Patents by Inventor Sunil H. Contractor

Sunil H. Contractor 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: 7564958
    Abstract: A message is delivered to multiple communication stations. The message is received from a first communication station. An indication of a plurality of destination communication stations is also received from the first communication station. For each destination communication station, the message is annunciated. If a destination communication station is a telephone station, the telephone number corresponding to the telephone station is dialed, an answer status is received, and the message is annunciated to the telephone station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Publication number: 20080248814
    Abstract: A location visit detail service, typically provided by a wireless carrier to a subscriber, includes a portable wireless device, a location identification means and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives location data generated by the location identification means. The central processor data transforms the location data into time and position data pairs that identify the location of the portable wireless device at a particular time. Through a geographic information system database, the position data is converted to street address data. The details data is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber, which can use the details data to provide a summary report describing the activity of the service person. This summary report can be used for preparation of bills or for gathering statistics on (individual or group) service person efficiency. Alternatively, the wireless carrier can prepare the report that is then transmitted to the subscriber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: AT&T BLS Intellectual Property, Inc., formerly known as BellSouth Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Publication number: 20080198989
    Abstract: A system for providing location ID services for telephone calls transfers location data describing the location of the calling device to the called device. Rather than or in addition to providing the name and telephone number as is done through the conventional caller ID service, the location of the calling device is displayed by the called device including the zip code, the longitude and latitude planar coordinates, or the street address. Existing advanced intelligent network infrastructure may be adapted to provide the location ID service, such as by providing location data queries from a signal switching point to a signal control point. The signal control point has access to a CNAM database containing location ID data fields in addition to conventional caller ID data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7388949
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for audibly announcing information associated with a calling party in an advanced intelligent network comprising a service switching point, a service control point and a services node. The service switching point is adapted to suspend calls directed to an audio caller identification service and to forward information concerning the calling and called parties to the service control point. The service control point is adapted to direct the call to a selected services node. The services node sends a query to retrieve information concerning the calling party from the service control point. If necessary, other service control points may be queried for the information. While the aforementioned processing is occurring, the calling party continues to hear a ringing signal. When the aforementioned information is retrieved, the service directs a second call to the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil H. Contractor, James C. Bedingfield, Sr., Scott Holt
  • Patent number: 7385516
    Abstract: A location visit confirmation service includes a portable wireless device, a schedule of predetermined sites, a location identification system, and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives position data generated by the location identification system identifying the location of the portable wireless device. The central processor compares this position data to the schedule of predetermined sites. Using a threshold based on distance, or distance and time, it is determined whether a service person completed a visit to one of the sites in the schedule. At the end of the site visit confirmation evaluation period, a summary report is generated that confirms those scheduled site visits that were completed. The summary report is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7362851
    Abstract: A system for providing location ID services for telephone calls transfers location data describing the location of the calling device to the called device. Rather than or in addition to providing the name and telephone number as is done through the conventional caller ID service, the location of the calling device is displayed by the called device including the zip code, the longitude and latitude planar coordinates, or the street address. Existing advanced intelligent network infrastructure may be adapted to provide the location ID service, such as by providing location data queries from a signal switching point to a signal control point. The signal control point has access to a CNAM database containing location ID data fields in addition to conventional caller ID data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7292865
    Abstract: A location visit detail service, typically provided by a wireless carrier to a subscriber, includes a portable wireless device, a location identification means and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives location data generated by the location identification means. The central processor data transforms the location data into time and position data pairs that identify the location of the portable wireless device at a particular time. Through a geographic information system database, the position data is converted to street address data. The details data is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber, which can use the details data to provide a summary report describing the activity of the service person. This summary report can be used for preparation of bills or for gathering statistics on (individual or group) service person efficiency. Alternatively, the wireless carrier can prepare the report that is then transmitted to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T BLS Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7277922
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for contacting users based on the completion of an online session, such as an Internet session. A user begins an online session by logging into an access provider, such as an Internet Service Provider. Upon completion of the online session, the access provider can store online session data that describes the online session. The online session data may include such information as the identity of the user (e.g., a phone number, an address, and so forth) and the time the online session ended. This online session data can be processed by a caller in order to identify users to call. The caller may be the access provider or a third party, such as a telemarketer. The online session data may be processed in various manners. The online session data may be compared to data of failed calls to identify users who could not be contacted before, but that may now available based on the completion of their online sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T BLS Intellectual Property, Inc
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7194080
    Abstract: A Service Control Point (SCP) has a call list associated with the main telephone number of a called party. When a calling party attempts to contact the called party by calling the main number, but cannot reach the main number, a Service Switching Point (SSP) fires a trigger. One trigger is a T_No_Answer trigger, which is fired in response to a call to the main number that is not answered within a predefined number of rings. Another trigger is a T_Busy trigger that is fired in response to a call to the main number that is made when the main number is busy. Each trigger causes the SCP to access the call list and to cause the SSP to ring an alternative telephone number associated with the main telephone number. If this attempt to reach the called party also fails, then the SSP again fires the trigger and an attempt is made to connect the calling party to the next number on the call list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Worsham, David A. Levine, Greg N. Patterson, Zhiqiang Zeeman Zhang, Sunil H. Contractor, Ping Song
  • Patent number: 7123152
    Abstract: A location visit confirmation service includes a portable wireless device, a schedule of predetermined sites, a location identification system, and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives position data generated by the location identification system identifying the location of the portable wireless device. The central processor compares this position data to the schedule of predetermined sites. Using a threshold based on distance, or distance and time, it is determined whether a service person completed a visit to one of the sites in the schedule. At the end of the site visit confirmation evaluation period, a summary report is generated that confirms those scheduled site visits that were completed. The summary report is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7120239
    Abstract: Call detail service is provided using a trigger that only activates after the disposition of a telephone call is known, for example, a T-Busy and/or a T_NoAnswer. When a telephone call encounters the T-Busy or T_NoAnswer trigger a terminating central office switch attempts to complete the call. If the call is not completed because it is busy or not answered, the information related to the call is sent to a service control point. The service control point creates a call information record. The call information record is sent to a service management system that used the call information record to create a call detail report. Using the T_Busy and/or T_NoAnswer triggers eliminates the need to collect data for every telephone call to determine which calls are not completed because they are not answered or busy. As a result processing complexity and storage requirements are significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7099312
    Abstract: A forwarding telephone number in a programmable telephone number list associated with a called number is dialed in response to a busy or no answer signal at the called number. The programmable telephone number table may include preferred caller telephone numbers. The system and method may be may be implemented on an AIN based wire line system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7099677
    Abstract: A method of delivering a call to a called party's device. The method includes receiving a call directed to a wireline device and validating that a telephone number of the wireline device is associated with a telephone number of a wireless device. The method also includes transmitting a message to the wireless device, delivering the call to the wireline device when a return message is not received from the wireless device, and determining a location of the wireless device when a return message is received from the wireless device. The method further includes comparing the location of the wireless device with a location of the wireline device, delivering the call to the wireless device when the location of the wireless device is not within a predefined vicinity of the location of the wireline device, and delivering the call to the wireline device when the location of the wireless device is within a predefined vicinity of the location of the wireline device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7016477
    Abstract: An emergency notification system. The system includes a first server for receiving an emergency communication from a telecommunications network and for transmitting a message to a subscriber of the emergency notification system. The system also includes a second server in communication with the first server, the second server for supplying the first server with information associated with a subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 7006833
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for forwarding a telephone call. The inventive method includes receiving a telephone call from a calling party line to a called party line, determining a location of the called party, determining a proximity of the location of the called party to one or more subscriber locations, and directing the telephone call to the one or more subscriber locations based on the determined proximity. The subscriber locations may be predefined by the called party. The location of the called party may be determined using a global position system and/or a radio frequency signal, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 6879676
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for routing a call using the GIS technologies. The method comprises the following steps: First, a call intended for a subscriber of the optimal location call routing service is received at an SSP. Second, a query is launched to an SCP for call routing instruction. Third, the SCP consults a system that is based on the GIS technology to determine the telephone number of the optimal location. Fourth, the database provides the telephone number of the optimal location for the SCP to complete the call. Communication between the SCP and the GIS system are via an application over the TCP/IP protocol. An apparatus for implementing the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 6847824
    Abstract: A location visit detail service, typically provided by a wireless carrier to a subscriber, includes a portable wireless device, a location identification means and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives location data generated by the location identification means. The central processor data transforms the location data into time and position data pairs that identify the location of the portable wireless device at a particular time. Through a geographic information system database, the position data is converted to street address data. The details data is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber, which can use the details data to provide a summary report describing the activity of the service person. This summary report can be used for preparation of bills or for gathering statistics on (individual or group) service person efficiency. Alternatively, the wireless carrier can prepare the report that is then transmitted to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 6831563
    Abstract: A location visit confirmation service includes a portable wireless device, a schedule of predetermined sites, a location identification device and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives position data generated by the location identification device identifying the location of the portable wireless device. The central processor compares this position data to the schedule of predetermined sites. Using a threshold based on distance, or distance and time, it is determined whether a service person completed a visit to one of the sites in the schedule. At the end of the site visit confirmation evaluation period, a summary report is generated that confirms those scheduled site visits that were completed. The summary report is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 6804341
    Abstract: Call detail service is provided using a trigger that only activates after the disposition of a telephone call is known, for example, a T-Busy and/or a T_NoAnswer. When a telephone call encounters the T-Busy or T_NoAnswer trigger a terminating central office switch attempts to complete the call. If the call is not completed because it is busy or not answered, the information related to the call is sent to a service control point. The service control point creates a call information record. The call information record is sent to a service management system that used the call information record to create a call detail report. Using the T_Busy and/or T_NoAnswer triggers eliminates the need to collect data for every telephone call to determine which calls are not completed because they are not answered or busy. As a result processing complexity and storage requirements are significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: 6792081
    Abstract: An emergency notification system. The system includes a first server for receiving an emergency communication from a telecommunications network and for transmitting a message to a subscriber of the emergency notification system. The system also includes a second server in communication with the first server, the second server for supplying the first server with information associated with a subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor