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).
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Publication number: 20120105633Abstract: A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR.
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Patent number: 8165568Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
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Patent number: 8145447Abstract: A portable telecommunication test set, such as a telephone line butt set, with a web browser incorporated therein. A standard HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language) or WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browser may be incorporated within the portable test set, allowing a network technician to access the Internet as well as other remotely-located sources of information to retrieve data and other useful technical information while in the field for communication network or telephone line maintenance, troubleshooting or repair. The test set may contain memory to locally store certain technical information, e.g., telephone line-specific data or circuit information, that may be retrieved and “read” by the built-in browser module when prompted by the network technician. The web browser may display the content of the requested information on a display provided on the test set.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Nathan Sargent, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
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Publication number: 20120071158Abstract: A portable telecommunication test set with a web browser incorporated therein is provided. A standard Hyper Text Mark-up Language or Wireless Application Protocol browser may be incorporated within the portable test set, allowing a network technician to access the Internet as well as other remotely-located sources of information to retrieve data and other useful technical information while in the field for communication network or telephone line maintenance, troubleshooting or repair. The test set may contain memory to locally store certain technical information that may be retrieved and “read” by the built-in browser module when prompted by the network technician. The web browser may display the content of the requested information on a display provided on the test set. Line-specific (as well as manufacturer-specific) test information need not be in a manufacturer-dictated proprietary format. Testing-related data may thus be supplied by a vendor other than the manufacturer of the test set.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LPInventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Nathan Sargent, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR.
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Publication number: 20120071128Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LPInventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR.
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Patent number: 8139758Abstract: An apparatus and method for audibly annunciating at a device information transmitted over a telephone network. The information is transmitted in the form of a modulated signal to the device wherein the modulated signal is representative of the information. The apparatus includes a receiver for capturing a ring signal and a modulated signal representative of information transmitted over a telephone network during an interval between the ring signal and a subsequent ring signal; a converter in communication with the receiver for converting the modulated signal into a stream of audible signals; and a speaker in communication with the converter for producing audible sounds corresponding to the stream of audible signals representative of the information received over the telephone network.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Robert T. Moton, Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N. Zellner
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Publication number: 20120052843Abstract: A computer-implemented method provides, to a first user, location-based information concerning a second user, and a system and computer-readable storage medium include computer-readable instructions for performing the same. The method includes determining that the second user is within a certain geographic area and communicating to the first user, by way of a wireless communication device of the first user, an identity of the second user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventors: Mark Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR., Samuel N. Zellner
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Publication number: 20120041975Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce. Information is received that describes an item sold by a merchant. A database is queried for a category associated with the item sold by the merchant. An inventory database of another merchant is queried for the category, and a description is retrieved of a related item in the same category. A suggestion is then made for the another merchant to promote the related item.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Douglas R. O'Neil
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Publication number: 20120034930Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, JR.
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Patent number: 8086224Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
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Patent number: 8085905Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 15, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110312341Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Robert T. Moton, JR., Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N. Zellner
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Patent number: 8074269Abstract: A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established. In a preferred embodiment, the internal computer system is protected by a firewall. The firewall allows the outside entity to access the internal computer system to control the device if the outside entity can provide proper identity information. The identity information of the outside entity may be a password that is recognized by the firewall.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
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Patent number: 8069089Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce. A merchant participates in an online community of merchants. Sales information is shared with the online community such that each merchant is informed of each sale of each merchant participating in the online community.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Douglas R. O'Neil
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Patent number: 8064930Abstract: A location query service is disclosed. The service provides requestors with a location of a device. The service receives a location query from a requestor, retrieves location information associated with the network user, and returns the location information to the requestor. Before returning the location information to the requestor, the service is configured, in some embodiments, to authenticate that the requestor is authorized by the network user to receive the network user's location information. Methods for providing a location query service also are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr., Samuel N. Zellner
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Publication number: 20110255686Abstract: Interface devices for facilitating communications between devices and communications networks are provided. According to one aspect, a destination interface device for providing communications between a first device and a second device comprises one or more inputs, one or more outputs, and logic. The one or more inputs of the destination interface device receive data in a first format from a source interface device. The logic translates the data to a second format compatible with the second device. The translated data is then transmitted to the second device via the one or more outputs. The destination interface device may subscribe to the source interface device for access to enhanced features as well as for access to data associated with communications networks and devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.Inventors: Steven Tischer, Samuel N. Zellner, Robert J. Starr
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Patent number: 8041817Abstract: An anonymous location wireless network service for use in a wireless network that tracks the location and identity of network users, such as networks complying with enhanced 911 standards. 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Samuel N. Zellner, Mark J. Enzmann, Robert T. Moton, Jr.
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Patent number: 8027438Abstract: Systems for translating text messages in an instant messaging system comprise a translation engine for translating text messages into a preferred language of a recipient of the text messages. The systems are configured to send and receive the text messages and to determine whether the text messages that are received in a source language are in the preferred language of the recipients so that the text messages are displayed in the preferred language of the recipients of the text messages, including an indication of whether or not the received message is translated. Other systems and methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Brian K. Daigle, Larry G. Kent, Jr., W. Todd Daniell, Wendy H. Eason, Samuel N. Zellner, Jerry C. Liu, Robert A. Koch
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Patent number: 8010126Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventors: Robert T. Moton, Jr., Mark J. Enzmann, Samuel N. Zellner
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Patent number: 8005485Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for providing a discount to a device. A zone improvement plan code, associated with the device, is obtained. A demographic indicator, associated with the zone improvement plan code, is retrieved. The discount is retrieved from memory, with the discount based on the demographic indicator.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Robert J. Starr, Samuel N. Zellner