Patents by Inventor John Holden Bickford

John Holden Bickford 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).

  • Authenticating without opening electronic mail
    Patent number: 7523496
    Abstract: A method for enabling the recipient of electronic mail (e-mail) to authenticate the originator of the e-mail without opening the e-mail, so that e-mail that carries a computer virus which activates upon opening the e-mail may be rejected. The originator and the recipient agree beforehand on a privately held authentication code, which is carried in an open field of the e-mail, i.e., carried in a field that is visible to an agent of the recipient without opening the e-mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Holden Bickford, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Robert B. Sisk
  • Method for processing calls in a call center with automatic answering
    Patent number: 6965669
    Abstract: In a call center with automatic answering, the availability of an agent is verified in order to prevent open connections when the agent unexpectedly leaves his or her station and fails to give proper notice. Verification may be provided by sensing speech activity of the agent when greeting a calling party or in response to an incoming-call signal. In other embodiments, verification may be provided by checking an audio device allocated to the agent, for example checking whether the agent is wearing his or her headset, or whether the headset is operably connected to the call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Holden Bickford, Christopher Ryan Groves, Kevin James Muterspaugh
  • Method for processing calls in a call center with automatic answering
    Publication number: 20040081309
    Abstract: In a call center with automatic answering, the availability of an agent is verified in order to prevent open connections when the agent unexpectedly leaves his or her station and fails to give proper notice. Verification may be provided by sensing speech activity of the agent when greeting a calling party or in response to an incoming-call signal. In other embodiments, verification may be provided by checking an audio device allocated to the agent, for example checking whether the agent is wearing his or her headset, or whether the headset is operably connected to the call center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Holden Bickford, Christopher Ryan Groves, Kevin James Muterspaugh
  • Authenticating without opening electronic mail
    Publication number: 20030028767
    Abstract: A method for enabling the recipient of electronic mail (e-mail) to authenticate the originator of the e-mail without opening the e-mail, so that e-mail that carries a computer virus which activates upon opening the e-mail may be rejected. The originator and the recipient agree beforehand on a privately held authentication code, which is carried in an open field of the e-mail, i.e., carried in a field that is visible to an agent of the recipient without opening the e-mail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Holden Bickford, Charles Steven Lingafelt, Robert B. Sisk