Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Stepp

Thomas E. Stepp 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: 8638916
    Abstract: An approach provides detection of unauthorized use of data services. The number of data calls for access to a data network is tracked over a predetermined time period, and the cumulative duration of the data calls is determined. Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether the number of the data calls and the cumulative duration satisfy, respectively, a first threshold and a second threshold. A potential fraudulent use of the account is determined, if the thresholds are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Patent number: 8340259
    Abstract: An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A list of single-event attributes (e.g., hot or cold attributes) is generated and includes a network address of an end user host originating a data call or a calling party identification (e.g., Automatic Number Identification (ANI) or an originating Calling Line Identification (CLI)) for network access, wherein entries of the list specify values of the hot attributes. An attribute value associated with the data call is compared with the entries. A fraud alert is generated if the attribute value matches one of the entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Patent number: 8015414
    Abstract: An approach provides detection of unauthorized use of data services. A determination is made as to whether connections supporting remote access to a data network are completed. The number of completed connections associated with a selected attribute is tracked over a time period. It is then determined whether the number of completed connections satisfies a connection frequency threshold. A fraud alert is generated if the connection frequency threshold is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Patent number: 7971237
    Abstract: An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A usage pattern associated with a particular account for remote access to a data network is monitored. The usage pattern is compared with a reference pattern specified for the account. A fraud alert is selectively generated based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Michael F. Caslin, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur Lance Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Publication number: 20110107421
    Abstract: An approach provides detection of unauthorized use of data services. A determination is made as to whether connections supporting remote access to a data network are completed. The number of completed connections associated with a selected attribute is tracked over a time period. It is then determined whether the number of completed connections satisfies a connection frequency threshold. A fraud alert is generated if the connection frequency threshold is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Patent number: 7817791
    Abstract: An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A list of single-event attributes (e.g., hot or cold attributes) is generated and includes a network address of an end user host originating a data call or a calling party identification (e.g., Automatic Number Identification (ANI) or an originating Calling Line Identification (CLI)) for network access, wherein entries of the list specify values of the hot attributes. An attribute value associated with the data call is compared with the entries. A fraud alert is generated if the attribute value matches one of the entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Patent number: 7783019
    Abstract: An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A threshold corresponding to a geographic location is set. The threshold corresponds to duration of a call supporting data communications. It is determined whether the call duration exceeds the threshold. A fraud alert is generated if the monitored call duration exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Patent number: 7774842
    Abstract: An approach provides detection of unauthorized use of data services. A fraud case is created for a data call that is determined to be potentially fraudulent based on a fraud alert. A fraud score is determined for the case according to the fraud alert. The fraud score is adjusted according to adjustment criteria including an intermediate network involved with the data call, and an originating country of the data call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel
  • Publication number: 20100080372
    Abstract: An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A list of single-event attributes (e.g., hot or cold attributes) is generated and includes a network address of an end user host originating a data call or a calling party identification (e.g., Automatic Number Identification (ANI) or an originating Calling Line Identification (CLI)) for network access, wherein entries of the list specify values of the hot attributes. An attribute value associated with the data call is compared with the entries. A fraud alert is generated if the attribute value matches one of the entries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Saralyn M. Mahone, Matthew J. Gilbert, Thomas E. Stepp, Arthur L. Springer, John Hans Van Arkel