Patents by Inventor William Robert Hurst

William Robert Hurst 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: 8005069
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to self-configure a flexible residential gateway providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network. An example flexible residential gateway may include at least one voice over Internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) processor, at least one VoIP coupler connecting VoIP signals between at least one VoIP processor and at least one telephone line. In such an arrangement, the VoIP coupler may be configurably capable to disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from a telephone line. The gateway may further include a switch controller capable of disconnecting the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Robert Hurst, Jeffrey Multach, Steven Michael Wollmershauser
  • Patent number: 7889746
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to self-configure a flexible residential gateway providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network. An example flexible residential gateway may include an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor that processes xDSL signals communicated with the connected external communications network; a Wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver that processes Ethernet signals communicated with the connected external communications network; and a switch controller that is capable of selecting either the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver, and if the xDSL processor is selected whether the xDSL processor is connected to a first telephone line or a coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Robert Hurst, Jeffrey Multach, Steven Michael Wollmershauser
  • Patent number: 7616743
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to self-configure a flexible residential gateway providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network. An example flexible residential gateway may include an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor that processes xDSL signals communicated with the external network via a first telephone line, a Home PhoneLine Networking Alliance (HomePNA) processor that processes HomePNA signals communicated with the in home network using at least one of the first or additional telephone lines, and a switch controller capable of disconnecting the HomePNA processor from at least one telephone line if Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) signals that interfere with the HomePNA signals are present on at least one telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Robert Hurst, Jeffrey Multach, Steven Michael Wollmershauser