Patents by Inventor Thea Turner

Thea Turner 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).

  • Progress indicators to encourage more secure behaviors
    Patent number: 8156342
    Abstract: A method for enticing users to behave securely in a computing environment. For security related input, such as selection of password, a progress indicator is provided to the user. The progress indicator correlates to the level of security obtained by the user's entry, rather than to the completion of the task. The indicator follows a non-linear function that crosses zero security and maximum expected security for the task. The function starts at shallow slope, increases towards the middle, and then reverts to shallow slop towards the end of the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Volker Roth, Thea Turner
  • Methods and apparatus for automating the servicing of telephone calls including requesting directional and/or other types of information
    Patent number: 7606359
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing operator services to callers in a fully or partially automated manner are disclosed. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing new telephone services, e.g., the forwarding of messages to non-published telephone number customers. It is also directed to methods and apparatus that can be used to detect, report and correct operator input errors. Automated, e.g., unmanned, apparatus of the present invention are capable of interfacing with conventional telephone switches using known operator protocols. This allows automated devices of the present invention to appear to existing telephone switches as manned operator positions capable of servicing telephone calls. In accordance with the present invention, the unmanned apparatus of the present invention is assigned one or more operator position identifiers conventionally used to identify manned operator positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Verizon Services Corp.
    Inventors: Craig Reding, Menno Aartsen, Lisa M. Amberger, Constance Carlson, Suzi Levas, Mike Metaxas, Jan Stein, Rao Tanuku, Thea Turner
  • PROGRESS INDICATORS TO ENCOURAGE MORE SECURE BEHAVIORS
    Publication number: 20090083859
    Abstract: A method for enticing users to behave securely in a computing environment. For security related input, such as selection of password, a progress indicator is provided to the user. The progress indicator correlates to the level of security obtained by the user's entry, rather than to the completion of the task. The indicator follows a non-linear function that crosses zero security and maximum expected security for the task. The function starts at shallow slope, increases towards the middle, and then reverts to shallow slop towards the end of the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Volker Roth, Thea Turner
  • Methods and apparatus for automating the telephone operator services
    Patent number: 6480598
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing operator services to callers in a fully or partially automated manner are disclosed. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing new telephone services, e.g., the forwarding of messages to non-published telephone number customers. It is also directed to methods and apparatus that can be used to detect, report and correct operator input errors. Automated, e.g., unmanned, apparatus of the present invention are capable of interfacing with conventional telephone switches using known operator protocols. This allows automated devices of the present invention to appear to existing telephone switches as manned operator positions capable of servicing telephone calls. In accordance with the present invention, the unmanned apparatus of the present invention is assigned one or more operator position identifiers conventionally used to identify manned operator positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Verizon Services Corp.
    Inventors: Craig Reding, Menno Aartsen, Lisa M. Amberger, Constance Carlson, Suzi Levas, Mike Metaxas, Jan Stein, Rao Tanuku, Thea Turner
  • Methods and apparatus for automating the detection, reporting and correction of operator input errors
    Patent number: 6108410
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing operator services to callers in a fully or partially automated manner are disclosed. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing new telephone services, e.g., the forwarding of messages to non-published telephone number customers. It is also directed to methods and apparatus that can be used to detect, report and correct operator input errors. Automated, e.g., unmanned, apparatus of the present invention are capable of interfacing with conventional telephone switches using known operator protocols. This allows automated devices of the present invention to appear to existing telephone switches as manned operator positions capable of servicing telephone calls. In accordance with the present invention, the unmanned apparatus of the present invention is assigned one or more operator position identifiers conventionally used to identify manned operator positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Nynex Science and Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Reding, Suzi Levas, Thea Turner