Patents by Inventor Stephen Marc Meer

Stephen Marc Meer 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: 9288651
    Abstract: A system for dynamically coupling a special number call from a calling unit with at least one function-focused answerer includes: (a) at least one of an unlicensed mobile access network, a radio access network, and a public switched telephone network configured and situated for communicative coupling with the calling unit; (b) at least one network switch coupled with at least one of the networks; and (c) a special number call receiver coupled with the network switch. At least one of the special number call receiver and the network switch is configured for communicative coupling of the special number call with the at least one function-focused answerer unit. After receiving the special number call, the special number call receiver dynamically couples the special number call to an included function-focused answerer. Determining which function-focused answerer is an included function-focused answerer is made at the special number call receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: John Lawrence Snapp, George Heinrichs, Daniel Zacek, Donald D. Mondul, Stephen Marc Meer
  • Publication number: 20150023478
    Abstract: A method for providing continued answering of special number calls intended for delivery via a plurality of communication networks to a special number answering position when a primary special number answering position is incapacitated includes: (a) determining at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position; (b) ascertaining that the primary special number answering position is incapacitated; and (c) directing each routing entity of each respective communication network of said plurality of communication networks to route calls intended for said primary special number answering position to at least one selected alternate special number answering position of said at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position; wherein once a particular situation has been begun to be handled by a selected alternate special number answering position, the situation remains as handled by the selected special number answering position even though the primary special number answering
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, George Heinrichs
  • Patent number: 8824454
    Abstract: A system and method that routes special number calls from communications devices, including VoIP communications devices, to an answering point that is selected based on a parameter. A peering network effects parameter-based routing of calls to a pre-assigned answering point, wherein the voice path and the signaling paths are set up simultaneously. A gateway in the peering network is connected to the service provider switch and receives special number calls. The gateway queries a pre-provisioned parameter server that determines call routing information for the particular communications device. The gateway then selects another gateway, or, optionally, a selective router access provider network, based on the routing information and delivers the call thereto. The other gateway or selective router access provider network is connected to a router in the destination network and delivers the call and the call parameters to the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Ashish Patel, Stephen Marc Meer, Michael Deweese, Carleton Anthony Smith
  • Publication number: 20140146951
    Abstract: A method for providing continued answering of special number calls intended for delivery via a plurality of communication networks to a primary special number answering position when the primary special number answering position is abandoned includes: (a) determining at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position; (b) ascertaining that the primary special number answering position is abandoned; and (c) directing each routing entity of each respective communication network of the plurality of communication networks to route calls intended for the primary special number answering position to at least one selected alternate special number answering position of the at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, George Heinrichs
  • Publication number: 20140140488
    Abstract: A method for providing continued answering of special number calls intended for delivery via a plurality of communication networks to a primary special number answering position when the primary special number answering position is persistently busy includes: (a) determining at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position; (b) ascertaining that the primary special number answering position is persistently busy; and (c) directing each routing entity of each respective communication network of the plurality of communication networks to route calls intended for the primary special number answering position to at least one selected alternate special number answering position of the at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, George Heinrichs
  • Publication number: 20140094135
    Abstract: A method for providing continued answering of special number calls intended for delivery via a plurality of communication networks to a primary special number answering position when the primary special number answering position is effecting call diversion includes: (a) determining at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position; (b) ascertaining that the primary special number answering position is effecting call diversion; and (c) directing each routing entity of each respective communication network of the plurality of communication networks to route calls intended for the primary special number answering position to at least one selected alternate special number answering position of the at least one pre-identified alternate special number answering position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, George Heinrichs
  • Patent number: 8208909
    Abstract: A system for availing a mobile call of an address set including address information relating to a caller locus includes: (a) an evaluating unit for receiving the call from a caller at the caller locus; an indication of the caller locus including a first measure of certainty being conveyed with the call; and (b) at least one data base coupled with the evaluating unit; the at least one data base containing address location information relating with at least one address associated with the caller; the address location information including a respective second measure of certainty associated with each address; the evaluating unit cooperating with the at least one data base to identify whether a respective address is a selected address satisfying a predetermined relationship between the first and second measures of certainty; each selected address being included in the address set and conveyed to a call receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: John Lawrence Snapp, Stephen Marc Meer, Robin Erkkila
  • Publication number: 20090298492
    Abstract: A system for availing a mobile call of an address set including address information relating to a caller locus includes: (a) an evaluating unit for receiving the call from a caller at the caller locus; an indication of the caller locus including a first measure of certainty being conveyed with the call; and (b) at least one data base coupled with the evaluating unit; the at least one data base containing address location information relating with at least one address associated with the caller; the address location information including a respective second measure of certainty associated with each address; the evaluating unit cooperating with the at least one data base to identify whether a respective address is a selected address satisfying a predetermined relationship between the first and second measures of certainty; each selected address being included in the address set and conveyed to a call receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Lawrence Snapp, Stephen Marc Meer, Robin Erkkila
  • Patent number: 7272386
    Abstract: A system for handling special number calls placed from a phone coupled at a connection locus in a private network; includes: (a) a private switch controlling communications with the phone from outside the private network during a call session; (b) a control facility coupled with the private switch and with a special number call system for effecting communications between the private network and the special number call system; and (c) a contact parameter storage unit coupled with at least one of the private switch and the special number call system for identifying at least one contact parameter relating to the connection locus at least during the call session. The private switch, the control facility and the special number call system cooperate in using the contact parameter to effect call back from the special number call system to the phone at least during the call session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Intrado Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Marc Meer
  • Patent number: 7200207
    Abstract: The invention comprises a communication network that includes a plurality of conforming emergency systems, a packet network, and an emergency services network. The emergency services network includes a plurality of response gateways and a plurality of emergency services. Each of the conforming emergency systems facilitates the establishment of a media channel with one of the response gateways. In any one of the conforming emergency systems, responsive to establishing a media channel over the packet network with a response gateway and responsive to an emergency event (e.g., a 9-1-1 call, a 1-1-2 call, etc), the conforming emergency system transmits a retrieval key for the emergency event over the established media channel to the response gateway. The response gateway transmits a query for information corresponding with the retrieval key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Intrado Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, Gregory Wilfred Bruening, Lawrence W. Ciesla, Michael W. DeWeese, Michael Jay Nelson, Peter Roy Schmidt, Robert Allen Sherry, John Lawrence Snapp
  • Patent number: 7177398
    Abstract: The invention includes a communication network that comprises a conforming emergency system coupled to an emergency services network by a media channel. The emergency services network includes a resource coupled to a plurality of emergency services. When in operation, the conforming emergency system transmits an emergency event message to the resource over the media channel. The emergency event message includes a retrieval key. Responsive to receiving the emergency event message and the retrieval key, the resource initiates an emergency event session corresponding with the retrieval key. During the emergency event session, the resource transmits multiple responses to the conforming emergency system. Also during the emergency event session, the resource receives information corresponding with the retrieval key from at least one of the emergency services, and transmits the multiple responses containing the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Intrado Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Marc Meer, Gregory Wilfred Bruening, Lawrence W. Ciesla, Michael Jay Nelson, Peter Roy Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7123693
    Abstract: The invention includes an emergency services network comprising a plurality of resources, a plurality of emergency services, and a Service/Name Resolution (SNR) system connected to a transport network. In operation, one of the resources receives a retrieval key for an emergency event from a conforming emergency system. The resource transmits the retrieval key to the transport network. The SNR system receives the retrieval key over the transport network and identifies at least one of the emergency services corresponding with the retrieval key. The SNR system initiates the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services. The identified emergency services then perform services corresponding with the retrieval key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Intrado Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jay Nelson, Gregory Wilfred Bruening, Peter Roy Schmidt, Robert Allen Sherry, Stephen Marc Meer
  • Publication number: 20030148757
    Abstract: A system for handling special number calls placed from a phone coupled at a connection locus in a private network; includes: (a) a private switch controlling communications with the phone from outside the private network during a call session; (b) a control facility coupled with the private switch and with a special number call system for effecting communications between the private network and the special number call system; and (c) a contact parameter storage unit coupled with at least one of the private switch and the special number call system for identifying at least one contact parameter relating to the connection locus at least during the call session. The private switch, the control facility and the special number call system cooperate in using the contact parameter to effect call back from the special number call system to the phone at least during the call session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen Marc Meer