Patents by Inventor Thomas Joseph McBlain
Thomas Joseph McBlain 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: 7409046Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying call waiting information in a communication system is particularly well suited for correcting mispronunciation of caller identification information provided for a call waiting call. A current pronunciation of the call waiting information is provided to the calling party who is prompted to change the current pronunciation. The system receives a new pronunciation of the call waiting information and stores information about the new pronunciation for subsequent retrieval.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7406160Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein include a method and system for billing for the use of a service control point (“SCP”). In one presently preferred embodiment, an SCP receives a query from a service switching point (“SSP”) and accesses data in a database in response to the query. The accessed data is associated with a data owner. The SCP tracks that the SSP sent the query and that the data owner's data was accessed in response to the query. After a plurality of queries have been received and tracked, the SCP creates a billing record and sends it to a billing center. Using the billing record, the billing center can charge the SSP for the use of the SCP. These preferred embodiments provide an efficient way for charging for the usage of an SCP, especially when the SSP querying the SCP is owned by a different telecommunications company.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2003Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, LPInventors: Nancy Ann Book, James Daniel Kovarik, Martha Lynda Marek, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Ronald Stephen Urban
-
Patent number: 7403603Abstract: A telecommunications service translates an abbreviated dialing code into a toll free number, routes the call to an interexchange carrier, and manages the billing associated with the call. A billing system processes the billing such that a subscriber of the abbreviated dialing code service is billed for the call rather than a calling party.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignees: AT&T Services, Inc., AT&T Teleholdings, Inc.Inventors: Dianna Inara Tiliks, Carol Shifrin Gruchala, Susanne Marie Crockett, Nancy Ann Book, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, William M. Moy, Kenneth Robert Stroud
-
Publication number: 20080152119Abstract: A network node in a communications network collects communication information. The network node collects, when an attempt is made to establish a network connection between a source and a destination, information related to the network connection and either or both of the source and the destination. A report is generated based on the information and at least a portion of the report is forwarded to a user. The report includes information for established network connections and information for unsuccessful attempts to establish network connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, L.P.Inventors: Dianna Inara Tiliks, Nancy Ann Book, Susanne Marie Crockett, Carol Shifrin Gruchala, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, James Daniel Kovarik, Barbara Jablonski, Douglas Marshall, Jayson Anthony O'Neill, Matthew D. Brooks
-
Patent number: 7391859Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting message to a customer when the customer is busy on a previous call and receives a current call. The call waiting message preferably includes a call waiting indicator and an audible representation of information associated with a current calling party. The call waiting message alerts the customer that a current call is waiting and provides the customer with information that assists the customer in deciding whether or not to take the current call. The call waiting indicator and the information associated with a current calling party are automatically transmitted to the customer without any customer commands.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, James Thomas Maciejewski, Claude Lee Harrington, Nancy Ann Book, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Thomas Joseph McBlain
-
Patent number: 7388952Abstract: A system and method for providing information about a calling party to a called party is disclosed. Generally, a network element obtains information about a calling party when a telephone line of a called party is busy. The network element notifies the called party that the calling party is attempting to contact the called party and transmits an audible version of the information about the calling party to the called party without receiving an input from the called party.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, LPInventors: James Thomas Maciejewski, Claude Lee Harrington, Nancy Ann Book, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Susanne Marie Crockett, Thomas Joseph McBlain
-
Patent number: 7366292Abstract: The present invention relates to a service for providing call reports to a subscriber related to non-answered calls for calls attempted between at least two parties. Using telecommunications switch triggers, call status related to answered, busy, and unanswered calls is collected in a record and used to populate a report. The report is then provided to a report formatter that formats the report so that it is suitable for presentation to a subscriber. The reported call information can be provided to the report formatter in near real time.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.Inventors: Dianna Inara Tiliks, Nancy Ann Book, Susanne Marie Crockett, Carol Shifrin Gruchala, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, James Daniel Kovarik, Barbara Jablonski, Douglas Marshall, Jayson Anthony O'Neill, Matthew D. Brooks
-
Patent number: 7333599Abstract: All calls terminating to a customer's directory number are intercepted. If caller identification information can be presented, the call is forwarded to a service node for disposition. The service node reconfigures signaling information of the call so that the call is not intercepted, then forwards the call to the subscriber's telephone. When the call is answered, the service node states the name or telephone number of the calling party which has been retrieved from the signaling information. The caller can decide whether to take the call, deny the call, send the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message or other disposition option.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.Inventors: John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Dianna Inara Tiliks, Nancy Ann Book, Susanne Marie Crockett, Carol Shifrin Gruchala
-
Patent number: 7302049Abstract: A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable program code, the code configured to provide caller identification information to a called party when standard Caller ID cannot be provided. If standard caller ID information cannot be provided for a call, the call is interrupted by the present service and the calling party is prompted for audible caller identification information. In one embodiment, when the audible caller identification is provided, the call is presented to the called party with a distinctive ring at the called telephone station. In another embodiment, the calling party may enter a personal identification number (PIN) to bypass the requirement for audible caller identification information. In still another embodiment, when the PIN is entered, the call is presented with a distinctive ring at the called communication station. In still another embodiment, the called party may send the incoming call to a voice mail system.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2003Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P.Inventors: Teresa Farias Latter, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, James Thomas Maciejewski, Mary Louise Hardzinski
-
Patent number: 7286657Abstract: A system and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided. A calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information. The announcement may be tailored by changing the language of the announcement, for example, to conform to the majority of calls received by the called party. A special designator may be stored in association with account information when the service is ordered. The designator is read before the announcement is played to the calling party. The audible caller identification information is recorded and played to the called party in a message. The message may be tailored by changing the language or format of the announcement.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: Teresa Farias Latter, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain
-
Patent number: 7242754Abstract: A system and method include implementing and accessing a subscriber's telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The system and method enable a subscriber to review, schedule and modify call forwarding information stored and implemented by a service control point (SCP) through a common server from any dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone and IVR system via the PSTN or any GUI and Web client via the Internet. The subscriber is able to build and edit call forwarding data, such as a scheduler and priority and rejection screening lists, by the GUI via the Internet for subsequent implementation.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: AT&T Labs, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Lee Adams, Xiaolian Yang Bi, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, Nancy Ann Book, Rodney T Brand, Susanne Marie Crockett, Laura Kay Culli, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Michael Albert Machacek, Thomas Joseph McBlain, John Wesley Moss, Stephen Mark Mueller, Karen Jeanne Pelletier, Richard Everett Sabinson, Paul Wilczynski, Elizabeth Goldwyn Gibson
-
Patent number: 7233652Abstract: A method and system are disclosed transmitting a message to a telephone station. Different routing strings are used to establish calls between different network elements, based on the location of the network elements with respect to one another. Different time delay periods are associated with the different routing strings so as to offset any differences in the time needed to setup the systems for the transmission of a message to a telephone station. This enables messages to effectively transmitted to the telephone stations so that they are complete and not cutoff.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2001Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Ameritech Corp.Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Thomas Joseph McBlain, John F. Ashley, Casandra A. Wallace, Timothy Gabriel Cannon
-
Patent number: 7227931Abstract: A method and system provide enhanced caller identification information to a called party. The system determines whether or not standard caller identification information associated with a calling party can be provided to the called party. The system preferably determines whether the standard caller identification information is unavailable, incomplete or has been blocked. When the system determines that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided, the system transmits a request for audible caller identification information to the calling party. If the calling party provides the requested audible caller identification information, the audible caller identification information is transmitted to the called party. The called party is thus provided with information about the calling party that can assist the called party in deciding whether or not to answer the call.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: SBC Holdings Properties, L.P.Inventors: Teresa Farias Latter, Nancy Ann Book, Mary Louise Hardzinski, James Thomas Maciejewski, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Steven Darrell Benfield, Robin Denise Brady, Walden Blaine Crabtree, Jr., Tracy Lynn Kato, Brian Scott Utesch
-
Patent number: 7224785Abstract: A system (100) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided, even when a subscriber to the service has per line blocking. A service control point (106) detects the directory number to which a terminating attempt trigger is assigned and places this directory number in a parameter for transmission to a service switching point (102) using a forward_call message (206). The per line blocking function does not interfere with transmission of this parameter so that the called party's directory number can be passed for processing and call completion by the system.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain
-
Patent number: 7139383Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting message to a customer when the customer is busy on a previous call and receives a current call. The call waiting message preferably includes a call waiting indicator and an audible representation of information associated with a current calling party. The call waiting message alerts the customer that a current call is waiting and provides the customer with information that assists the customer in deciding whether or not to take the current call. The call waiting indicator and the information associated with a current calling party are automatically transmitted to the customer without any customer commands.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: James Thomas Maciejewski, Claude Lee Harrington, Nancy Ann Book, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Susanne Marie Crockett, Thomas Joseph McBlain
-
Patent number: 7139384Abstract: A system and method of processing calls in a telephone network having advanced intelligent network (AIN) capabilities is provided. The method includes the step of coordinating the use of an indirect interface and a direct interface over direct and indirect data paths between a service control point and an intelligent peripheral in the telephone network. The system includes a service control point having an interface mediator for coordinating the use of the direct and indirect interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: Gayle Roberta Ekstrom, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Howard Mark Nodell
-
Patent number: 7099441Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying call waiting information in a communication system is particularly well suited for correcting mispronunciation of caller identification information provided for a call waiting call. A current pronunciation of the call waiting information is provided to the calling party who is prompted to change the current pronunciation. The system receives a new pronunciation of the call waiting information and stores information about the new pronunciation for subsequent retrieval.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Mary Louise Hardzinski, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7099453Abstract: A method for routing calls in a telecommunication system includes detecting data for a call from a calling party to a called party, providing a menu of options to the calling party and routing the call in accordance with information about the calling party, information about the called party or a menu selection.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Vanessa Besteda Jackson, Bruce Edward Stuckman, Karen Jeanne Pelletier
-
Patent number: 7095832Abstract: A telecommunications service translates an abbreviated dialing code into a toll free number, routes the call to an interexchange carrier, and manages the billing associated with the call. A billing system processes the billing such that a subscriber of the abbreviated dialing code service is billed for the call rather than a calling party.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignees: Ameritech Corporation, SBC Services, Inc.Inventors: Dianna Inara Tiliks, Carol Shifrin Gruchala, Susanne Marie Crockett, Nancy Ann Book, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Gordon Lynn Blumenschein, William M. Moy, Kenneth Robert Stroud
-
Patent number: 7095826Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting announcement to a called party that is busy on a first call and receives a second call. Information provided by a second calling party is recorded and played back to the called party after the first call is over. The called party is not interrupted during the duration of the first call.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Ameritech CorporationInventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Karen Jeanne Pelletier, Tricia Ehlers Henry, Roberto Carrion, Mary Louis Hardzinski, Thomas Joseph McBlain