Patents by Inventor John T. Blanchard

John T. Blanchard 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).

  • Enhanced call waiting
    Patent number: 6026156
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for providing telecommunication services to a user. When the user is engaged in a first telephone call via a telephone switch with a first party and a second party attempts to place a second telephone call to the user via the switch, the method and apparatus advise the second caller that the user is engaged in a telephone conversation and allow the second caller to determine whether to interrupt the user or choose another alternative. The user can then decide whether to accept the call from the second caller, putting the first caller on hold, or to refuse the second call. Alternative embodiments are disclosed where the user is advised of the identity of the second caller (or wherein the user has previously authorized certain callers to interrupt a current call with a new call), and then the user can decide whether to accept the call from the second party (placing the first party on hold) or to deny the second party (in which case the second party is transferred to a message center).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Aspect Telecommunications Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick A. Epler, Robert M. Fuller, Daniel R. Kranzler, John T. Blanchard
  • Enhanced call waiting
    Patent number: 5825867
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for providing telecommunication services to a user. When the user is engaged in a first telephone call via a telephone switch with a first party and a second party attempts to place a second telephone call to the user via the switch, the method and apparatus advise the second caller that the user is engaged in a telephone conversation and allow the second caller to determine whether to interrupt the user or choose another alternative. The user can then decide whether to accept the call from the second caller, putting the first caller on hold, or to refuse the second call. Alternative embodiments are disclosed where the user is advised of the identity of the second caller (or wherein the user has previously authorized certain callers to interrupt a current call with a new call), and then the user can decide whether to accept the call from the second party (placing the first party on hold) or to deny the second party (in which case the second party is transferred to a message center).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Aspect Telecommunications Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick A. Epler, Robert M. Fuller, Daniel R. Kranzler, John T. Blanchard