Patents by Inventor John Blakeney

John Blakeney 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).

  • Publication number: 20130171977
    Abstract: A method is provided for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester. The method includes providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send the subscriber a message in electronic format. A message is received from the requester which determines available formats for delivery of the message to the subscriber. A message is transmitted to the subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to the subscriber's device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 8447278
    Abstract: A communication assistance system has a first database haying a plurality of listings therein, each having at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A device is configured to receive a directory assistance communication from a device of a user requesting at least one listing. A past requested listing table for at least one of said users is configured to store prior requested listings obtained from the database, as previously requested by the user. The past requested listing table is generated by the system and transmitted for storage on the device of the user so that when the user contacts the system, with the at least one listing stored on the past requested listing table being masked, the system may allow a communication connection between the device and the listing on the past requested listing table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 8385530
    Abstract: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, John Blakeney
  • Publication number: 20120328089
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database is configured to store the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including phone numbers. A closing prompt module is coupled to the first database on as to select a closing prompt code associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, where anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester. The closing prompt module selects the closing prompt code relating to a subscriber information other than the subscriber information requested by the requester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20120322405
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20120250848
    Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers. The system includes a masking feature that allows it to connect a requester to a subscriber without revealing subscriber's mobile telephone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 8265242
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20120183129
    Abstract: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, John Blakeney
  • Patent number: 8139748
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a means for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a pre-announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a connection to a subscriber is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 8036365
    Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for accessing information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. This system is comprised of a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 8023633
    Abstract: A communication assistance system for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the subscriber information. A listing database is configured to store the subscriber information including a field containing wireless phone numbers of a desired portion of the subscribers and a connect field that stores information instructing the system as to whether to mask the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester, such that during a process that the requester is being connected to a desired subscriber, the connect field is examined to determine whether to disclose the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20110195689
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 7991140
    Abstract: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, John Blakeney
  • Publication number: 20110055251
    Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a first database having a plurality of listings, each listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A means is provided for receiving communications from a user among a plurality of users desiring to access the listings. An operator terminal displays a search screen among a plurality of search screens, each of which maintain at least a partially different arrangement of content and search windows for receiving search terms to search for listings contained in the first database, where the displayed search screen is determined based on criteria contained in a search request from the user. The operator terminal is further configured to receive the communication from the user and retrieve a listing from the first database using the displayed search screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Christine Baumeister, John Blakeney, Franklin Weiland
  • Publication number: 20100278326
    Abstract: A communication assistance system has a first database haying a plurality of listings therein, each having at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A device is configured to receive a directory assistance communication from a device of a user requesting at least one listing. A past requested listing table for at least one of said users is configured to store prior requested listings obtained from the database, as previously requested by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Pines, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 7804944
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Patent number: 7711354
    Abstract: A communication assistance system has a first database having a plurality of listings therein, each having at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A device is configured to receive a directory assistance communication from a device of a user requesting at least one listing. A past requested listing table for at least one of said users is configured to store prior requested listings obtained from the database, as previously requested by the user. The past requested listing table is generated by the system and transmitted for storage on the device of the user so that when the user contacts the system, with the at least one listing stored on the past requested listing table being masked, the system may allow a communication connection between the device and the listing on the past requested listing table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Pines, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20090285370
    Abstract: A method for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester, said method comprising the steps of: providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send said subscriber a message in electronic format; receiving said message from said requester; determining available formats for delivery of said message to said subscriber; transmitting said message to said subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to said subscriber's device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20080310606
    Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a means for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a pre-announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a connection to a subscriber is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20080123832
    Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for accessing information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. This system is comprised of a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Chrisine Baumeister