Patents by Inventor Steven N. Tischer

Steven N. Tischer 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: 8457288
    Abstract: Included are embodiments of systems and methods for providing information. At least one embodiment of such a method includes facilitating establishment of a communication between a user on a communications device and an interface server, the interface server being configured to provide data related to an information tree to the user, the information tree being configured with a plurality of options. Some embodiments include facilitating navigation of a user through the information tree and receiving a first version of a marker from the user, the marker being configured to mark at least one position in the information tree. Still some embodiments include associating the received first version of the marker with a position in the information tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven N. Tischer, Robert J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20130099997
    Abstract: Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna array including multiple antennas and an orientation system. The orientation system includes multiple orientation marks and multiple alignment marks. At least one of the multiple antennas is configured to be positioned toward a respective station transmitter location based at least partially on an alignment of one of the multiple orientation marks relative to one of the multiple alignment marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8418084
    Abstract: A method of using a single gesture to initiate a pre-defined action is described. The single gesture, in one example, is a single contiguous sequence of vector inputs starting with engagement and ending with disengagement. Using a single gesture to initiate a pre-defined action facilities ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8362966
    Abstract: Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna array including multiple antennas and an orientation system. The orientation system includes multiple orientation marks and multiple alignment marks. At least one of the multiple antennas is configured to be positioned toward a respective station transmitter location based at least partially on an alignment of one of the multiple orientation marks relative to one of the multiple alignment marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8359310
    Abstract: Methods for providing group swarm metrics and content are described herein. In different aspects, the methods may include compiling a content access metric. The methods may also include determining a threshold metric for a user. Further, the methods may include generating a notification message for the user when the compiled content access metric reaches the threshold metric. The methods may additionally include delivering the notification message to the user. The techniques described herein may enable the user to retrieve the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott M. Frank, Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20120166949
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the presentation and marking of media modules. In different aspects, the systems and methods may allow a user to present and consume a media module, particularly a media module containing data that is typically presented in a serial manner such as audio, visual, or video media, and to create a marked media module for quickly and easily returning to a marked point of interest in the media module at a later time or on a different device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8161387
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the presentation and marking of media modules. In different aspects, the systems and methods may allow a user to present and consume a media module, particularly a media module containing data that is typically presented in a serial manner such as audio, visual, or video media, and to create a marked media module for quickly and easily returning to a marked point of interest in the media module at a later time or on a different device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20120069976
    Abstract: Included are embodiments of systems and methods for providing information. At least one embodiment of such a method includes facilitating establishment of a communication between a user on a communications device and an interface server, the interface server being configured to provide data related to an information tree to the user, the information tree being configured with a plurality of options. Some embodiments include facilitating navigation of a user through the information tree and receiving a first version of a marker from the user, the marker being configured to mark at least one position in the information tree. Still some embodiments include associating the received first version of the marker with a position in the information tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven N. Tischer, Robert J. Starr
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120066597
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products insert markers into recorded media modules. A pair of reference points is received that marks a position and another position in a recorded media module. A copy of the recorded media module is retrieved from memory. Portions of the copy of the recorded media module occurring before the position, and occurring after the another position, are discarded. The copy of the recorded media module occurring between the position and the another position is then presented to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8085909
    Abstract: Included are embodiments of systems and methods for providing information. At least one embodiment of such a method includes facilitating establishment of a communication between a user on a communications device and an interface server, the interface server being configured to provide data related to an information tree to the user, the information tree being configured with a plurality of options. Some embodiments include facilitating navigation of a user through the information tree and receiving a first version of a marker from the user, the marker being configured to mark at least one position in the information tree. Still some embodiments include associating the received first version of the marker with a position in the information tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Steven N. Tischer, Robert J. Starr
  • Patent number: 8082504
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for the marking of media modules. Embodiments described herein include a system and method for creating a reference point on a first device. The reference point may be used to mark a point of a media module being presented on a second device by correlating the reference point on the first device to the point to be marked in the presentation of the media module presented on the second device. The media module or a copy of the media module may be presented in a presentation module utilizing the marked point created using the reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8065027
    Abstract: An audio alert system, device, and method includes an audio alert created by a user and programmed into a device, such as a wireless telephone. A user stores in the device a data structure relating an audio alert triggering event to the audio alert. When the device detects an occurrence of the particular audio alert triggering event, the device emits the audio alert related to the triggering event. As such, users are able to customize audio alerts that are easily recognizable and that are associated with a particular event, or signal. Audio alerts can be programmed using different devices and in various formats and can be transmitted to other devices. An audio alert triggering event can modulate an audio alert according to an external variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20110273359
    Abstract: Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna array including multiple antennas and an orientation system. The orientation system includes multiple orientation marks and multiple alignment marks. At least one of the multiple antennas is configured to be positioned toward a respective station transmitter location based at least partially on an alignment of one of the multiple orientation marks relative to one of the multiple alignment marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 8050392
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing responses in a prompting system. Responses are monitored to a menu of prompts in the prompting system. A response to a prompt is tagged with a location identifier. The location identifier identifies subject matter that corresponds to the prompt. The location identifier is stored in a database. If the menu of prompts changes, then the location identifier permits navigation to the same subject matter, even though the prompt is reassigned to new subject matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Valencia Adams, Robert A. Koch, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 7990332
    Abstract: Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. The techniques may include selecting a location for an antenna array, generating a guide for one or more station signals for the location, including a station frequency and a station transmitter location, and generating an antenna array configuration from the guide. The techniques may further include attaching the antennas to the antenna array based on the antenna array configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20110125907
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products receive a request for communications service at a service provider. A subcontracted processing service is determined to fulfill the request for communications service. Packets of data are subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received from the different service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 7904509
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. A request for data is processed, and a data stream is received to fulfill the request. A determination is made that a subcontracted processing service is required. At least a portion of the data stream is subcontracted to a different service provider to receive the subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Patent number: 7882267
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a request for communications service. The request for communications service originates from a client communications device associated with a user and requests communications service from a service provider. An availability of at least one of i) a communications network operated by the service provider and ii) another communications network operated by another service provider is dynamically assessed in real-time. A best-value scenario of segmentation, dispersion, assemblage, and routing of electronic data is assessed to fulfill the request. The best-value scenario maximizes profitability for the service provider. The communications service is provided to fulfill the request according to the best-value scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donna K. Hodges, Barrett Morris Kreiner, Steven N. Tischer
  • Publication number: 20100293132
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for detecting and/or predicting maladies in humans and animals. Electronic copies of second order output are collected and compared to a symptoms database storing data ranges describing symptoms. When the second order output lies outside a data range, a symptom associated with the data range is retrieved. The onset of a malady associated with the symptom is then predicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Steven N. Tischer, David Gibbon, N. L. Schryer, Christopher Volinsky