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).

  • Patent number: 8095127
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Xius Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
  • Patent number: 7486945
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth W. Sonberg
  • Publication number: 20080274724
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
  • Patent number: 7418252
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
  • Patent number: 7218912
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
  • Patent number: 7206569
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
  • Patent number: 7197321
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
  • Patent number: 7187928
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John R. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20060160523
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20060154644
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
  • Publication number: 20060035623
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth Sonberg
  • Publication number: 20050282559
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth Sonberg, Luther Rudisill, Dennis Turri
  • Publication number: 20050107066
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Luther Rudisill, Kenneth Sonberg
  • Publication number: 20040192297
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Marco A. Terry, John R. Cooper, John W. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20040171368
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth W. Sonberg
  • Publication number: 20040166878
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Erskine, Kenneth W. Sonberg, Luther Rudisill
  • Patent number: 6704563
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Boston Communications Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Senn, Thomas Erskine, John Cooper, Kenneth W. Sonberg
  • Publication number: 20030177028
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: John Cooper, Thomas Erskine, Brian Ducharme, Fritz von Mering, Dennis Turri