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Patent number: 8127990
    Abstract: A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Patent number: 8085796
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a virtual personalized network. Communications are established with a personal digital gateway to control access, sharing, security, and/or management of up-to-date personalized data exchanged between or among a plurality of associated communications devices and/or communications networks. The associated communications devices are owned, operated, and/or accessed by a common user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett Morris Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges, Jonathan M. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20110192902
    Abstract: A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Patent number: 7983282
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a virtual personalized network. Communications are established with a personal digital gateway to control access, sharing, security, and/or management of up-to-date personalized data exchanged between or among a plurality of associated communications devices and/or communications networks. The associated communications devices are owned, operated, and/or accessed by a common user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett Morris Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges, Jonathan M. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20110125907
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products receive a request for communications service at a service provider. A subcontracted processing service is determined to fulfill the request for communications service. Packets of data are subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received from the different service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 7934649
    Abstract: A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Donna K. Hodges
  • Publication number: 20110075672
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide communications services. A request for communications service is received at a service provider and a best-value scenario is determined. Packets of data are subcontracted to another service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is incorporated in the best-value scenario, and the communications service is provided to fulfill the request for communications service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tisoher
  • Patent number: 7904509
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. A request for data is processed, and a data stream is received to fulfill the request. A determination is made that a subcontracted processing service is required. At least a portion of the data stream is subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 7882267
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a request for communications service. The request for communications service originates from a client communications device associated with a user and requests communications service from a service provider. An availability of at least one of i) a communications network operated by the service provider and ii) another communications network operated by another service provider is dynamically assessed in real-time. A best-value scenario of segmentation, dispersion, assemblage, and routing of electronic data is assessed to fulfill the request. The best-value scenario maximizes profitability for the service provider. The communications service is provided to fulfill the request according to the best-value scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 7716372
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method for providing services to a user. The method includes receiving a request from a user for content and obtaining a user preference defining at least one of a modality preference, a paradigm preference and a service preference. Content is accessed including markup tags associating said content with the user preference. Processes identified with a process markup tag associating said processes with said user preference are executed and the order of processes is dependent on the user preference. Content having markup tags corresponding to the user preference is retrieved and provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner