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: 8208431
    Abstract: In one embodiment a pico cell may be used to detect a presence of a wireless device and receive a wireless signal from the wireless device. The wireless signal may then be converted from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection. The converted signal may then be transmitted over the broadband connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Douglas O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20120122418
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. A packetized alarm message is received from a security system associated with a network address. The network address is associated to a notification address. A communication to the notification address is initiated to alert of an alarm from a security system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8171517
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to wirelessly download media content to a media device of a vehicle from a point in the media content where a gateway previously stopped downloading the media content to the vehicle media device, where the server is in a reconfigurable master-slave relationship with the gateway, where the server and the gateway are remote from each other and remote from the vehicle, and where the gateway is associated with the vehicle. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Randy Zimler
  • Publication number: 20120079475
    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: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Douglas R. O'Nell
  • Patent number: 8126128
    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 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Douglas R. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8107957
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for seamless enterprise and consumer mobility with multiple numbers are described. The techniques provide simultaneous ringing on a mobile communication device and manage network connections between the mobile communication device and at least two networks. The simultaneous rings are to at least one of a primary number associated with a mobile communication device and one or more identified numbers associated with the primary number. The simultaneous rings are based on a presence and/or physical location of the mobile communication device. The multiple numbers may have associated distinctive ring functions or tones. When the mobile communication device is proximate to the first network, a first detection signal is generated. A first presence signal indicates whether the condition of the connection permits an ongoing communication on the first network. The communication is handed over to a second network when the connection does not permit continuing on the first network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Douglas R. O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20120023519
    Abstract: A services gateway includes a processor configured to send a request for a video-on-demand content, receive a first content stream from a video-on-demand content server, and process the first content stream to retrieve the video-on-demand content. The first content stream includes the video-on-demand content and is protected with a first digital rights management scheme. The processor is further configured to encode the video-on-demand content in a second content stream, and provide the second content stream over a local area network to a playback device. The second content stream is protected with a second digital rights management scheme. In an embodiment, the processor can be further configured to store the video-on-demand content in a mass storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Nicholas S. Huslak
  • Publication number: 20120017253
    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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: JOHN ALSON HICKS, III, Nicholas S. Huslak
  • Patent number: 8099343
    Abstract: Distribution schemes and related payment models and methods for subscriber-created content are described herein. The methods may include receiving content uploaded from a subscriber who created the content, and collecting a payment from the subscriber in exchange for enabling the subscriber to upload the content. One or more recipients for the content are identified in a community that is associated with the subscriber, where the recipients joined the community in response to an invitation extended by the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas R. O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8085717
    Abstract: Seamless wireless mobility is described. In one embodiment, a mobility manager can query a subscriber catalog for a current registration status of handset. The mobility manager can then use the registration status to send a first signal to the handset over either a wireless network or an Internet protocol-based network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Douglas O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Patent number: 8001574
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products describe a video overlay processor connected to a system data bus and to a media bus. The video overlay processor superimposes a first audio-visual signal over a second audio-visual signal to produce a superimposed signal and sends the superimposed signal to the system data bus. A network bus connects to the system data bus and receives the superimposed signal. A data switch connects to the network bus, receives the superimposed signal, and sends the superimposed signal to one or more switch ports of the data switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Randy Scott Zimler
  • Publication number: 20110090788
    Abstract: A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for providing a back-up internet protocol (IP) connection are disclosed. For example, the method monitors a primary IP connection to a subscriber premises, detects a failure or a degradation of the primary IP connection to the subscriber premises and activates a back-up IP connection to the subscriber premises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: JOHN ALSON HICKS, III
  • Publication number: 20110090334
    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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    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: 20110085647
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that describe a network interface to a data network. A 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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20110032095
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. A packetized 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20100287480
    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: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Randy Zimler
  • Publication number: 20100272024
    Abstract: In one embodiment a pico cell may be used to detect a presence of a wireless device and receive a wireless signal from the wireless device. The wireless signal may then be converted from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection. The converted signal may then be transmitted over the broadband connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20100272010
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media gateway having a controller to establish communications with a media processor over a wireline network according to a next generation home network (G.hn) protocol, establish communications with the media processor over a wireless network according to a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) protocol, determine a first measure of communication according to the WiFi protocol, determine a second measure of communication according to the G.hn protocol, and coordinate with the media processor to select one of the wireline network and the wireless network according to the first and second measures of communication for delivery of the media services to the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: JOHN ALSON HICKS, III
  • Patent number: 7773572
    Abstract: In one embodiment a pico cell may be used to detect a presence of a wireless device and receive a wireless signal from the wireless device. The wireless signal may then be converted from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection. The converted signal may then be transmitted over the broadband connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III
  • Publication number: 20100189043
    Abstract: Seamless wireless mobility is described. In one embodiment, a mobility manager can query a subscriber catalog for a current registration status of handset. The mobility manager can then use the registration status to send a first signal to the handset over either a wireless network or an Internet protocol-based network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas O'Neil, John Alson Hicks, III