Patents by Inventor Thomas Lynn Ferguson

Thomas Lynn Ferguson 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: 8218740
    Abstract: A signaling node within a telecommunications network automatically detects that a signaling link is fluctuating in and out of service and provides hysteresis to the fluctuating signaling link. The signaling node includes a link controller that monitors the state(s) of the signaling link over a time period and a link blocking module that blocks the signaling link from carrying SS7 traffic when the signaling link fluctuates between a failed state and a stable state over the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Hae Shyong Yeh, Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole, Steven Eby
  • Patent number: 8130933
    Abstract: A signal transfer point (STP) within a first telecommunications network enables recovery from a linkset failure between the first telecommunications network and a second telecommunications network by deactivating one or more affected signaling routes between the first and second telecommunications networks that include the failed linkset. The STP includes a linkset controller for monitoring the current state of the linkset coupled between the STP and an additional STP within the second telecommunications network. The STP further includes an input interface for receiving a deactivate common channel signaling (CCS) route command from a user when the current state of the linkset indicates failure of the linkset, and a signaling route control module that changes the route status for the affected signaling routes to “prohibited” to prevent SS7 traffic associated with the affected signaling routes from being sent over the linkset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole, Hae Shyong Yeh
  • Patent number: 7817789
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for mass call defense in a communications network, comprises detecting a mass call event, detecting a resource exhaust event related to the mass call event, where the resource exhaust event is based upon a release message indicating a call connection attempt in excess of a threshold, and releasing, upon detecting the resource exhaust event, subsequent call connection attempts to a called telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20090028133
    Abstract: A signaling node within a telecommunications network automatically detects that a signaling link is fluctuating in and out of service and provides hysteresis to the fluctuating signaling link. The signaling node includes a link controller that monitors the state(s) of the signaling link over a time period and a link blocking module that blocks the signaling link from carrying SS7 traffic when the signaling link fluctuates between a failed state and a stable state over the time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Hae Shyong Yeh, Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20090022300
    Abstract: A signal transfer point (STP) within a first telecommunications network enables recovery from a linkset failure between the first telecommunications network and a second telecommunications network by deactivating one or more affected signaling routes between the first and second telecommunications networks that include the failed linkset. The STP includes a linkset controller for monitoring the current state of the linkset coupled between the STP and an additional STP within the second telecommunications network. The STP further includes an input interface for receiving a deactivate common channel signaling (CCS) route command from a user when the current state of the linkset indicates failure of the linkset, and a signaling route control module that changes the route status for the affected signaling routes to “prohibited” to prevent SS7 traffic associated with the affected signaling routes from being sent over the linkset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole, Hae Shyong Yeh
  • Patent number: 7130397
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for detecting and facilitating amelioration of mass call event in a telephonic network. A detector monitors call attempts to form call connections during operation of the telephonic network. When more than a selected level of call attempts are made to a particular one, or more than one, called station within a selected period, a mass call event is considered to have occurred and detection thereof is made. A notifier initiates notification of other network elements in the telephonic network, and the rate at which call connections are permitted with the called stations is limited during the duration of the mass call event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole
  • Publication number: 20040022366
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for detecting and facilitating amelioration of mass call event in a telephonic network. A detector monitors call attempts to form call connections during operation of the telephonic network. When more than a selected level of call attempts are made to a particular one, or more than one, called station within a selected period, a mass call event is considered to have occurred and detection thereof is made. A notifier initiates notification of other network elements in the telephonic network, and the rate at which call connections are permitted with the called stations is limited during the duration of the mass call event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Lynn Ferguson, Maureen Rose O'Toole