Patents by Inventor William S. Robbins

William S. Robbins 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).

  • Publication number: 20150245310
    Abstract: An architecture is provided that can facilitate and/or transmit notifications based upon device presence techniques in connection with a wireless communications network. For example, when certain mobile devices register with a particular network entity (e.g., a femtocell) that services a particular target location (e.g., place of residence), then such registration can be leveraged to indicate presence at the target location. Accordingly, notifications can be delivered to custodian devices that indicate the presence information if certain predetermined conditions or criteria are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, Judson John Flynn, Randolph Wohlert
  • Publication number: 20150156316
    Abstract: A process, system and software that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, determining whether prior network communications were established between a first device having a first communication identifier and a second device having a second communication identifier using a network-compliant calling format. Responsive to determining that the prior network communications were not established using the network-compliant calling format, a network-compliant calling format of the second communication identifier is determined from a portion of the second communication identifier and the first communication identifier of the first device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis
  • Patent number: 8634545
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve a telephone number having an area code, an exchange code, and an extension code, generate from the telephone number at least one additional dialing format, present a plurality of dialing formats comprising the telephone number in its original dialing format and the at least one additional dialing format, detect a selection from the plurality of dialing formats, and initiate communications according to the selected dialing format. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, Anup D. Karnalkar, Tyler Wallis
  • Patent number: 8619759
    Abstract: A system for video call processing is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first communication device having a controller element to establish by way of a PSTN port of the first communication device a Public Switched Telephone Network communication session with a second communication device, submit by way of a broadband port of the first communication device a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to determine whether the second communication device has video capability, receive a second SIP message indicating the second communication device is video capable, present a notice indicating the second communication device is video capable, receive a request to establish video communications with the second communication device, and submit a third SIP message to establish a video communication session with the second communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Anup Karnalkar, William S. Robbins, Jeffrey Mikan
  • Patent number: 8594288
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect by way of an input device an entry of a communication identifier without contact information of a party associated with the communication identifier, retrieve from a database operating externally to the communication device contact information of the party according to the communication identifier, initiate a communication session according to the communication identifier, present at least a portion of the retrieved contact information and the communication identifier, and store the communication identifier in a communication log with the retrieved contact information. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, R. Tyler Wallis, Anup D. Karnalkar
  • Patent number: 8594739
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect a selection of an image from a graphical user interface, identify an entry in a contact book responsive to the detected selection of the image, and retrieve one or more communication identifiers associated with the party from the entry of the contact book for initiating a communication session. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan Steele, Larry B. Pearson
  • Patent number: 8565821
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, utilizing a first communication device for identifying a user interface adaptation according to operating characteristics of a second display of a second communication device, identifying first and second user interface portions according to the user interface adaptation, presenting the first user interface portion at a first display of the first communication device, transmitting the second user interface portion to the second communication device for presentation at the second display of the second communication device, and enabling user interface navigation that includes the first and second user interface portions as a single user interface based on user inputs received at the first communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan Steele
  • Patent number: 8521767
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a new contact book entry of a contact book, detect an entry of a communication identifier of a party in one of a plurality of fields of the new contact book entry, search for contact information associated with the party in a reverse directory lookup database operating externally to the communication device using the communication identifier of the party, detect an entry in the reverse directory lookup database with additional contact information of the party, receive from the reverse directory lookup database the additional contact information of the party, and populate one or more additional fields of the new contact book entry with one or more portions of additional contact information according to their corresponding one or more tags. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, R. Tyler Wallis
  • Patent number: 8451985
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a cordless phone operating in an establishment with a plurality of cordless phone handsets having a controller adapted to monitor a source for weather alerts, detect a weather alert, determine from the weather alert a weather alert type, retrieve a user profile, identify from the user profile and the weather alert type one or more of the plurality of cordless phone handsets to be notified of the weather alert, select from the user profile a ringtone type for each of the identified cordless phone handsets, wherein the ringtone type identifies the weather alert type, and transmit a message to cause each of the identified cordless phone handsets to assert the ringtone type identified therefor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan S. Steele
  • Patent number: 8437456
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to receive from a first communication device (CD) a telephone number of a second CD, submit a verification code to the second CD, submit a request to the first CD for the verification code, receive the verification code from the first CD, provide the first CD access to update in whole or in part a second contact book of the second CD stored in a contact book account, receive from the first CD one or more entries of a first contact book of the first CD, merge the one or more entries of the first contact book with one or more entries of the second contact book, thereby generating an updated second contact book, and store the updated second contact book in the contact book account. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, Tyler Wallis, Anup D. Karnalkar
  • Patent number: 8433044
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail device having a controller to detect a recording of a voicemail message, generate a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, wherein the SIP message contains visual voicemail data associated with the recorded voicemail message, and transmit the SIP message to a cordless phone system, wherein the SIP message is received by the cordless phone system over a data port of the cordless phone system, wherein the cordless phone system comprises a base station and at least one cordless communications device, wherein the visual voicemail data is retrieved by the base station, and wherein the visual voicemail data is transmitted by the based station to the at least one cordless communications device by utilizing a cordless wireless access protocol. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, David Dudley
  • Patent number: 8369249
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect a media device operating externally to the communication device actively engaged in presenting media content, detect an incoming communication session initiated by another communication device, present a notice identifying the media device and the media content being presented by the media device, detect a directive to modify an operation of the media device to mitigate interrupting a communication session with the other communication device, and instruct the media device to modify its operation according to the directive. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, R. Tyler Wallis, Anup D. Karnalkar
  • Patent number: 8315667
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, utilizing a first communication device for identifying a user interface adaptation according to operating characteristics of a second display of a second communication device, identifying first and second user interface portions according to the user interface adaptation, presenting the first user interface portion at a first display of the first communication device, transmitting the second user interface portion to the second communication device for presentation at the second display of the second communication device, and enabling user interface navigation that includes the first and second user interface portions as a single user interface based on user inputs received at the first communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan Steele
  • Publication number: 20120166305
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a plurality of selectable commodity items, detect one or more selections from the plurality of commodity items, generate a list from the one or more commodity items selected, and transmit the list to a system. The system can be adapted to receive the list from the communication device, determine a selection order for the items in the list based on a location of each item in a store and at least one characteristic of at least one of the items, update the list according to the selection order, and transmit the updated list to a device for conducting commodity shopping according to the adjusted list. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: ANUP D. KARNALKAR, R. TYLER WALLIS, WILLIAM S. ROBBINS, SUSAN S. STEELE
  • Patent number: 8179826
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a base unit operable in part as a femtocell having a controller to detect a cellular phone, wirelessly establish communications with the cellular phone, establish communications with a cellular communication system by way of a broadband interface, and enable one or more landline phones communicatively couplable to the base unit to communicate with the cellular communication system responsive to establishing communications with the cellular phone. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William S. Robbins, Larry B. Pearson, R. Tyler Wallis, Mark Ryan
  • Patent number: 8156009
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a plurality of selectable commodity items, detect one or more selections from the plurality of commodity items, generate a list from the one or more commodity items selected, and transmit the list to a system. The system can be adapted to receive the list from the communication device, determine a selection order for the items in the list based on a location of each item in a store and at least one characteristic of at least one of the items, update the list according to the selection order, and transmit the updated list to a device for conducting commodity shopping according to the adjusted list. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan S. Steele
  • Patent number: 8150463
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tablet adapted to detect a presence of another communication device with a display, determine operating characteristics of the display, create according to the operating characteristics of the display a first user interface (UI) portion to be presented by the display of the other communication device and a second UI portion to be presented by a touch-sensitive display of the tablet, transmit the first UI portion by way of the base unit using the wireless data protocol for presentation at the display of the other communication device, present the second UI portion at the touch-sensitive display of the tablet, and navigate between the first and second UI portions as a single UI of the tablet. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan Steele
  • Publication number: 20110064206
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail device having a controller to detect a recording of a voicemail message, generate a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, wherein the SIP message contains visual voicemail data associated with the recorded voicemail message, and transmit the SIP message to a cordless phone system, wherein the SIP message is received by the cordless phone system over a data port of the cordless phone system, wherein the cordless phone system comprises a base station and at least one cordless communications device, wherein the visual voicemail data is retrieved by the base station, and wherein the visual voicemail data is transmitted by the based station to the at least one cordless communications device by utilizing a cordless wireless access protocol. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, David Dudley
  • Publication number: 20100299188
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a plurality of selectable commodity items, detect one or more selections from the plurality of commodity items, generate a list from the one or more commodity items selected, and transmit the list to a system. The system can be adapted to receive the list from the communication device, determine a selection order for the items in the list based on a location of each item in a store and at least one characteristic of at least one of the items, update the list according to the selection order, and transmit the updated list to a device for conducting commodity shopping according to the adjusted list. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: ANUP D. KARNALKAR, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan S. Steele
  • Patent number: 7801774
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to receive a grocery list from a communication device of a user, identify a location in a store for each item in the grocery list, determine a selection order for the items in the grocery list based on the identified location of each item, adjust the grocery list according to the selection order and the location of each item, and transmit the adjusted grocery list to a device in the store for conducting grocery shopping according to the adjusted grocery list. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan S. Steele