Patents by Inventor Robert Pines
Robert Pines 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).
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Patent number: 8699692Abstract: A call routing system employs a primary call outing device configured to receive directory assistance calls from callers at a first directory assistance system, and determines, for each of the calls, whether they will be handled by the first directory assistance system, or by a second directory assistance system among a plurality of directory assistance systems. A secondary router is also provided, configured to route the calls within the first directory assistance system to the primary call routing device The secondary router has a default call distribution logic, such that if the primary call routing device is off-line, the secondary call router routes the calls among the first directory assistance system and the plurality of directory assistance systems according to the default distribution logic.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Christine Baumeister, Michael Bates, Robert Pines
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Patent number: 8526593Abstract: A method for providing directory assistance includes receiving a communication from a requestor for a desired contact listing and retrieving a requester profile relating to the requester where the profile including a calling history of the requester. At least one listing is retrieved in response to the communication for a desired contact listing, where the retrieving of the desired listing includes reviewing the calling history of the requester and including, among the at least one retrieved response, a predictive listing.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventor: Robert Pines
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Publication number: 20130171977Abstract: A method is provided for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester. The method includes providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send the subscriber a message in electronic format. A message is received from the requester which determines available formats for delivery of the message to the subscriber. A message is transmitted to the subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to the subscriber's device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Publication number: 20130150009Abstract: A call routing system employs a primary call outing device configured to receive directory assistance calls from callers at a first directory assistance system, and determines, for each of the calls, whether they will be handled by the first directory assistance system, or by a second directory assistance system among a plurality of directory assistance systems. A secondary router is also provided, configured to route the calls within the first directory assistance system to the primary call routing device The secondary router has a default call distribution logic, such that if the primary call routing device is off-line, the secondary call router routes the calls among the first directory assistance system and the plurality of directory assistance systems according to the default distribution logic.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: Christine Baumeister, Michael Bates, Robert Pines
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Patent number: 8447278Abstract: A communication assistance system has a first database haying a plurality of listings therein, each having at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A device is configured to receive a directory assistance communication from a device of a user requesting at least one listing. A past requested listing table for at least one of said users is configured to store prior requested listings obtained from the database, as previously requested by the user. The past requested listing table is generated by the system and transmitted for storage on the device of the user so that when the user contacts the system, with the at least one listing stored on the past requested listing table being masked, the system may allow a communication connection between the device and the listing on the past requested listing table.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Patent number: 8385530Abstract: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, John Blakeney
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Patent number: 8380241Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a database having a plurality of listings therein, each of the listings includes a least one contact name and a contact information. A means is provided for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters seeking a listing. A table stores past requested listings of the requesters, where the system reviews the table for storing past requested listings and, based on contents contained in the past requested listing table, develops a list of requesters to target a promotion to, whereupon when a requester who is among the list of requesters contacts the system, they are provided with the promotion.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Faith McGary, Christine Baumeister, Robert Pines
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Patent number: 8358767Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a first database having a plurality of listings, each listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A means is provided for receiving communications from a user among a plurality of users desiring to access the listings. An operator terminal displays a search screen among a plurality of search screens, each of which maintain at least a partially different arrangement of content and search windows for receiving search terms to search for listings contained in the first database, where the displayed search screen is determined based on criteria contained in a search request from the user. The operator terminal is further configured to receive the communication from the user and retrieve a listing from the first database using the displayed search screen.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, Franklin L. Weiland, II
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Publication number: 20120328089Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database is configured to store the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including phone numbers. A closing prompt module is coupled to the first database on as to select a closing prompt code associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, where anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester. The closing prompt module selects the closing prompt code relating to a subscriber information other than the subscriber information requested by the requester.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Publication number: 20120322405Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Publication number: 20120250848Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers. The system includes a masking feature that allows it to connect a requester to a subscriber without revealing subscriber's mobile telephone number.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Patent number: 8265242Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Patent number: 8254556Abstract: The present invention is a call routing system for use in directory assistance. The call routing system employs a primary call routing device configured to receive directory assistance calls from callers at a first directory assistance system, and determines, for each of the calls, whether they will be handled by the first directory assistance system, or by a second directory assistance system among a plurality of directory assistance systems. A secondary router is also provided, configured to route the calls within the first directory assistance system to the primary call routing device. The secondary router has a default call distribution logic, such that if the primary call routing device is off-line, the secondary call router routes the calls among the first directory assistance system and the plurality of directory assistance systems according to the default distribution logic.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Christine Baumeister, Michael Bates, Robert Pines
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Publication number: 20120183129Abstract: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, John Blakeney
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Patent number: 8139748Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a means for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a pre-announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a connection to a subscriber is made.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister
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Publication number: 20120011146Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a first database having a plurality of listings, each listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A means is provided for receiving communications from a user among a plurality of users desiring to access the listings. An operator terminal displays a search screen among a plurality of search screens, each of which maintain at least a partially different arrangement of content and search windows for receiving search terms to search for listings contained in the first database, where the displayed search screen is determined based on criteria contained in a search request from the user. The operator terminal is further configured to receive the communication from the user and retrieve a listing from the first database using the displayed search screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, Franklin L. Weiland, II
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Patent number: 8085923Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a first database having a plurality of listings, each listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A means is provided for receiving communications from a user among a plurality of users desiring to access the listings. An operator terminal displays a search screen among a plurality of search screens, each of which maintain at least a partially different arrangement of content and search windows for receiving search terms to search for listings contained in the first database, where the displayed search screen is determined based on criteria contained in a search request from the user. The operator terminal is further configured to receive the communication from the user and retrieve a listing from the first database using the displayed search screen.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, Christine Baumeister, Franklin L. Weiland, II
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Patent number: 8074080Abstract: A method is provided for updating a contact listing. The method includes receiving a request from a requestor for a contact listing corresponding to a desired listing among a plurality of available listings. The request includes one or more information element relating to the desired listing. The desired listing among the plurality of available listings is retrieved and a modification to the retrieved listing is generated based on the one or more information elements relating to the desired listing provided by the requester.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventor: Robert Pines
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Publication number: 20110293086Abstract: A method for providing directory assistance includes receiving a communication from a requestor for a desired contact listing and retrieving a requester profile relating to the requester where the profile including a calling history of the requester. At least one listing is retrieved in response to the communication for a desired contact listing, where the retrieving of the desired listing includes reviewing the calling history of the requester and including, among the at least one retrieved response, a predictive listing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventor: Robert Pines
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Patent number: 8036365Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for accessing information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. This system is comprised of a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Pines, Evan Marwell, John Blakeney, Christine Baumeister