Patents by Inventor Liz Rice

Liz Rice 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: 10171678
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to a telephony user device and at least one other user device in a data communications network. Communications are conducted with a server system. The communications comprise a client-server connection. Call party details of a telephone call are transmitted to the server system in the communications. The telephone call involves at least the telephony user device, as a first telephony user device involved in the call, and a second telephony user device involved in the call. The call party details including a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Publication number: 20180103360
    Abstract: In one or more implementations, a request is received at a client device to initiate a communication session with a selected contact using a communication service. One of a first communication network or a second communication network for the communication session with the selected contact is selected at the client device. The selection is based on the selected contact and user preferences. Next, the communication session is established with the selected contact using the selected first communication network or second communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Skype
    Inventors: Taavet Hinrikus, Gareth O'Loughlin, Liz Rice, Max Melchior
  • Patent number: 9807578
    Abstract: A terminal for use in a voice communications system includes a base station and at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with the base station. The base station includes a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, the base station being arranged to selectively establish a packet data call from the first interface and a public switched telephone call from the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventors: Taavet Hinrikus, Gareth O'Loughlin, Liz Rice, Max Melchior
  • Patent number: 9736666
    Abstract: Communications equipment associated with a calling party in a telecommunications network has a telephony function for handling telephone calls and a data communication application for handling data communication sessions. The telephony function and the data communication application have an associated first and second user interface respectively. A called party identifier is collected via the second user interface in response to user input at the communications equipment. A telephone call is set up between the calling party and the called party using the telephony function on the basis of the collected called party identifier. Data communication session setup information, comprising information identifying the called party, is transmitted on the basis of the collected called party identifier. The data communication session setup information is for establishing a data communication session separate from the telephone call for the communication of data between the calling party and the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Patent number: 9723032
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least two user devices in a data communications network. A client-server connection request is received from at least one of the at least two user devices. Call party details of a telephone call are received. The telephone call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. At least one of the first and second identities comprises a telephone dialing number. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Patent number: 9690445
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for controlling a computing device comprising a touch-screen user interface. A status of one or more applications having access to the touch-screen user interface of the computing device is monitored. In response to the monitoring indicating that a predetermined application is displaying a screen on the touch-screen user interface, at least one overlay portion is configured over a part of the displayed screen. Hence, an augmented user interface experience is provided which allows display of information to a user via an overlay displayed on top of information associated with a predetermined application already being presented to the user. No interaction by the user with the touch-screen user interface is required in order to navigate away from or back to the predetermined application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, Shaun Crampton
  • Patent number: 9380124
    Abstract: A method of determining an overall presence state for a user of a communication system in which the user is connected to the communication system using a plurality of devices. The method includes each of the plurality of devices storing in a device memory a presence state for that device; detecting a change in the presence state in at least one of the plurality of devices; each of the plurality of devices transmitting a message via the communication system to the remainder of the plurality of devices, the message comprising the presence state; receiving the messages at the remainder of the plurality of devices; and executing a decision-making code sequence in a processor at each of the remainder of the plurality of devices to determine whether to synchronize the presence state of that device with the presence state from one of the messages based on the origin of an event causing the change in presence state at the at least one of the plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventors: Tauri Tuubel, Liz Rice, Stuart John, Teet Konnussaar, Jill Tolan
  • Publication number: 20160088452
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to a telephony user device and at least one other user device in a data communications network. Communications are conducted with a server system. The communications comprise a client-server connection. Call party details of a telephone call are transmitted to the server system in the communications. The telephone call involves at least the telephony user device, as a first telephony user device involved in the call, and a second telephony user device involved in the call. The call party details including a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Chris MAIRS, Liz RICE, Philip PEARL, Felix PALMER, David DRYSDALE, Shaun CRAMPTON
  • Patent number: 9154633
    Abstract: A telephony user device capable of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least one other device in a data communications network, the telephony user device being adapted to provide a reconfigurable graphical user interface, establish a telephone call with a service provider, establish a separate communications session, separate from the telephone call, for the transfer of data to/from the at least one other device, on the basis of one or more call party details associated with the telephone call, and reconfigure at least a first part of the graphical user interface according to configuration data determined by the service provider and received in the separate communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Publication number: 20150189029
    Abstract: A method of determining an overall presence state for a user of a communication system in which the user is connected to the communication system using a plurality of devices. The method includes each of the plurality of devices storing in a device memory a presence state for that device; detecting a change in the presence state in at least one of the plurality of devices; each of the plurality of devices transmitting a message via the communication system to the remainder of the plurality of devices, the message comprising the presence state; receiving the messages at the remainder of the plurality of devices; and executing a decision-making code sequence in a processor at each of the remainder of the plurality of devices to determine whether to synchronise the presence state of that device with the presence state from one of the messages based on the origin of an event causing the change in presence state at the at least one of the plurality of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Tauri Tuubel, Liz Rice, Stuart John, Teet Konnussaar, Jill Tolan
  • Patent number: 9071950
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to a telephony user device and at least one other user device in a data communications network. Communications are conducted with a server system. The communications comprise a client-server connection. Call party details of a telephone call are transmitted to the server system in the communications. The telephone call involves at least the telephony user device, as a first telephony user device involved in the call, and a second telephony user device involved in the call. The call party details including a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Patent number: 9049310
    Abstract: A method for the communication of data with respect to at least two telephony user devices in a data communications network comprises determining call party details for a telephone call. The telephone call involves at least a first device and a second device. The call party details include first and second identities associated with the first and second devices respectively. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities. The communications session is separate from the telephone call and is for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two devices. An alert activation request for an alert mechanism associated with the at least one of the at least two devices is transmitted via the communications session. The alert activation request is capable of causing the at least one of the at least two devices to activate the alert mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Liz Rice, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Patent number: 9049210
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least two user devices in a data communications network. A client-server connection request is received from at least one of the at least two user devices. Call party details of a telephone call are received. The telephone call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. At least one of the first and second identities comprises a telephone dialing number. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Philip Pearl, Felix Palmer, David Drysdale, Shaun Crampton
  • Patent number: 9032030
    Abstract: A method of determining an overall presence state for a user of a communication system in which the user is connected to the communication system using a plurality of devices. The method includes each of the plurality of devices storing in a device memory a presence state for that device; detecting a change in the presence state in at least one of the plurality of devices; each of the plurality of devices transmitting a message via the communication system to the remainder of the plurality of devices, the message comprising the presence state; receiving the messages at the remainder of the plurality of devices; and executing a decision-making code sequence in a processor at each of the remainder of the plurality of devices to determine whether to synchronise the presence state of that device with the presence state from one of the messages based on the origin of an event causing the change in presence state at the at least one of the plurality of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventors: Tauri Tuubel, Liz Rice, Stuart John, Teet Konnussaar, Jill Tolan
  • Patent number: 9008287
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least two user devices in a data communications network. Call party details of a telephone call are received. The telephone call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. At least one of the first and second identities comprises a telephone dialing number. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details. The communications session is separate from the telephone call, for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Metaswitch Networks Ltd
    Inventors: Chris Mairs, Liz Rice, Felix Palmer
  • Patent number: 9001980
    Abstract: Measures for the communication of data with respect to at least two different user devices in a data communications network. Establishing a communications session for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two different user devices, receiving, on the basis of user input at one of the at least two different user devices, an identifier identifying one or more downloadable resources, generating a transmissible identifier based at least in part on the received identifier, the transmissible identifier being operable to initiate the download of the one or more downloadable resources using the transmissible identifier, and to associate a predetermined identity with the download, and enabling the download of the one or more downloadable resources to another of the at least two different user devices using the transmissible identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Metaswitch Networks Ltd.
    Inventors: Philip Pearl, Liz Rice
  • Publication number: 20140376704
    Abstract: A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least two user devices in a data communications network. A client-server connection request is received from at least one of the at least two user devices. Call party details of a telephone call are received. The telephone call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. At least one of the first and second identities comprises a telephone dialing number. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Chris MAIRS, Liz RICE, Philip PEARL, Felix PALMER, David DRYSDALE, Shaun CRAMPTON
  • Publication number: 20140112207
    Abstract: A terminal for use in a voice communications system includes a base station and at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with the base station. The base station includes a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, the base station being arranged to selectively establish a packet data call from the first interface and a public switched telephone call from the second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Taavet Hinrikus, Gareth O'Laughlin, Liz Rice, Max Melchior
  • Publication number: 20140106720
    Abstract: Communications equipment associated with a calling party in a telecommunications network has a telephony function for handling telephone calls and a data communication application for handling data communication sessions. The telephony function and the data communication application have an associated first and second user interface respectively. A called party identifier is collected via the second user interface in response to user input at the communications equipment. A telephone call is set up between the calling party and the called party using the telephony function on the basis of the collected called party identifier. Data communication session setup information, comprising information identifying the called party, is transmitted on the basis of the collected called party identifier. The data communication session setup information is for establishing a data communication session separate from the telephone call for the communication of data between the calling party and the called party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Metaswitch Networks Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris MAIRS, Liz RICE, Philip PEARL, Felix PALMER, David DRYSDALE, Shaun CRAMPTON
  • Patent number: 8619738
    Abstract: A terminal for use in a voice communications system includes a base station and at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with the base station. The base station includes a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, the base station being arranged to selectively establish a packet data call from the first interface and a public switched telephone call from the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Taavet Hinrikus, Gareth O'Loughlin, Liz Rice, Max Melchior