Patents by Inventor John Alson Hicks

John Alson Hicks 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: 9246740
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. An alarm message is received from a security system associated with a network address. The network address is associated to a notification address. A Voice-over Internet Protocol call to the notification address is initiated over a data network to alert of an alarm from a security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20150363579
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for performing life cycle management of user-selected applications on wireless communications devices are described herein. In part, the tools provide machine-readable media for presenting to the subscriber a list of available applications for installation on the device, and for receiving selections from the subscriber of one or more of the applications. Additionally, the tools provide methods for selling advertising space on the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Douglas R. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20150364029
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Sensor data is received from an alarm sensor, and an alarm controller determines an alarm condition. Video data associated with the alarm sensor is retrieved. An alarm message may be sent over a wireless network connection, while the video data may be sent over a wireline broadband connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20150365536
    Abstract: A network interface device to an access network has a modulator-demodulator. The modulator-demodulator receives a modulated carrier signal from an input connection. A power circuit connected to the input connection receives electrical power from the access network and provides the electrical power to the modulator-demodulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 9191711
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller operable to provide media content to a gateway for presentation on a plurality of display devices without using a set top box, provide a selection of available services for presentation on the plurality of display devices, receive from the gateway a request for a service chosen from the selection of available services where the service is not a telecommunication service, provide an executable software to the gateway for implementation of the service, and generate a shipping order in response to the request, where the shipping order instructs delivery of equipment associated with the service to a building in which the gateway is located, where the equipment is detected by the gateway when the equipment is connected to a powerline of the building, and where the service is implemented using the gateway. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Nicholas S. Huslak
  • Patent number: 9135806
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Sensor data is received from an alarm sensor, and an alarm condition is determined by an alarm controller. Video data associated with the alarm sensor is retrieved. An alarm message may be sent over a wireless network connection, while the video data may be sent over wireline broadband connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 9124691
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for performing life cycle management of user-selected applications on wireless communications devices are described herein. In part, the tools provide machine-readable media for presenting to the subscriber a list of available applications for installation on the device, and for receiving selections from the subscriber of one or more of the applications. Additionally, the tools provide methods for selling advertising space on the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Douglas R. O'Nell
  • Patent number: 9100505
    Abstract: A network interface to a data network has a modulator-demodulator. The modulator-demodulator receives a modulated carrier signal from an input connection. A power circuit connected to the input connection receives electrical power from a loop plant and provides the electrical power to the modulator-demodulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20150172420
    Abstract: Distribution schemes for subscriber-created content are described. Subscribers create and upload content for distribution to communities of recipients. The recipients join the communities in response to invitations from the subscribers. When connections to devices associated with the recipients are detected, any content due for delivery to the recipients is distributed. Systems supporting these distribution schemes may include content distribution modules that receive the content from the subscribers, and that provide corresponding content notifications. Content storage modules store the uploaded subscriber content. In response to the content notifications, notification modules notify the recipients that the content is available. Presence modules detect the connections to the devices, and provide corresponding device notifications. In response to the device notifications, device management modules provide recipient notifications, which associate recipients with the detected devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas R. O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 9021365
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to determine a common user interface to be presented by a group of media devices of a premises where the group of media devices are capable of receiving media content from the server over a power line of the premises and are capable of presenting the media content, detect user interaction with the common user interface from different media devices of the group of media devices, and transmit display signals to the group of media devices for displaying the user interaction on the common user interface, where the display signals differentiate the different media devices that received the user interaction. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Randy Zimler
  • Publication number: 20150085130
    Abstract: Remote notification of alarms improves security. When an alarm is detected by a security system, a notification message is sent to notify a user or emergency responder. If video data is requested, only certain locations are permitted access to outputs from cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Nicholas S. Huslak, James Aromando, Michael D. Cercena, Francis John Connell, Mark W. Mueller, Deva-Datta Sharma, J. Kirk Shrewsbury
  • Publication number: 20150054645
    Abstract: Security systems notify of alarms. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. One of the communications paths is selected based on performance, cost, or urgency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8965999
    Abstract: Distribution schemes for subscriber-created content are described. Subscribers create and upload content for distribution to communities of recipients. The recipients join the communities in response to invitations from the subscribers. When connections to devices associated with the recipients are detected, any content due for delivery to the recipients is distributed. Systems supporting these distribution schemes may include content distribution modules that receive the content from the subscribers, and that provide corresponding content notifications. Content storage modules store the uploaded subscriber content. In response to the content notifications, notification modules notify the recipients that the content is available. Presence modules detect the connections to the devices, and provide corresponding device notifications. In response to the device notifications, device management modules provide recipient notifications, which associate recipients with the detected devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas R. O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8937658
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. An alarm is detected in a security system. An alarm code is associated to a camera, and video data is retrieved from the camera. An alarm notification address is retrieved and the video data is sent to the IP alarm notification address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Nicholas S. Huslak, James Aromando, Michael D. Cercena, Francis John Connell, Mark W. Mueller, Deva-Datta Sharma, J. Kirk Shrewsbury
  • Patent number: 8902740
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. Connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller over each of the two separate communications paths. When a timer counts down to a final value, then more connectivity messages are sent from the alarm controller to report connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8868137
    Abstract: A system includes an active noise-reducing headset and an alert processor. The active noise reducing headset includes a communication module that establishes a wireless communication link, a microphone that generates a microphone signal in response to ambient noise, a speaker, a noise reduction circuit that generates a noise reduction signal in response to the microphone signal, and a control circuit that receives an incoming alert signal from the communication module and plays the alert signal over the speaker. The alert processor includes a second communication module that establishes the wireless link with the active noise-reducing headset, and a controller that receive an incoming alert signal, generates an alert notification in response to the alert signal, and transmits the alert notification to the active noise-reducing headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8862121
    Abstract: Systems and methods providing integrated voice and data services utilizing wired cordless access with unlicensed/unregulated connectivity sources and wireless access with licensed/regulated connectivity sources. A single telephone directory number is assigned for use with both a mobile wireless telephone and for use with a cordless wired Internet Protocol (IP) telephone. The mobile wireless telephone operates via a conventional licensed spectrum wireless network, and the IP telephone operates over voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) over a broadband packet data network service. Incoming calls simultaneously ring the user's mobile wireless telephone and IP telephone. The user may be provided a personal voice mailbox that may be accessed from their mobile wireless telephone or from their IP telephone. The user may be provided a single services bill associated with use of both telephones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Gregory N. Patterson, William L. Smith
  • Patent number: 8847749
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Two separate communications paths are established from an alarm controller. Bandwidths available from each communications path are measured. When an alarm condition is detected, an alarm message is sent from the alarm controller over a communications path having a greater bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20140203929
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products notify of alarms in security systems. Sensor data is received from an alarm sensor, and an alarm condition is determined by an alarm controller. Video data associated with the alarm sensor is retrieved. An alarm message may be sent over a wireless network connection, while the video data may be sent over a wireline broadband connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks
  • Publication number: 20140157335
    Abstract: A digital residential entertainment system uses a data switch with dedicated ports. Each one of the dedicated ports may receive a different input or route a different output. As different content items are stored within the digital residential entertainment system, each one of the different content items is associated to a different row in a data table. Each different row thus stores data fields that differentiate one content item from another content item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Randy Zimler