Patents by Inventor Steven P. Higgins
Steven P. Higgins 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: 20150302514Abstract: An electronic marketplace includes a plurality of video game applications available for purchase. For each of the plurality of video game applications, the electronic marketplace may display a tile identifying the video game application, a payment object for initiating a purchase of the video game application, and a preview object to initiate viewing of a live broadcast of active gameplay of the video game application.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Steven Trombetta, Travis John Muhlestein, Joanna Mason, Zachary Gutt, Corey E. Rogers, Ryan Y. Kim, Sudhakar V. Prabhu, Gregory M. Smith, Ying Hao, Steven P. Higgins, Pamela Martinez, Shailesh Shah, Emil Gustafsson, Craig J. Wheeler, Hok Peng Leung, Daniel Av, Ryan Crandall
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Patent number: 8693347Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 8533143Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes receiving a content request including a first set of attribute values, using at least one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values to determine a second set of attribute values, traversing a hierarchy of decision nodes, wherein each decision node implements business logic based on one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values or the second set of attribute values, and generating a decision from a last node in the hierarchy, wherein the decision dictates how to respond to the content request.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Bill Hopkins, David Reisfeld, Steven P. Higgins
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Publication number: 20130070757Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 8270421Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Publication number: 20120198517Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes receiving a content request including a first set of attribute values, using at least one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values to determine a second set of attribute values, traversing a hierarchy of decision nodes, wherein each decision node implements business logic based on one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values or the second set of attribute values, and generating a decision from a last node in the hierarchy, wherein the decision dictates how to respond to the content request.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: Level 3 Communications LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Bill Hopkins, David Reisfeld, Steven P. Higgins
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Publication number: 20120177195Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 8156066Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes receiving a content request including a first set of attribute values, using at least one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values to determine a second set of attribute values, traversing a hierarchy of decision nodes, wherein each decision node implements business logic based on one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values or the second set of attribute values, and generating a decision from a last node in the hierarchy, wherein the decision dictates how to respond to the content request.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Bill Hopkins, David Reisfeld, Steven P. Higgins
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Patent number: 8089958Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 8085761Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 8036214Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on- network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Richard Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Raymond E. Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Publication number: 20090259611Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes receiving a content request including a first set of attribute values, using at least one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values to determine a second set of attribute values, traversing a hierarchy of decision nodes, wherein each decision node implements business logic based on one of the attribute values from the first set of attribute values or the second set of attribute values, and generating a decision from a last node in the hierarchy, wherein the decision dictates how to respond to the content request.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Jin-Gen Wang, Bill Hopkins, David Reisfeld, Steven P. Higgins
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Patent number: 7564840Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites to request the set-up and tear-down of calls. The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties and called parties through the data network. The provisioning and network event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites. The network management component includes a network operations center (NOC) for centralized network management.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2003Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLCInventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Publication number: 20040022237Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: Level 3 Communications, Inc.Inventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 6614781Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1998Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Level 3 Communications, Inc.Inventors: Isaac K. Elliott, Steven P. Higgins, Andrew John Dugan, Jon Peterson, Robert L. Hernandez, Rick D. Steele, Bruce W. Baker, Rich Terpstra, Jonathan S. Mitchell, Jin-Gen Wang, Harold Stearns, Eric Zimmerer, Ray Waibel, Kraig Owen, Shawn M. Lewis
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Patent number: 5892822Abstract: A method of and system for routing switched termination telephone calls in accordance with international routing requirements and with consideration of available network capacity. A call is received at a switch of an international carrier. The switch sends a query identifying the first country as the country of origin for the call and the second country as the country of termination for the call to a service control point of the international carrier. The service control point determines from the query that the call is an international call and sends a request for a routing translation to a regulatory routing platform of the international carrier. The regulatory routing platform determines an optimal route for the call in accordance with international regulatory routing requirements.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: MCI Communications CorporationInventors: Louis G. Gottlieb, William A. Sims, Steven P. Higgins, Randall P. Ethier