Patents by Inventor Marian Croak

Marian Croak 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).

  • Method and apparatus for enabling dynamic protocol interworking resolution with diverse endpoints
    Patent number: 8594128
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling an edge component, e.g., a Border Element (BE), on a packet network to be endpoint aware is disclosed. Information contained in the BE regarding the endpoint enables it to consult stored protocol configurations that facilitate the dynamic resolution of interworking issues and adjust for service differences in endpoint support based on dynamic protocol interworking resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for maintaining active calls during failover of network elements
    Patent number: 8593939
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for keeping transitory state in a packet network so that in the event of a failover of a network element, existing active calls can be quickly re-established by the packet network or briefly held in a suspended state until the affected network element returns to a healthy state is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for measuring voice quality in a packet network
    Patent number: 8588083
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring voice quality in a packet network is described. In one example, statistics for calls in the packet network per customer segment of a plurality of customer segments are obtained over a period of time. The statistics are processed to identify call patterns for the plurality of customer segments. Sample measurements of voice quality are obtained for each of the plurality of customer segments in response to the call patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for blocking a pay-per-use feature in a communications network
    Patent number: 8588216
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking at least one pay-per-use feature in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, a request to initiate at least one pay-per-use feature from at least one endpoint device associated with a subscriber is received. A determination of whether a blocking function has been activated for the at least one pay-per-use feature is then made. Afterwards, the request to initiate the at least one pay-per-use feature is blocked if the blocking function is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing disaster recovery using network peering arrangements
    Patent number: 8582590
    Abstract: The present invention enables network providers to create peering arrangements with other providers that allow them to fail over to other networks in the event of a site failure. This invention would lower the cost to provide site diversity within a provider's network by allowing cost sharing between the provider's network and other networks. For example, when an Application Server (AS) in a network fails, the network provider can send a call to a partner's network and uses an AS in the partner's network to process the call request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling global telephony capabilities in communication networks
    Patent number: 8576832
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network service provider, e.g., a VoIP network provider, to create configuration files containing network based parameters that support global telephony capabilities (e.g., in country services) such as in country ring tones, dialing patterns, network announcements, and signaling tones that can be offered to users who want in country telephony capabilities independent of their location is disclosed. These global telephony capability configurations can be downloaded to intelligent IP phones or based in the VoIP network for access by subscribers' telephony devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for assigning a virtual number during porting of a primary number
    Patent number: 8570906
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider to instantly assign a virtual number to a subscriber to use until their primary number is successfully ported to the VoIP network is disclosed. For example, a virtual number can be a phone number for callers outside a subscriber's local calling area to call the subscriber for the price of a local call if the subscriber chooses a virtual phone number in their local calling area. After the porting of the primary number is successful, the user can be reached by either having callers directly dial the primary number or the previously assigned virtual number. The subscriber can continue to use both phone numbers or choose to disconnect the virtual number and only use the successfully ported primary number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for routing a call to a subject matter expert via a packet network
    Patent number: 8565409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a call to a subject matter expert via a packet network is described. In one embodiment, a request to route said at least one call to the SME is received. A predefined location associated with the SME is also obtained. The call is then routed to a foreign Internet Protocol gateway associated with the predefined foreign location to communicate with the SME.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING CLIENT SOFTWARE USAGE IN END USER DEVICE
    Publication number: 20130268658
    Abstract: The present invention enables a capability for packet-switched network service providers, e.g., VoIP network service providers, to monitor the CPE application usage of their subscriber to ensure that changes to the network do not interfere with these applications and to potentially provide changes to the network to enhance these premise based applications. Monitoring software will be installed in the CPE to monitor upgrades and features installed by the end users so that any potential impact to these applied applications can be assessed before a VoIP network upgrade is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing dynamic international calling rates
    Patent number: 8553863
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling VoIP service providers to dynamically adjust international calling rates as a function of adjustments made with partner carrier arrangements that VoIP service providers put in place are disclosed. Thus VoIP service providers can pass on savings, if the new calling rate is lower than the old calling rate, to their subscribers in order to enhance the loyalty of existing subscribers. Instead of having subscribers to call into customer service centers to take advantage of these new lower international calling rates, the new calling rates will be updated dynamically and immediately for subscribers without these subscribers having to call in to request their billing rates to match the new calling rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for sharing a stored video session
    Patent number: 8549156
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to invite one or more participants in a SoIP network to join a shared video session hosted by the user are disclosed. The present method allows a user to order and store video selections in the network that the user can access later using a personal password. In one embodiment, for all the other users who are invited to join the shared video session, the network provides another one time password that the invited users can use to access the shared video session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENDPOINTS ON A PER CALL BASIS
    Publication number: 20130242981
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to signal to the network that a call to be initiated or a call that is in progress needs to occur in a peer-to-peer relationship with the terminating endpoint. The network will then remove itself from the call signaling and media path and direct the signaling and media communication to occur directly between the two endpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTERNET PROTOCOL CALL SIGNALING NETWORK ASSURANCE
    Publication number: 20130242724
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for alarming on all signaling protocol messages that fail in substantial numbers on any particular routes within an IP network are disclosed. For example, upon receiving these alarms, the network will attempt to identify, and to correct the error producing conditions to prevent further call signaling message failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossien Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls
    Patent number: 8538005
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscribers of a VoIP service provider to take advantage of wholesale arrangements made by the VoIP service provider with one or more international partner carrier network providers to one or more international countries are disclosed. Specifically, the present method enables a VoIP service provider to display a web page to their subscribers, for each destination country, with one or more international partner network providers and their corresponding calling rates and/or call completion success rates to each particular destination country.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing call center agents with calling party information
    Patent number: 8532088
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing call center agents with calling party information for calls initiated behind trunks on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. The method enables a network service provider such as a telephone company to provide toll free service to an enterprise customer, and to provide the enterprise customer with the trunk group identifiers that customers of the enterprise utilize to access services provided by the enterprise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing end-to-end call completion status
    Patent number: 8520816
    Abstract: The present invention enables a method for following the state of a call and generating defects as function of call completion success as opposed to discrete events that happen at individual network elements during the call. In one embodiment, the invention uses Call Detail Records (CDR) to analyze the end-to-end completion status to measure per call basis defects instead of using defect codes generated by network elements on a per equipment basis. CDR is data associated with a telephone call, including the calling and the called numbers, the date and timestamp, the duration, the call setup delay, and the final handling code of the telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing special call handling for valued customers of retailers
    Patent number: 8520811
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of a network service to register with the network as valued shoppers, thereby allowing them to receive specialized treatment when calling registered retailers. The present invention enables retailers to register with the network, thereby allowing them to set preferred service logic for handling valued customer calls by the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing voice control for accessing teleconference services
    Patent number: 8515045
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to teleconference services using voice recognition technology to receive information on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, the service provider enables a caller to enter access information for accessing a conference service using at least one natural language response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring client software usage in end user device
    Patent number: 8457108
    Abstract: The present invention enables a capability for packet-switched network service providers, e.g., VoIP network service providers, to monitor the CPE application usage of their subscriber to ensure that changes to the network do not interfere with these applications and to potentially provide changes to the network to enhance these premise based applications. Monitoring software will be installed in the CPE to monitor upgrades and features installed by the end users so that any potential impact to these applied applications can be assessed before a VoIP network upgrade is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing internet protocol call signaling network assurance
    Patent number: 8437246
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for alarming on all signaling protocol messages that fail in substantial numbers on any particular routes within an IP network are disclosed. For example, upon receiving these alarms, the network will attempt to identify, and to correct the error producing conditions to prevent further call signaling message failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi