Patents by Inventor Robert I. Shepard

Robert I. Shepard 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: 5732130
    Abstract: A system and method for providing advanced voice services to subscribers of a telecommunications network are disclosed. The system comprises a local switch connected to the telecommunications network for providing two-way communication between the subscribers and the network. A database of subscriber services, which may be a virtual service switching point (ViSSP), is connected to the local switch, and an intelligent peripheral (IP) is connected to the database and the local switch. The IP processes voice information and dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) digits received from the switch in response to instructions from the database. The system retrieves subscriber services from the database utilizing a call-setup protocol such as the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) User Part (ISUP) call setup protocol, and provides the services to the switch. The system also retrieves the processed voice information and DTMF digits from the IP and provides the processed information and digits to the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Q. Iapalucci, Robert I. Shepard
  • Patent number: 5377186
    Abstract: A system and method for retrieving enhanced subscriber services from at least one database and delivering those services to the subscribers of a telecommunications network without requiring the expensive upgrading of local switches (LSs) to operate with the Transaction Capabilities Application Part/Advanced Intelligent Network (TCAP/AIN) communications protocol. The system comprises a plurality of LSs which are connected to an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and provide the subscribers with access to the network. The system also includes at least one virtual service switching point (ViSSP) within the AIN for storing the database of enhanced subscriber services. LSs or tandem switches may retrieve enhanced subscriber services from the ViSSP utilizing the Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (ISUP) call-setup protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson
    Inventors: David C. Wegner, Robert I. Shepard