Patents by Inventor Philip B. Ashcraft

Philip B. Ashcraft 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: 7085356
    Abstract: Methods and systems for proactively maintaining a telephone system local loop. One embodiment includes communicating with a communications network and acquiring information associated with pressure or flow sensors along fiber optic cables. Proactive maintenance of the fiber optic cables is predicted using the information associated with pressure or flow sensors. The embodiment may further include generating and dispatching work order information describing the predicted proactive maintenance. The embodiment may also include predicting proactive maintenance of telephone lines using information from a Dynamic Network Analyzer and using information from a Loop Facilities and Control System. Another embodiment includes a system for predicting proactive maintenance of a telephone system local loop. This embodiment includes a Pressure Alarms and Reports System Module, a database stored in memory, and a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth Ann Beamon, Ronnie L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft
  • Patent number: 6965318
    Abstract: A system for monitoring air pressure in a telecommunications network comprises a plurality of monitoring units, at least one device server, a computer network, and a terminal. Each monitoring unit is connected to a device server. A user at the terminal receives air pressure data from the monitoring units over the computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Ron L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft, Steven W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040258213
    Abstract: Methods and systems for proactively maintaining a telephone system local loop. One embodiment includes communicating with a communications network and acquiring information associated with pressure or flow sensors along fiber optic cables. Proactive maintenance of the fiber optic cables is predicted using the information associated with pressure or flow sensors. The embodiment may further include generating and dispatching work order information describing the predicted proactive maintenance. The embodiment may also include predicting proactive maintenance of telephone lines using information from a Dynamic Network Analyzer and using information from a Loop Facilities and Control System. Another embodiment includes a system for predicting proactive maintenance of a telephone system local loop. This embodiment includes a Pressure Alarms and Reports System Module, a database stored in memory, and a processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Elizabeth Ann Beamon, Ronald L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft
  • Publication number: 20040222895
    Abstract: A system for monitoring air pressure in a telecommunications network comprises a plurality of monitoring units, at least one device server, a computer network, and a terminal. Each monitoring unit is connected to a device server. A user at the terminal receives air pressure data from the monitoring units over the computer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Ronnie L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft, Steven W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6810337
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring pressurization performance of a cable network that may include detecting alarm conditions within the cable network, recording the time and date during which each alarm condition was initially detected, and calculating a length of time for each detected alarm condition during which the detected alarm condition remains unremediated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Philip B. Ashcraft, Ronnie L. Rozier, Max L. Waldrop, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6771739
    Abstract: Methods and systems for proactively maintaining a telephone system local loop. One embodiment includes communicating with a communications network and acquiring information associated with pressure or flow sensors along fiber optic cables. Proactive maintenance of the fiber optic cables is predicted using the information associated with pressure or flow sensors. The embodiment may further include generating and dispatching work order information describing the predicted proactive maintenance. The embodiment may also include predicting proactive maintenance of telephone lines using information from a Dynamic Network Analyzer and using information from a Loop Facilities and Control System. Another embodiment includes a system for predicting proactive maintenance of a telephone system local loop. This embodiment includes a Pressure Alarms and Reports System Module, a database stored in memory, and a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth Ann Beamon, Ronnie L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft
  • Patent number: 6765988
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for automating the dispatching of maintenance services from a telephone cable air pressure monitoring system. If air pressure maintained in a telephone cable conduit drops below a required level, an alarm may be generated at an air pressure alarm and report system (APARS). If the APARS determines that an unacceptable air pressure exists, data associated with the cable conduit is sent to a proactive maintenance application (PMA). The PMA checks other data associated with the conduit in question to determine if an acceptable condition exists that is responsible for the drop in air pressure or air flow. If the PMA does not determine that the change in air pressure or air flow is acceptable, the PMA generates a work order or work ticket for ordering a repair of the conduit. The work order is transmitted to a dispatch system. At the dispatch system, an operator verifies the status of the conduit in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Ronnie L. Rozier, Elizabeth Ann Beamon, Philip B. Ashcraft
  • Patent number: 6754595
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the pressurization performance of a cable network, such as a telecommnunications cable network, including monitoring a plurality of pressurization sensors, monitoring a plurality of pressurization alarms, receiving data related to the plurality of pressurization sensors and the plurality of pressurization alarms, and generating an index. The index taking into account the number of pressurization sensors monitored during a predetermined period of time, the number of pressurization sensors which are inoperable during the predetermined period of time, and the number of pressurization alarms which are tripped during the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Ron L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft, Steven W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6737976
    Abstract: A system for monitoring air pressure in a telecommunications network comprises a plurality of monitoring units, at least one device server, a computer network, and a terminal. Each monitoring unit is connected to a device server. A user at the terminal receives air pressure data from the monitoring units over the computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Ron L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft, Steven W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040036616
    Abstract: A system for monitoring air pressure in a telecommunications network comprises a plurality of monitoring units, at least one device server, a computer network, and a terminal. Each monitoring unit is connected to a device server. A user at the terminal receives air pressure data from the monitoring units over the computer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Ronnie L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft, Steven W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6600423
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely starting a cable pressure monitoring unit operable for monitoring the air pressure within a pressurized cable route, such as a telecommunications cable route, including a remote computer operable for generating and transmitting a command signal directing the cable pressure monitoring unit to start, an automated transfer system operable for receiving the command signal directing the cable pressure monitoring unit to start, and a computer network operable for communicating the command signal from the remote computer to the automated transfer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: Ronnie L. Rozier, Philip B. Ashcraft, Steven W. Smith