Patents by Inventor Raymond J. Sheppard

Raymond J. Sheppard 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: 12388880
    Abstract: A system and method for security validation of incoming communications through relationship fingerprints is disclosed. The system analyzes metadata from incoming communications to identify communication patterns without accessing content. Using these patterns, the system validates relationship context between communicating parties through an interaction graph and relationship fingerprints stored in a database. The relationship fingerprints contain temporal patterns, channel preferences, and behavioral patterns that evolve as relationships develop. The system validates incoming communications by matching current patterns against stored relationship fingerprints. Additionally, the system enables cross-service pattern sharing through aggregated patterns that can be normalized and shared across networks while maintaining privacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2025
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Intelligent Communication Assistant, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W McCord, Gustavo Manuel Damil Marin, Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20250202956
    Abstract: A system and method for security validation of incoming communications through relationship fingerprints is disclosed. The system analyzes metadata from incoming communications to identify communication patterns without accessing content. Using these patterns, the system validates relationship context between communicating parties through an interaction graph and relationship fingerprints stored in a database. The relationship fingerprints contain temporal patterns, channel preferences, and behavioral patterns that evolve as relationships develop. The system validates incoming communications by matching current patterns against stored relationship fingerprints. Additionally, the system enables cross-service pattern sharing through aggregated patterns that can be normalized and shared across networks while maintaining privacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Alan W. McCord, Gustavo Manuel Damil Marin, Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 12261893
    Abstract: A system and method for managing communications through adaptive switching between model-based and model-free approaches is disclosed. The system comprises a communication management server with a master AI agent that dynamically selects between model-based and model-free reinforcement learning techniques to process incoming communications. The model-based approach utilizes a Markov Decision Process (MDP) with an environment state model, while the model-free approach employs a large language model (LLM) with retrieval-augmented generation. The system evaluates the performance and cost of both approaches in real-time, considering factors such as available historical data, observed decision quality, user goal modifications, and environmental changes. Based on this evaluation, the system adaptively switches between the two approaches or employs an ensemble method, optimizing the decision-making process for each unique communication scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Intelligent Communication Assistant, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W McCord, Gustavo Manuel Damil Marin, Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20240422172
    Abstract: System and method for configuring network pairings enabling end-to-end communications between electronic devices is disclosed. The system comprises a communication control server that receives a communication object containing a dialog between a first device and an AI chatbot, including a network pairing request to communicate with a second device. Natural language processing is performed on the dialog to determine communication context, including identifying key topics, analyzing sentiment and urgency, determining intent, extracting temporal information, and identifying requirements. The server generates handling criteria based on the NLP output, context, intent, and second device preferences. An appropriate communication channel is selected based on context and intent. A dynamic network pairing is created between the devices using the handling criteria, intent, and selected channel. The communication object is then transmitted to the second device using the created network pairing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Patent number: 12155700
    Abstract: A system to manage incoming communication is described. The system includes a multimedia gateway configured to handle real-time multimedia communications and a communication management server with a master AI agent that receives a notification of an incoming communication associated with a user device from a plurality of user devices. The master AI agent creates a current state for the user environment based on a context associated with the incoming communication, user preferences, and an interaction graph. An action selection function (ASF) is invoked to process the incoming communication, wherein the ASF is associated with an environment state model that implements a Markov Decision Process (MDP) to reflect different states, actions, and associated rewards, wherein the action selection function is configured to determine an action for the incoming communication. The action is executed by the multimedia gateway or an AI communication agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Intelligent Communication Assistant, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W McCord, Gustavo Manuel Damil Marin, Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 12137103
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring network pairings enabling end-to-end communications between electronic devices is disclosed. The system receives a network pairing request from a requesting device to communicate with a target device. The system identifies historic data associated with the communication object and determines whether an affinity group associated with the requesting device is found. Further, the system determines whether the communication object has a valid permission token associated therewith. If a valid permission token is unavailable, the system checks whether a subscriber filter criteria is met by the requesting device. If the filter criteria is met, system calculates a subscriber access score (SAS) for the requesting device and compares the score to a threshold. When the SAS is greater than the predetermined threshold value, system creates a dynamic network pairing between the requesting device and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Intelligent Communication Assistant, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Publication number: 20230403285
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring network pairings enabling end-to-end communications between electronic devices is disclosed. The system receives a network pairing request from a requesting device to communicate with a target device. The system identifies historic data associated with the communication object and determines whether an affinity group associated with the requesting device is found. Further, the system determines whether the communication object has a valid permission token associated therewith. If a valid permission token is unavailable, the system checks whether a subscriber filter criteria is met by the requesting device. If the filter criteria is met, system calculates a subscriber access score (SAS) for the requesting device and compares the score to a threshold. When the SAS is greater than the predetermined threshold value, system creates a dynamic network pairing between the requesting device and the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Patent number: 11595265
    Abstract: A system and method for creating priority-based regulated network interlinks between electronic devices is disclosed. The system receives a communication request from a first device to communicate with a second device and identifies whether the first device is comprised within a primary affinity group associated with the second device. If the first device is not found in the primary affinity group one or more secondary affinity groups are identified, each secondary affinity group associated with an electronic device different than the first and second devices. Based on scoring of each secondary affinity group, handling criteria for the communication object is determined and used to create a network interlink between the first device and the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligent Communication Assistant, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike
  • Publication number: 20220376986
    Abstract: A system and method for creating priority-based regulated network interlinks between electronic devices is disclosed. The system receives a communication request from a first device to communicate with a second device and identifies whether the first device is comprised within a primary affinity group associated with the second device. If the first device is not found in the primary affinity group one or more secondary affinity groups are identified, each secondary affinity group associated with an electronic device different than the first and second devices. Based on scoring of each secondary affinity group, handling criteria for the communication object is determined and used to create a network interlink between the first device and the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike
  • Patent number: 11431726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a network communication pathway between devices based on type of communication request are disclosed. The system obtains a communication object from a first device to enable communication with a second device. The first device may be a device within an affinity group of the second device, such that the system identifies historic data relating to the affinity group and/or relating to communication attempts from non-subscriber devices found in one or more affinity groups stored within the system. Based on the communication object type, the system identifies whether communication object relates to a question object previously received from the second device and calculates an Expert Attribute Score (EAS) for the first device. The system may evaluate the EAS against a predetermined threshold and transmit the communication object to the second device, if the EAS is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Patent number: 11431574
    Abstract: Systems and methods for computing communication matrices based on opportunity scoring of a plurality of network-connected user devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a scoring algorithm may compute an opportunity score for future delivery of interactions comprising parameters such as a cumulative time comprising historic and real-time communication time between a client device with an agent; geographic location and distance between a client device and an agent device; a quantity of direct connections for one or more client devices associated to an agent device; a quantity of indirect connections for one or more client devices associated to the agent device; quantity metrics associated to an agent device, for example, a total number of registrations. An interaction manager then routs interactions based on scoring of agent devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Alvin Daniel Ray, Robert L. Fike
  • Patent number: 11431725
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring network pairings enabling end-to-end communications between electronic devices is disclosed. The system receives a network pairing request from a requesting device to communicate with a target device. The system identifies historic data associated with the communication object and determines whether an affinity group associated with the requesting device is found. Further, the system determines whether the communication object has a valid permission token associated therewith. If a valid permission token is unavailable, the system checks whether a subscriber filter criteria is met by the requesting device. If the filter criteria is met, system calculates a subscriber access score (SAS) for the requesting device and compares the score to a threshold. When the SAS is greater than the predetermined threshold value, system creates a dynamic network pairing between the requesting device and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Publication number: 20220094694
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a network communication pathway between devices based on type of communication request are disclosed. The system obtains a communication object from a first device to enable communication with a second device. The first device may be a device within an affinity group of the second device, such that the system identifies historic data relating to the affinity group and/or relating to communication attempts from non-subscriber devices found in one or more affinity groups stored within the system. Based on the communication object type, the system identifies whether communication object relates to a question object previously received from the second device and calculates an Expert Attribute Score (EAS) for the first device. The system may evaluate the EAS against a predetermined threshold and transmit the communication object to the second device, if the EAS is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Publication number: 20220094693
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring network pairings enabling end-to-end communications between electronic devices is disclosed. The system receives a network pairing request from a requesting device to communicate with a target device. The system identifies historic data associated with the communication object and determines whether an affinity group associated with the requesting device is found. Further, the system determines whether the communication object has a valid permission token associated therewith. If a valid permission token is unavailable, the system checks whether a subscriber filter criteria is met by the requesting device. If the filter criteria is met, system calculates a subscriber access score (SAS) for the requesting device and compares the score to a threshold. When the SAS is greater than the predetermined threshold value, system creates a dynamic network pairing between the requesting device and the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Robert L. Fike, Alvin Daniel Ray
  • Patent number: 11100597
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a client driven referral management method may include: receiving the credentials of a member through a user device and a remote member through a user device; recording the consent of the member and the remote member to a referral fee agreement; associating a client with the member on the server when the client provides registration data to the server using a user device; recording real estate information browsing data and location data of the client with the user device of the client; assigning the remote member to the client, in which the remote member may be assigned by the server using the real estate information browsing data and location of client with the user device of the client; and notifying the member through a user device of the member of a real estate transaction involving the remote member and the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20200099588
    Abstract: Systems and methods for computing communication matrices based on opportunity scoring of a plurality of network-connected user devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a scoring algorithm may compute an opportunity score for future delivery of interactions comprising parameters such as a cumulative time comprising historic and real-time communication time between a client device with an agent; geographic location and distance between a client device and an agent device; a quantity of direct connections for one or more client devices associated to an agent device; a quantity of indirect connections for one or more client devices associated to the agent device; quantity metrics associated to an agent device, for example, a total number of registrations. An interaction manager then routs interactions based on scoring of agent devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Alvin Daniel Ray, Robert L. Fike
  • Publication number: 20190228484
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a client driven referral management method may include: receiving the credentials of a member through a user device and a remote member through a user device; recording the consent of the member and the remote member to a referral fee agreement; associating a client with the member on the server when the client provides registration data to the server using a user device; recording real estate information browsing data and location data of the client with the user device of the client; assigning the remote member to the client, in which the remote member may be assigned by the server using the real estate information browsing data and location of client with the user device of the client; and notifying the member through a user device of the member of a real estate transaction involving the remote member and the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 10282798
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a client driven referral management method may include: receiving the credentials of a member through a user device and a remote member through a user device; recording the consent of the member and the remote member to a referral fee agreement; associating a client with the member on the server when the client provides registration data to the server using a user device; recording real estate information browsing data and location data of the client with the user device of the client; assigning the remote member to the client, in which the remote member may be assigned by the server using the real estate information browsing data and location of client with the user device of the client; and notifying the member through a user device of the member of a real estate transaction involving the remote member and the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20170186115
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a client driven referral management method may include: receiving the credentials of a member through a user device and a remote member through a user device; recording the consent of the member and the remote member to a referral fee agreement; associating a client with the member on the server when the client provides registration data to the server using a user device; recording real estate information browsing data and location data of the client with the user device of the client; assigning the remote member to the client, in which the remote member may be assigned by the server using the real estate information browsing data and location of client with the user device of the client; and notifying the member through a user device of the member of a real estate transaction involving the remote member and the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20150356583
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system of managing contact information and the economic efficiency of a selling entity's evolving relationship with those contacts and particularly to a distributed system for storing and managing contact information and information relating to the activities undertaken in real-time on behalf of the contact while simultaneously and automatically collecting, computing, disseminating sales efficiency data associated with those contacts and the activities undertaken on behalf of them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: FRESHSTART SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sheppard, Daniel James Gilmartin, George Walter Sconyers, III, John Beck Mow, Robert Ogburn