Patents by Inventor Thomas Erskine
Thomas Erskine 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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Patent number: 8095127Abstract: A system and method performs real-time subscriber management and accounting for a wireless device by detecting predetermined events within the wireless device and communicating information pertaining to such events from the wireless device to a real-time subscriber management platform in association with each communication session. The information received by the real-time subscriber management platform is used to control the behavior of the wireless device and/or to update accounting information pertaining to the subscriber.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Xius Holding Corp.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
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Patent number: 7486945Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing communication events, such as telephone calls, for prepaying customers are described. The systems and methods permit, at the beginning of a communication event, the determination of a time limit for the event based on the available balance in a prepayment account associated with the event.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth W. Sonberg
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Publication number: 20080274724Abstract: A system and method performs real-time subscriber management and accounting for a wireless device by detecting predetermined events within the wireless device and communicating information pertaining to such events from the wireless device to a real-time subscriber management platform in association with each communication session. The information received by the real-time subscriber management platform is used to control the behavior of the wireless device and/or to update accounting information pertaining to the subscriber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
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Patent number: 7418252Abstract: A system and method performs real-time subscriber management and accounting for a wireless device by detecting predetermined events within the wireless device and communicating information pertaining to such events from the wireless device to a real-time subscriber management platform in association with each communication session. The information received by the real-time subscriber management platform is used to control the behavior of the wireless device and/or to update accounting information pertaining to the subscriber.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
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Patent number: 7218912Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters may include one or more locations at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use may be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers that are always-accessible may be provided and one or more lists including numbers that are never-accessible may also be provided. In the event a call does not satisfy predefined criteria, the call is blocked. Predetermined messages may be played to the called or calling party as applicable when a call is blocked.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
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Patent number: 7206569Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters may include one or more locations at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use may be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers that are always-accessible may be provided and one or more lists including numbers that are never-accessible may also be provided. In the event a call does not satisfy predefined criteria, the call is blocked. Predetermined messages may be played to the called or calling party as applicable when a call is blocked.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
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Patent number: 7197321Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters may include one or more locations at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use may be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers that are always-accessible may be provided and one or more lists including numbers that are never-accessible may also be provided. In the event a call does not satisfy predefined criteria, the call is blocked. Predetermined messages may be played to the called or calling party as applicable when a call is blocked.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
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Patent number: 7187928Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods that operate to provide seamless roaming to a prepaid subscriber in as many markets as possible. To that end, the systems of the invention include a location register (LR) that can determine the type, or class, of serving market with which the roaming subscriber is registering. Once the class of the serving market is identified, the LR can modify a subscriber's profile as a function of this class, and return to the serving market a profile that will allow the serving market to employ the prepaid platform that services the subscriber and thereby provide services to the roaming subscriber. In optional embodiments, the LR may also respond to location requests from the prepaid platform. The location information may be employed by the subscriber to determine a rate structure for a call, and thereby decrement the subscriber's balance as a function of, at least in part, the location of the roaming subscriber.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John R. Cooper
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Publication number: 20060160523Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters may include one or more locations at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use may be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers that are always-accessible may be provided and one or more lists including numbers that are never-accessible may also be provided. In the event a call does not satisfy predefined criteria, the call is blocked. Predetermined messages may be played to the called or calling party as applicable when a call is blocked.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2006Publication date: July 20, 2006Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
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Publication number: 20060154644Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters may include one or more locations at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use may be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers that are always-accessible may be provided and one or more lists including numbers that are never-accessible may also be provided. In the event a call does not satisfy predefined criteria, the call is blocked. Predetermined messages may be played to the called or calling party as applicable when a call is blocked.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2006Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
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Publication number: 20060035623Abstract: Systems and methods for prerating communication events, such as telephone calls, for prepaying customers are described. The systems and methods permit, at the beginning of a communication event, the determination of a time limit for the event based on the available balance in a prepayment account associated with the event.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth Sonberg
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Publication number: 20050282559Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters, which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters can include one or more locations, at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use, such as cumulative usage time, number of messages or number of bytes, can be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers or other identifiers that are always-accessible can be provided, and one or more lists including numbers or other identifiers that are never-accessible can also be provided. In the event a call, message or browse does not satisfy predefined criteria, the communication attempt is blocked.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth Sonberg, Luther Rudisill, Dennis Turri
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Publication number: 20050107066Abstract: A system and method performs real-time subscriber management and accounting for a wireless device by detecting predetermined events within the wireless device and communicating information pertaining to such events from the wireless device to a real-time subscriber management platform in association with each communication session. The information received by the real-time subscriber management platform is used to control the behavior of the wireless device and/or to update accounting information pertaining to the subscriber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
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Publication number: 20040192297Abstract: A system and method for allowing wireless carriers to implement intelligent spending-limited products to their post-paid subscribers. The system and method can be deployed separate from but cooperative with legacy billing environments or integrated with a carrier's billing and customer care suite. The system reduces latency in collecting and rating event-related data for roaming and local spending limits subscribers, enables selective deployment of real-time subscriber management based upon a carrier-definable threshold matrix, provides proactive messaging premised upon various account-related metrics, and enables the acceptance and immediate crediting of subscriber payments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Marco A. Terry, John R. Cooper, John W. Hayes
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Publication number: 20040171368Abstract: Systems and methods for prerating communication events, such as telephone calls, for prepaying customers are described. The systems and methods permit, at the beginning of a communication event, the determination of a time limit for the event based on the available balance in a prepayment account associated with the event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth W. Sonberg
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Publication number: 20040166878Abstract: A system for controlling wireless phone usage enables a supervisor to establish user profiles for supervised users of wireless phones across a range of parameters which are stored in a user profile database. Such parameters may include one or more locations at which use of the wireless phone is restricted or permitted. In addition, restrictions on phone use may be provided based upon total phone usage within a specified control period, time periods, dates or days of the week during which phone use is restricted or permitted. One or more lists including numbers that are always-accessible may be provided and one or more lists including numbers that are never-accessible may also be provided. In the event a call does not satisfy predefined criteria, the call is blocked. Predetermined messages may be played to the called or calling party as applicable when a call is blocked.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
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Patent number: 6704563Abstract: Systems and methods for prerating communication events, such as telephone calls, for prepaying customers are described. The systems and methods permit, at the beginning of a communication event, the determination of a time limit for the event based on the available balance in a prepayment account associated with the event.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1999Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth W. Sonberg
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Publication number: 20030177028Abstract: A system and methods for enabling access to one or more accounts associated with a Mobile Directory Number (MDN), wherein transactional tasks may be enacted, are disclosed. Such a system includes a server coupled to receive an input transaction request from a user through a point-of-entry device and coupled to a database that corresponds the MDN to the logical address of a user account. The server includes a processor for accessing the database to identify the logical address of the MDN-associated account. A method for using the system is also disclosed in which a user enacts a transaction with an account associated with an MDN. The method includes obtaining the MDN and transaction request from a point of entry device, identifying the account using a database that corresponds MDN with account logical address, and enacting the requested transaction on the identified account using access information obtained from the database.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: John Cooper, Thomas Erskine, Brian Ducharme, Fritz von Mering, Dennis Turri