Patents by Inventor Vincent Groff

Vincent Groff 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: 7856646
    Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing, updating and maintaining customer profile data that may be utilized in an interactive television system for providing tailored customer-specific interactive services, and product offerings and helpful information content. The customer's set-top box queries an application server for profile data corresponding to the customer. A web services system queries each of a number of data services associated with the interactive television services provider to obtain profile data for the customer. Available customer data is passed to the application server. The application server prepares a customer profile from the customer data and formats the customer profile for use by the client-side set-top box. After the customer profile is stored at the set-top box, customer-specific services and product offerings may be presented to the customer in the form of targeted advertising, and customer-specific information content may be presented to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steve Calzone, John Kelly King, Bruce Beeco
  • Patent number: 7835506
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for providing real-time notification and disposition of voice services in a cable television services system. A voice services application server enables communications between one or more telecommunications sources and subscriber set-top boxes in the cable television services system. The voice services application server, in communication with a telecommunications network, enables a subscriber to receive real-time notification of incoming telephone calls on a television connected to a set-top box and to issue disposition instructions for managing the incoming telephone calls. The disposition instructions may include answering a call, not answering a call, or forwarding a call to a voicemail system, or forwarding a call to an alternate telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steve Calzone, Bruce Beeco, Varun Dada, Elissa Bordner-Babayigit, Constantine Gavrilidis
  • Patent number: 7707599
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide customer support services through interactive television sessions via a cable services network. Cable services customers may pay bills or enroll in automatic bill payment via interactive television sessions. Information on pending work orders, answers to frequently asked questions and helpful service provider contact information may be obtained from a data services system through an interactive television session via a cable services network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steve Calzone, John Kelly King, Bruce Beeco
  • Patent number: 7669218
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accessing electronic mail services via a cable services network. A cable television services customer/user may access electronic mail services through a cable television services provider by providing access credentials via an interactive television session through a cable television set-top box. To authenticate a customer/user's access to electronic mail services, a username and a personal identification number (PIN) are submitted by the customer/user to a backend database. A password for the customer/user is located in the backend database and is utilized for accessing the electronic mail services by the customer/user. If the customer/user has never established a personal identification number, the customer/user may submit a new PIN to the backend database. Authorization to enter the new PIN into the backend database is based on submission of a valid username and password by the customer/user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steve Calzone, John Kelly King, Bruce Beeco
  • Patent number: 7664239
    Abstract: Methods are provided for managing and configuring voice services the notification and disposition of voice services, such as telephone calls, in a cable television services system. In response to receiving a notification of an incoming voice service in the cable television services system, a voice services banner is generated for displaying options for managing the incoming voice service. Options for managing the incoming voice service are selected from the voice services banner. An on-screen user interface is generated for configuring voice services options on a display device in communication with a set-top box. The user interface receives selections for configuring the voice services options. In response to receiving a selection, a determination is made whether to display a menu for configuring the voice services options based on a subscriber profile. If it is determined that the configuration of voice services is authorized, then the menu is displayed for configuring the voice services options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steven J. Calzone, Constantine Gavrilidis, Varun Dada
  • Patent number: 7428503
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for allowing a cable services customer to efficiently order desired products and services through an automated self-provisioning process provided through an interactive television session between the customer and a cable services provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Cox communications, INC
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steve Calzone, John Kelly King, Bruce Beeco
  • Publication number: 20060085832
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for providing real-time notification and disposition of voice services in a cable television services system. A voice services application server enables communications between one or more telecommunications sources and subscriber set-top boxes in the cable television services system. The voice services application server, in communication with a telecommunications network, enables a subscriber to receive real-time notification of incoming telephone calls on a television connected to a set-top box and to issue disposition instructions for managing the incoming telephone calls. The disposition instructions may include answering a call, not answering a call, or forwarding a call to a voicemail system, or forwarding a call to an alternate telephone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steve Calzone, Bruce Beeco, Varun Dada, Elissa Bordner-Babayigit, Constantine Gavrilidis
  • Publication number: 20060031904
    Abstract: Methods are provided for managing and configuring voice services the notification and disposition of voice services, such as telephone calls, in a cable television services system. In response to receiving a notification of an incoming voice service in the cable television services system, a voice services banner is generated for displaying options for managing the incoming voice service. Options for managing the incoming voice service are selected from the voice services banner. An on-screen user interface is generated for configuring voice services options on a display device in communication with a set-top box. The user interface receives selections for configuring the voice services options. In response to receiving a selection, a determination is made whether to display a menu for configuring the voice services options based on a subscriber profile. If it is determined that the configuration of voice services is authorized, then the menu is displayed for configuring the voice services options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Vincent Groff, Steven Calzone, Constantine Gavrilidis, Varun Dada