Patents by Inventor Douglas M. Fieldhouse

Douglas M. Fieldhouse 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: 7979051
    Abstract: A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Vesta Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Fieldhouse, Kingsley R. Wick
  • Publication number: 20090233576
    Abstract: A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: VESTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas M. Fieldhouse, Kingsley R. Wick
  • Patent number: 7539480
    Abstract: A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Vesta Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Fieldhouse, Kingsley R. Wick
  • Patent number: 7242922
    Abstract: A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Vesta Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Fieldhouse, Kingsley R. Wick
  • Publication number: 20030048888
    Abstract: A telephone calling account system, method, and card. The method typically includes determining a preexisting account designator of a preexisting account, creating a telephone calling account on a calling platform, and assigning to the telephone calling account the preexisting account designator of the preexisting account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Eric L. Hopper, Keith E. Steele, Douglas M. Fieldhouse
  • Publication number: 20030037000
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a multi-use card having an associated bank account and telephone calling account. The method typically includes reading a user's bank card at an automated teller machine. Typically, the bank card is associated with a preexisting bank account. The method further includes prompting the user, at the automated teller machine, to convert the bank card into a multi-use banking/telephone calling card that is associated both with the preexisting bank account and with a to-be-created telephone calling account. The method further includes, in response to a request by the user, creating a telephone calling account linked to the bank card, such that the bank card is converted into a multi-use banking/telephone calling card that is associated both with the preexisting bank account and with the newly created telephone calling account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Douglas M. Fieldhouse
  • Publication number: 20020119767
    Abstract: A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Douglas M. Fieldhouse, Kingsley R. Wick
  • Patent number: 6404866
    Abstract: A telephone calling account system, method, and card. The method typically includes determining a preexisting account designator of a preexisting account, creating a telephone calling account on a calling platform, and assigning to the telephone calling account the preexisting account designator of the preexisting account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Vesta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric L. Hopper, Keith E. Steele, Douglas M. Fieldhouse