Patents by Inventor Joseph Michael Christie

Joseph Michael Christie 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: 6208660
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6201812
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6192052
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6185219
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6181703
    Abstract: The invention includes a system for processing telecommunications signaling. Signaling for a call is received into a signaling processor. The signaling processor processes the call and generates new signaling incorporating the processing. The new signaling is transferred to network elements as appropriate. The signaling processor is not coupled to a switch matrix and only communicates with the network elements over signaling links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L. P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Manu Chand Bahl, Albert Daniel Duree, Michael Joseph Gardner, Daniel Charles Sbisa, William Lyle Wiley
  • Patent number: 6178170
    Abstract: A system and method for transporting a call having call signaling and voiceband user communications through an asynchronous transfer mode system identifies when compression, encryption, or another processing option has been applied to the voiceband user communications. A first signaling processor processes the call signaling to identify a selected first connection and a processing option, such as a compression method, to be applied to the voiceband user communications. The first signaling processor transports a control message to a first interworking unit identifying the selected connection and the selected compression method. The first interworking unit compresses the voiceband user communications with the selected compression method, sets a convergence sublayer indicator bit as an indicator in an asynchronous transfer mode cell, fills the cell with the compressed voiceband user communications, and transports the cell over the selected connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Albert Daniel Duree, Joseph Michael Christie, Mark Sucharczuk
  • Patent number: 6172977
    Abstract: The invention is an ATM system to route DS0 traffic from T1 Extended Superframe (ESF) or Superframne (SF) systems that use robbed bit signaling. The invention is able to route the call selecting the ATM VPI/VCI that routes the call within the ATM system. DS0s with robbed bit signaling are transported transparently by the ATM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, Albert Daniel Duree, Michael Joseph Gardner, Mark Sucharczuk, William Lyle Wiley
  • Patent number: 6115380
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates control messages that identify the selection and transfers the control messages to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the control messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co., L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, by Jean M. Christie, legal representative, Michael Joseph Gardner, Albert Daniel DuRee, William Lyle Wiley
  • Patent number: 6108341
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6104718
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6081529
    Abstract: The invention is an ATM transport system that transports user information from a continuous signal transport system. The ATM transport system uses telecommunications signaling associated with the continuous signals to determine if the continuous signals are transporting any user information. If so, ATM cells containing user information are generated and transmitted, but if not ATM cells are not generated and transmitted. The invention includes an ATM interworking multiplexer and in some embodiments, a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 6081525
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates control messages that identify the selection and transfers the control messages to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the control messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co., L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Jean M. Christie, legal representative, by Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, Albert Daniel Duree, Michael Joseph Gardner, William Lyle Wiley, Manu Chand Bahl, Daniel Charles Sbisa
  • Patent number: 6031840
    Abstract: The invention comprises a telecommunications signaling processor that processes Signaling System #7 (SS7) telecommunications signaling messages to select Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) virtual connections and provide control messages indicating the selected ATM virtual connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Joseph S. Christie, executor, by Jean M. Christie, executrix, William Lyle Wiley, Royal Dean Howell
  • Patent number: 6026091
    Abstract: The invention is a system for modifying the VPI/VCIs in ATM cells transferred between two ATM systems on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for the call and selects a new VPI/VCI for the call. The signaling processor generates a control message that identifies the old and new VPI/VCIs and transfers the control message to an ATM gateway. The ATM gateway modifies the old VPI/VCI in the ATM cells to the new VPI/VCI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, by Jean M. Christie, legal represenative, Albert Daniel DuRee, Michael Joseph Gardner, Tracy Nelson, William Lyle Wiley
  • Patent number: 6014378
    Abstract: The invention is a tandem system for providing a tandem connection for circuit-based traffic. This tandem system comprises an ATM cross-connect, ATM interworking multiplexers, and a signaling processor. The multiplexer converts the traffic received by the tandem system into ATM where it is routed through the cross-connect and re-converted back into the circuit-based format at an ATM interworking multiplexer. The signaling processor controls the virtual connections and out going circuit-based connections used by the multiplexers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, by Jean M. Christie, legal representative, Michael Joseph Gardner, William Lyle Wiley, Albert Daniel DuRee, Tracy Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 6002689
    Abstract: A system to interworking a call between a plurality of networks having different formats. The system has a GR-303 system, an integrated services digital network system, a service platform, and an asynchronous transfer mode system. The system has a signaling processor that is adapted to receive the call signaling and to process the call signaling to select a connection to one of the GR-303 system, the integrated services digital network system, the service platform, or the asynchronous transfer mode system. The signaling processor thereby selects the corresponding system on the connection. The signaling processor transports a control message identifying the selected connection. An interworking unit receives the user communications and the control message. The interworking unit converts the user communications from the format in which it was received to the format that is compatible with the selected system. The user communications are then transported on the selected connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, by Joseph S. Christie, executor, by Jean M. Christie, executor, Michael Joseph Gardner, William Lyle Wiley, Albert Daniel Duree, Tracy Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 5991301
    Abstract: The invention is a system for providing virtual connections through an ATM interworking multiplexer on a call-by-call basis. A signaling processor receives signaling for a call and selects the virtual connection for the call. The signaling processor generates new signaling that identifies the selection and transfers the new signaling to the ATM interworking multiplexer that accepted the access connection for the call. The multiplexer converts user information from the access connection into ATM cells for transmission over the virtual connection in accord with the new signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 5920562
    Abstract: A system and method provide enhanced services for a call that is transported from a communication device through an asynchronous transfer mode system. The call has user communications in asynchronous transfer mode cells and call signaling. A signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to determine a connection to a service platform. The signaling processor transports a processor control message designating the selected connection. An asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit receives the user communications from the communication device and the processor control message from the signaling processor. The asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit converts the user communications from the asynchronous transfer mode cells to a format compatible with the service platform and dynamically transports the user communications to the service platform in real time. The service platform processes the user communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co. L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Christie, deceased, Joseph S. Christie, legal representative, Jean M. Christie, legal representative, Tracy Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 5825780
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and apparatus for providing communication control. The invention includes a method in which signaling is processed externally to a switch before it is applied by the network elements. The processor is able to select network characteristics and signal the network elements based the selections. A network employing the processing method is also included, as well as a signaling system that employs the processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Co.L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie
  • Patent number: 5703876
    Abstract: The invention is an ATM transport system that transports user information from a continuous signal transport system. The ATM transport system uses telecommunications signaling associated with the continuous signals to determine if the continuous signals are transporting any user information. If so, ATM cells containing user information are generated and transmitted, but if not ATM cells are not generated and transmitted. The invention includes an ATM interworking multiplexer and in some embodiments, a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Christie