Patents by Inventor Samuel Zellner

Samuel 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).

  • Patent number: 8761803
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8699732
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8644506
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel Zellner
  • Publication number: 20130343264
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated antenna and satellite dish. Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus, including a satellite dish, a wireless antenna coupled to the satellite dish and a coupling box communicatively coupled to the satellite dish and the wireless antenna. Additional exemplary embodiments include a content communication method, including receiving a satellite signal, receiving a first wireless signal, performing coupling box processing on the satellite signal and the wireless signal, transmitting the satellite signal and the wireless signal to a set top box and performing set top box processing on the satellite signal and wireless signal. Further exemplary embodiments include a content communication system, including a satellite dish for receiving content from a satellite, a wireless antenna for receiving content from a wireless network and a coupling box for processing the content from the satellite and the content from the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Neale Hightower, SR.
  • Publication number: 20130303126
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8559968
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present is a method of using location history to optimize communications with perspective customers. Such a method comprises analyzing a user's location history over a period of time; detecting an indication of user interest in sellable items based on at least the location history; and sending a message to the user about a sellable item that is determined to be of interest to the user. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8514787
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated antenna and satellite dish. Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus, including a satellite dish, a wireless antenna coupled to the satellite dish and a coupling box communicatively coupled to the satellite dish and the wireless antenna. Additional exemplary embodiments include a content communication method, including receiving a satellite signal, receiving a first wireless signal, performing coupling box processing on the satellite signal and the wireless signal, transmitting the satellite signal and the wireless signal to a set top box and performing set top box processing on the satellite signal and wireless signal. Further exemplary embodiments include a content communication system, including a satellite dish for receiving content from a satellite, a wireless antenna for receiving content from a wireless network and a coupling box for processing the content from the satellite and the content from the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Neale Hightower, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8489110
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present is a method of implementing privacy control of location information. Such a method comprises defining a geographic zone for which pseudo-location information is to be reported as the current location of the user, wherein the pseudo-location information is not the current location of the user; receiving the current location of the user; determining that the current location is in the geographic zone; and reporting the pseudo-location information as the current location of the user when the current location is determined to be in the geographic zone. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, John Ruckart, Steven Tischer, Samuel Zellner
  • Publication number: 20130019270
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated antenna and satellite dish. Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus, including a satellite dish, a wireless antenna coupled to the satellite dish and a coupling box communicatively coupled to the satellite dish and the wireless antenna. Additional exemplary embodiments include a content communication method, including receiving a satellite signal, receiving a first wireless signal, performing coupling box processing on the satellite signal and the wireless signal, transmitting the satellite signal and the wireless signal to a set top box and performing set top box processing on the satellite signal and wireless signal. Further exemplary embodiments include a content communication system, including a satellite dish for receiving content from a satellite, a wireless antenna for receiving content from a wireless network and a coupling box for processing the content from the satellite and the content from the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Neale Hightower, SR.
  • Patent number: 8289898
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated antenna and satellite dish. Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus, including a satellite dish, a wireless antenna coupled to the satellite dish and a coupling box communicatively coupled to the satellite dish and the wireless antenna. Additional exemplary embodiments include a content communication method, including receiving a satellite signal, receiving a first wireless signal, performing coupling box processing on the satellite signal and the wireless signal, transmitting the satellite signal and the wireless signal to a set top box and performing set top box processing on the satellite signal and wireless signal. Further exemplary embodiments include a content communication system, including a satellite dish for receiving content from a satellite, a wireless antenna for receiving content from a wireless network and a coupling box for processing the content from the satellite and the content from the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Neale Hightower, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20120224731
    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: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8195618
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for facilitating the disclosure of information from a disclosing party. Such a system may comprise a computing device including an operating system executing within the computing device; a software application operating in conjunction with the operating system, the software application prompting the disclosing party for at least two of audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data in response to the prompt; means for contemporaneously collecting the at least two of audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data from the disclosing party; and means for irrecoverably erasing the least two of the audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data from both the computing device and the means for contemporaneously collecting the at least two of audio/visual data, graphic data and textual data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Barrett Kreiner, Jonathan Reeves, Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8180078
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Samuel Zellner
  • Patent number: 8180903
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and storage medium for validating users of communications services. The method includes generating records for communications service users by at least one service provider. The records store information relating to the communications service users including legal liability information, an originator type code, and a validation code assigned to selected originator type codes. The validation code facilitates validation of the communications service users. The method also includes storing the records in a subscriber classification database. The originator type code classifies the communications service users according to nature of use, communications type, business type, geography, and age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel Zellner
  • Publication number: 20120061478
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products create credit cards, debit cards, and other transactional cards. An image is received and provided on a transactional card. Account information is retrieved and associated with the transactional card. A machine-readable element is also provided on the transactional card and includes the account information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Elizabeth Wagner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8126978
    Abstract: Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for performing format conversion of a file attached to an electronic message. A message entered by a user is accepted. The user's selection of a file is also accepted, and the file is copied for accompanying the message as a file attachment. The file attachment is in a first file format of a file category. The file attachment is converted from the first file format to a second file format of the file category. The message entered by the user is transmitted, and the transmitted message is accompanied by the converted file attachment in the second file format of the file category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Wendy Eason, Jerry Liu
  • Patent number: 8111811
    Abstract: Directing customer service calls based upon remote diagnosis of customer premises equipment (CPE). CPE information is received remotely from the CPE. Network status information is received from a communications network indicative of a current operational status for the network. An issue is detected with the CPE based upon the received CPE information. A recommended customer service center is selected from a plurality of customer service centers based upon at least one of the CPE information and the network status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Chilton, Samuel Zellner, Robert Starr
  • Patent number: 8112100
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods of location-based status checking. Such a method comprises scheduling an event to occur at a scheduled time at a defined location; inviting an individual to attend the event; querying the individual as to whether the individual will attend the event; and tracking a physical location of the individual to determine whether the individual is on schedule to appear at the event by the scheduled time. Other methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Frank, Robert Starr, Samuel Zellner, Steven Tischer, John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 8079513
    Abstract: Customized transactional cards are created in one of various ways. The card holder may obtain a blank transactional card already having an encoded account number, create a customized design, and then apply the customized design to the blank transaction card such as by printing the design onto a label to be applied to the blank transactional card or directly onto the card. The card holder may obtain a blank transactional card which has not yet been authorized with an account number, create a customized design, apply the customized design to the transactional card, and at some point send the transactional card to the card issuer where it can be authorized by having an account number applied to it and then returned to the card holder. The card holder may access a web site to create a customized design and then the card issuer creates the transactional card according to the customized design and sends the transactional card having an encoded account number to the card holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Samuel Zellner, Elizabeth Wagner, Steven Tischer
  • Publication number: 20110196938
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and storage medium for validating users of communications services. The method includes generating records for communications service users by at least one service provider. The records store information relating to the communications service users including legal liability information, an originator type code, and a validation code assigned to selected originator type codes. The validation code facilitates validation of the communications service users. The method also includes storing the records in a subscriber classification database. The originator type code classifies the communications service users according to nature of use, communications type, business type, geography, and age.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel Zellner