Patents by Inventor Samuel N. Zellner

Samuel N. Zellner 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).

  • Publication number: 20140351017
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for conducting survey using wireless devices. The system architecture of the present invention comprises a location server and a location system. The location server can receive a survey request from a subscriber, delineate a survey area for the survey, broadcast a query containing the survey to a plurality of wireless devices, process responses received from the wireless devices, and deliver a result of the survey to the subscriber. The location system can generate location information for each of the wireless devices that received the query. The location system may be a network-based unit or a portable unit provisioned at each of the wireless devices. In one of the embodiments, the location system is a GPS receiver that generates the longitude and the latitude of the wireless devices at which it is provisioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert T. Moton, JR., Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N. Zellner
  • Patent number: 8885666
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a user interface for facilitating communications between devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device provides communications between a first device and a second device. The interface device has an input for receiving data in a first format from the first device. Logic within the interface device is configured to receive a request to interact with the interface device and to provide a user interface in response to receiving the request. The logic identifies a second device for receiving the data from the first device. The logic identifies a second format that is compatible with the second device and translates the data to the second format. The interface device further has an output for transmitting the translated data to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Tischer, Samuel N. Zellner, Robert J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20140329489
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8880433
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for authenticating use of a mark. In one embodiment, a system for facilitation, authentication, and authorization of the use of a mark comprises a mark owner server that receives registration information from a reseller server via a network that requests to use a mark. The mark owner server determines whether the reseller server is authenticated to use the mark. If the reseller server is authenticated to use the mark, the mark owner server sends a key to the reseller server. The mark owner server receives the key from the reseller server to access the mark via the network and determines whether the reseller server is authorized to use the mark based on the key. If the reseller server is authorized to use the mark, the mark owner server sends a first mark via the network to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert J. Starr, Samuel N. Zellner
  • Patent number: 8874140
    Abstract: Subscriber authorization information from a wireless communication device is identified. The subscriber authorization information indicates that an identity of a subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is authorized to be shared without sharing information that identifies a location of the wireless communication device. Subsequent to the subscriber authorization information being identified, the identity of the subscriber associated with the wireless communication device is received or retrieved without information that identifies the location of the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton
  • Patent number: 8825035
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communication channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert T. Moton, Jr., Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N Zellner
  • Patent number: 8804916
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8805414
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for conducting survey using wireless devices. The system architecture of the present invention comprises a location server and a location system. The location server can receive a survey request from a subscriber, delineate a survey area for the survey, broadcast a query containing the survey to a plurality of wireless devices, process responses received from the wireless devices, and deliver a result of the survey to the subscriber. The location system can generate location information for each of the wireless devices that received the query. The location system may be a network-based unit or a portable unit provisioned at each of the wireless devices. In one of the embodiments, the location system is a GPS receiver that generates the longitude and the latitude of the wireless devices at which it is provisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert T. Moton, Jr., Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N. Zellner
  • Publication number: 20140219484
    Abstract: Multiple individual wireless earbuds provide audio from a common audio source. A user may thereby enjoy audio in both ears while also benefiting from an entirely wireless configuration. The individual wireless earbuds may each receive the audio signal from the common audio source and then produce audio accordingly. Each earbud may have a channel setting to define whether a given earbud will produce left channel or right channel audio for a multi-channel audio signal. The individual wireless earbuds may alternatively have a master-slave configuration where a master earbud receives a wireless audio signal from the common source, plays audio based on the audio signal, and transmits a wireless signal based on the wireless audio signal to the slave earbud. The slave earbud then plays audio based on the wireless signal from the master earbud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel N. Zellner
  • Publication number: 20140196106
    Abstract: Location based security rules are provided for preventing unauthorized access to a device, application, system, content, and/or network, etc. The location-based security rules enable a user, computing device, system, etc. to access the requested item or information when the user provides proper identification information. The proper identification information is based in part on the location of the user and/or the user's access request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel N. Zellner
  • Patent number: 8755777
    Abstract: Identity-blocking services are provided. The current physical location of a mobile device may be disclosed to a third party without sending any identity information of the mobile subscriber to the third party. Blocking of the mobile subscriber's identity may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton
  • Patent number: 8718618
    Abstract: Identity-blocking services are provided. The current physical location of a mobile device may be disclosed to a third party without sending any identity information of the mobile subscriber to the third party. Blocking of the mobile subscriber's identity may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton
  • Patent number: 8718007
    Abstract: A wireless communication system is described for allocating limited network access according to priorities designated for requested transactions of wireless communications. The wireless network has a number of access links for transmitting transactions for wireless communications. A plurality of wireless communications devices requests transmission of transactions on the wireless network. A designated priority level is associated with each transaction. In response to the transaction requests, an access control manager in the wireless network schedules transmission of transactions when all of the plurality of access links are occupied, by authorizing a transmission of a transaction of higher priority than another transaction that is being transmitted, and discontinuing the transmission of the transaction of lower priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann
  • Patent number: 8712457
    Abstract: A method for pricing wireless communications services on a wireless network is described. A selection of a plurality of priorities available for transmitting a wireless communication transaction on a wireless network is provided, wherein the priority to be selected corresponds to the speed and allowable delay by which the transaction is to be transmitted. Transactions of lower priority are temporarily discontinued in favor of higher priority transactions when network capacity reaches a predetermined level. An amount is charged for the wireless communication transaction at a price corresponding to the priority and duration to be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann
  • Publication number: 20140099913
    Abstract: An anonymous location wireless network service for use in a wireless network. The service provides content providers with the location of network users without revealing their identities. The service includes a wireless network having a proxy server, a network communication link to a plurality of web sites, and a wireless communication link to a plurality of handheld devices. The proxy server blocks identity by reading the location and identity information of network devices, generating dummy identifications, relating the dummy identifications to the identity information, storing the relationships in a memory storage, and forwarding the location information and dummy identifications to the global computer network. Upon receiving messages from the global computer network, the proxy server reads the dummy identifications, looks up the related identification information in the memory storage, and forwards the data to the appropriate network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140059429
    Abstract: A communication service is provided by audibly interacting with a user in a communication in accordance with an audible menu used for audible interaction. A networked web-integrated interaction system determines, during the communication and based on an audible interaction with the user, to provide the user with a visual menu used for visual interaction. The visual menu at least partially matches the audible menu used for audible interaction. The user is provided with the visual menu during the communication upon determining, based on the audible interaction with the user in the communication, to provide the user with the visual menu. An interaction with the user during the communication after the visual menu is provided is a visual interaction in accordance with the visual menu used for visual interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng GAO, David SCOTT, Samuel N. ZELLNER
  • Publication number: 20140058842
    Abstract: Location-blocking and identity-blocking services that can be commercially offered by a service promoter, e.g., a cellular service provider or a web advertiser. In the identity-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the current physical location of a mobile subscriber (i.e., a cellular phone operator) to a third party (e.g., a web advertiser) subscribing to the identity-blocking service. However, the service promoter may not send any identity information for the mobile subscriber to the third party. On the other hand, in the location-blocking service, the service promoter may disclose the mobile subscriber's identity information to the third party, but not the current physical location of the mobile subscriber. Blocking of the mobile subscriber's identity or location information may be desirable for privacy reasons, to comply with a government regulation, or to implement a telecommunication service option selected by the mobile subscriber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR.
  • Patent number: 8645505
    Abstract: An anonymous location wireless network service for use in a wireless network. The service provides content providers with the location of network users without revealing their identities. The service includes a wireless network having a proxy server, a network communication link to a plurality of web sites, and a wireless communication link to a plurality of handheld devices. The proxy server blocks identity by reading the location and identity information of network devices, generating dummy identifications, relating the dummy identifications to the identity information, storing the relationships in a memory storage, and forwarding the location information and dummy identifications to the global computer network. Upon receiving messages from the global computer network, the proxy server reads the dummy identifications, looks up the related identification information in the memory storage, and forwards the data to the appropriate network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8639235
    Abstract: Provided are methods for executing an action in response to a request for a service using location information in conjunction with service-specific parameters. A user may request a provider of a specified service (e.g., taxi, plumber, pharmacist, etc.). In evaluating the request, providers may be evaluated based on the location information in addition to service-specific parameters. An action in response may include merely displaying selected service provider(s) in response to the request, or acting on behalf of the user by communicating with a selected service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel N. Zellner
  • Publication number: 20140012630
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for conducting survey using wireless devices. The system architecture of the present invention comprises a location server and a location system. The location server can receive a survey request from a subscriber, delineate a survey area for the survey, broadcast a query containing the survey to a plurality of wireless devices, process responses received from the wireless devices, and deliver a result of the survey to the subscriber. The location system can generate location information for each of the wireless devices that received the query. The location system may be a network-based unit or a portable unit provisioned at each of the wireless devices. In one of the embodiments, the location system is a GPS receiver that generates the longitude and the latitude of the wireless devices at which it is provisioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert T. Moton, JR., Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N. Zellner