Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Anschutz

Thomas A. Anschutz 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: 10361950
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide a consumer services cloud in a communications network are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor; and a computer readable storage medium including computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include identifying which of multiple possible users associated with a communications network customer is a current user of a client device based on authentication information included in a request for access from the client device to a communication network. The network communication containing the request is diverted to the apparatus by a software-defined networking switch. The operations also include, in response to identifying the current user, accessing a first profile corresponding to the identified current user to determine a rule to be used to handle network communications within the communications network. Further operations include configuring the software-defined networking switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Thomas A. Anschutz, Alan Blackburn, Arthur Richard Brisebois
  • Publication number: 20190182731
    Abstract: A wireless network for mobile communications has a connectionless framework using native internet protocol (IP). In this connectionless framework, packet routing may be based on user endpoint (UE) physical IP address, which is associated with the prefix of an associated access node (e.g. eNB). In addition to using the connectionless-IP framework for the traffic flow carried by one access point (e.g. eNB) at a time, advanced mobile call processing features, such as carrier aggregation and dual connectivity, are enhanced to leverage the packet-oriented connectionless radio access network and wireless core network architecture by using the SDN architecture and a wireless network specific software-defined network controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Jiansong Wang, Thomas Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20190158531
    Abstract: A system for providing secure browsing via a transparent network proxy is disclosed. The system may receive, from a client, a request to access a resource. The request may include an identifier that may be utilized to locate the resource. Once the request is received, the system may determine if the resource is not trusted, such as if the identifier is determined to be unknown or suspicious. If the resource is determined to not be trusted by the system, the system may forward the request to a virtual machine manager that may select a browser virtual machine from a pool of browser virtual machines. After the browser virtual machine is selected, the browser virtual machine may stream a rendering of the resource to the client based on the request. The rendering of the resource may be provided in lieu of the actual resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Giura, Jeffrey E. Bickford, Donald E. Hendrix, Howard F. Shirokmann, Thomas A. Anschutz, Ching C. Shih
  • Patent number: 10285110
    Abstract: Intelligent traffic routing may be utilized to route packets of information to one or more radio access technologies and/or cells/access points based on network and/or UE conditions. Packet routes dynamically may be adjusted based on the best radio technology, cell layer, service provider specified criteria, or the like. In an example configuration, intelligent traffic routing may be SDN based utilize a simple Internet protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Qingmin Hu, Thomas A. Anschutz, James W. Rembert, Farooq Bari
  • Patent number: 10244445
    Abstract: A wireless network for mobile communications has a connectionless framework using native internet protocol (IP). In this connectionless framework, packet routing may be based on user endpoint (UE) physical IP address, which is associated with the prefix of an associated access node (e.g. eNB). In addition to using the connectionless-IP framework for the traffic flow carried by one access point (e.g. eNB) at a time, advanced mobile call processing features, such as carrier aggregation and dual connectivity, are enhanced to leverage the packet-oriented connectionless radio access network and wireless core network architecture by using the SDN architecture and a wireless network specific software-defined network controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Jiansong Wang, Thomas Anschutz
  • Patent number: 10200403
    Abstract: A system for providing secure browsing via a transparent network proxy is disclosed. The system may receive, from a client, a request to access a resource. The request may include an identifier that may be utilized to locate the resource. Once the request is received, the system may determine if the resource is not trusted, such as if the identifier is determined to be unknown or suspicious. If the resource is determined to not be trusted by the system, the system may forward the request to a virtual machine manager that may select a browser virtual machine from a pool of browser virtual machines. After the browser virtual machine is selected, the browser virtual machine may stream a rendering of the resource to the client based on the request. The rendering of the resource may be provided in lieu of the actual resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Giura, Jeffrey E. Bickford, Donald E. Hendrix, Howard F. Shirokmann, Thomas A. Anschutz, Ching C. Shih
  • Publication number: 20180270721
    Abstract: A wireless network for mobile communications has a connectionless framework using native internet protocol (IP). In this connectionless framework, packet routing may be based on user endpoint (UE) physical IP address, which is associated with the prefix of an associated access node (e.g. eNB). In addition to using the connectionless-IP framework for the traffic flow carried by one access point (e.g. eNB) at a time, advanced mobile call processing features, such as carrier aggregation and dual connectivity, are enhanced to leverage the packet-oriented connectionless radio access network and wireless core network architecture by using the SDN architecture and a wireless network specific software-defined network controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Jiansong Wang, Thomas Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20180252770
    Abstract: Configurable probe blocks for system monitoring are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a processor to perform operations including enabling, based on a value of a control word, a first probe input of a probe block, the first probe input mapped to a source of monitored network traffic in a software defined network. Disclosed example apparatus also include configuring, based on the value of the control word, a first trigger condition of the probe block to evaluate the monitored network traffic to determine whether the monitored network traffic has a first characteristic. Disclosed example apparatus further include configuring, based on the value of the control word, a first probe output of the probe block to output a result of the monitored network traffic being evaluated according to the first trigger condition, the first probe output to output the result to a network application of the software defined network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Mostafa Tofighbakhsh, Thomas A. Anschutz
  • Patent number: 10028083
    Abstract: Mobility management may be utilized to effectuate handover and route packets of information to one or more radio access technologies and/or cells/access points based on network, UE conditions, device location, and/or network entity location. Packet routes, device addresses, handover functions, dynamically may be adjusted based on the best radio technology, cell layer, service provider specified criteria, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, James W. Rembert, Thomas A. Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20180176143
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to application-based multiple radio access technologies (“RAT”) and platform control using software-defined networking (“SDN”). According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, an SDN controller can configure a radio access network (“RAN”) for connectionless services and for connection-oriented services. The RAN can support multiple RATs each capable of providing radio access to a device, such as a UE or an IoT device. The SDN controller can determine a user plane path configuration for an application flow through at least part of the RAN. The SDN controller can provide the user plane configuration to an SDN agent that is stored on and is executable by the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Jiansong Wang, Thomas A. Anschutz
  • Patent number: 9991931
    Abstract: A method includes identifying, at a processor of a crosstalk analyzer, a first communication line of a plurality of communication lines and a second communication line of the plurality of communication lines. The first communication line and the second communication line identified based on a correlation of a crosstalk parameter with respect to the first communication line and the second communication line. The method also includes, responsive to identifying the first communication line and the second communication line, assigning, by the processor, the first communication line to a first port of an access node and the second communication line to a second port of the access node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Anschutz, Thomas Starr
  • Patent number: 9964590
    Abstract: Configurable probe blocks for system monitoring are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to monitor a system include configuring a probe block based on a first value of a control word specifying that a first probe input from a set of available probe inputs associated with the probe block is to be enabled and that a first trigger condition from a set of available trigger conditions associated with the probe block is to be assigned to the first probe input. Some such disclosed example methods also include processing, in accordance with the configuring of the probe block based on the first value of the control word, monitored data accessible via the probe block to determine probe data to output from the probe block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mostafa Tofighbakhsh, Thomas A. Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20180069894
    Abstract: A system for providing secure browsing via a transparent network proxy is disclosed. The system may receive, from a client, a request to access a resource. The request may include an identifier that may be utilized to locate the resource. Once the request is received, the system may determine if the resource is not trusted, such as if the identifier is determined to be unknown or suspicious. If the resource is determined to not be trusted by the system, the system may forward the request to a virtual machine manager that may select a browser virtual machine from a pool of browser virtual machines. After the browser virtual machine is selected, the browser virtual machine may stream a rendering of the resource to the client based on the request. The rendering of the resource may be provided in lieu of the actual resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Giura, Jeffrey E. Bickford, Donald E. Hendrix, Howard F. Shirokmann, Thomas A. Anschutz, Ching C. Shih
  • Patent number: 9882928
    Abstract: A system for providing secure browsing via a transparent network proxy is disclosed. The system may receive, from a client, a request to access a resource. The request may include an identifier that may be utilized to locate the resource. Once the request is received, the system may determine if the resource is not trusted, such as if the identifier is determined to be unknown or suspicious. If the resource is determined to not be trusted by the system, the system may forward the request to a virtual machine manager that may select a browser virtual machine from a pool of browser virtual machines. After the browser virtual machine is selected, the browser virtual machine may stream a rendering of the resource to the client based on the request. The rendering of the resource may be provided in lieu of the actual resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Giura, Jeffrey E. Bickford, Donald E. Hendrix, Howard F. Shirokmann, Thomas A. Anschutz, Ching C. Shih
  • Publication number: 20180006934
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide a consumer services cloud in a communications network are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor; and a computer readable storage medium including computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include identifying which of multiple possible users associated with a communications network customer is a current user of a client device based on authentication information included in a request for access from the client device to a communication network. The network communication containing the request is diverted to the apparatus by a software-defined networking switch. The operations also include, in response to identifying the current user, accessing a first profile corresponding to the identified current user to determine a rule to be used to handle network communications within the communications network. Further operations include configuring the software-defined networking switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: AT&T Mobility Il LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Thomas A. Anschutz, Alan Blackburn, Arthur Richard Brisebois
  • Patent number: 9843987
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for a consumer service cloud (“CSC”) for implementing location-based services to control smart devices. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a CSC system can determine a cell identifier (“ID”) associated with a location in which one or more smart devices resides. The smart device(s) can include one or more settings that can be adjusted remotely by the CSC system to control one or more operational aspects of the smart device(s). The CSC system can periodically receive a cell ID update that can include a current cell ID associated with a current cell in which a user equipment (“UE”) is located. When the CSC system determines that the current cell ID matches the cell ID, the CSC system can generate a request to adjust the setting(s) to control the operational aspect(s) of the smart device(s) and can provide the request to the smart device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Alan Blackburn, Thomas A. Anschutz, Arthur Richard Brisebois
  • Patent number: 9825908
    Abstract: A method of increasing integrity associated with a computer network, which includes determining a model operational parameter associated with an application operating at a predetermined integrity level on the computer network, the model operational parameter is associated with operation of a layer above the agent layer as the application operates at the predetermined integrity level and interacts with the layer above the agent layer, generating an operational model associated with the application performing at the predetermined integrity level, detecting a current operational parameter associated with the application operating at a current integrity level on the computer network, determining an exception associated with the operational model based on a comparison between the model operational parameter and the current operational parameter, and generating an instruction from the agent layer to resolve the exception, thereby increasing integrity of the computer network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Anschutz
  • Publication number: 20170289049
    Abstract: A system for providing differentiated services to traffic flows of a content distribution network is disclosed. In particular, the system may include determining if a first portion of an internet protocol address associated with a traffic flow includes an identifier for a node in the content distribution network by comparing the identifier to a set of prefixes for the content distribution network. Additionally, the system may include determining if a second portion of the internet protocol address matches a unique host address specified by the content distribution network for a customer of the content distribution network. If a rule for providing a differentiated service exists for the customer, the first portion is in the set of prefixes, and the second portion matches the unique host address specified for the customer, the system may provide the differentiated service for the traffic flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Anschutz
  • Patent number: 9769069
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide a consumer services cloud in a communications network are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining, at a first device in a communications network, network communications transmitted from a client device of a communications network customer that are diverted via a software-defined networking switch. The example method also includes analyzing the network communications to identify which of multiple possible users associated with the communications network customer is a current user of the client device; in response to identifying the current user, accessing a first profile corresponding to the identified current user to determine a rule to be used to handle the network communications within the communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Thomas A. Anschutz, Alan Blackburn, Arthur Richard Brisebois
  • Publication number: 20170257141
    Abstract: A method includes identifying, at a processor of a crosstalk analyzer, a first communication line of a plurality of communication lines and a second communication line of the plurality of communication lines. The first communication line and the second communication line identified based on a correlation of a crosstalk parameter with respect to the first communication line and the second communication line. The method also includes, responsive to identifying the first communication line and the second communication line, assigning, by the processor, the first communication line to a first port of an access node and the second communication line to a second port of the access node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Anschutz, Thomas Starr