Service Trigger (activation Or Deactivation) Patents (Class 379/207.02)
  • Publication number: 20120195412
    Abstract: A method for a communications device (12) to successively querying a remote service platform (32) for service information updates, the method comprising at the device: monitoring a PSTN line for a trigger event associated with a PSTN call; determining if a trigger event has occurred, and if so, establishing a data session with the remote service platform; generating a request for a service information update, the request including a calling line identifier for the PSTN line; and sending the request to the remote service platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Fraser Smith
  • Patent number: 8229512
    Abstract: The method to output from the caller's device the ringback tone selected by the caller's device after the dialing process is implemented and prior to the call being answered by the callee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Iwao Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 8218747
    Abstract: A telephone device may be provided with a status storage device, a call request receiving device, a selectable information sending device, a selected result information receiving device, a first notice instruction sending device, a receiver device specifying device, and a second notice instruction sending device. The status storage device may be configured to store a status of each of a plurality of receiver devices. The call request receiving device may be configured to receive a call request. The selectable information sending device may be configured to send selectable information for selecting one type of call request from among a plurality of types of call requests to a source of the call request. The selected result information receiving device may be configured to receive selected result information sent from the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8213593
    Abstract: A call is processed by examining a nature of address indicator in a signaling message associated with the call and allowing the call to complete in a jurisdiction associated with a national nature of address indicator if the nature of address indicator is international. A call is also processed by examining a nature of address indicator in a signaling message associated with the call. A number of digits associated with a calling party number in the signaling message is determined and the call is allowed to complete if the nature of address indicator is national and the number of digits associated with the calling party number exceeds ten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Gerald Starling, Robert Dewey Smith
  • Patent number: 8199892
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a call attempt triggered messaging service in a communications network comprises intercepting a call signaling message including a calling party subscriber identifier and a called party subscriber identifier. A call attempt triggered message generation (CATMG) database using the called party subscriber identifier is queried. In the event the called party subscriber identifier exists in the CATMG database, a messaging service message is generated. The messaging service message is then transmitted to a contact address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Tekelec
    Inventors: Venkataramaiah Ravishankar, Cory A. Grant, Peter J. Marsico
  • Patent number: 8194842
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for implementing feature interactions between an AIN-based service and a switch-based call-forwarding service. In the present invention, the switch-based call-forwarding generates an Off-Hook Delay (OHD) trigger. In response, the SSP suspends call processing and sends the forward-to number to the SCP. Based upon the SCP's determination of whether the forward-to number is for voicemail and other criteria such as time of day, day of the week, etc, the SCP determines whether the switch-based call-forward should be permitted or inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Bruening, Marcus Roman, Don Gillespie
  • Publication number: 20120128147
    Abstract: Enforcing user-defined real-time communication session terminations can begin with a termination enforcement handler identifying termination conditions applicable to a real-time communication session hosted by a unified telephony system. The termination conditions can define a limit for an operational variable for the unified telephony system or the real-time communication session. The identified termination conditions can be evaluated. If a termination condition is satisfied, it can be determined which participants are to be disconnected from the real-time communication session based upon handling rules for the termination conditions and/or termination preferences associated with the real-time communication session. The termination preferences can be defined by an initiating entity of the real-time communication session. The participants can be notified that their connection to the real-time communication session will be terminated in a predefined time limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: SEAN CALLANAN, RUTHIE D. LYLE, PATRICK O'SULLIVAN, FRED RAGUILAT, CAROL S. ZIMMET
  • Patent number: 8180906
    Abstract: Communication device capabilities may change during an established multimedia session due to connection of a peripheral device. For example, a user listens to an Internet radio service on a mobile phone through a set of headphones. Later, the user connects the mobile phone to stereo system in a car. The mobile phone can leverage the car's stereo system to present higher quality audio than it could present with the headphones. Functionality can be implemented in a communication device to detect connection of a peripheral device and determine multimedia capabilities of the peripheral device. The communication device updates its presence information to indicate the multimedia capabilities of the peripheral device. In response, a multimedia server determines multimedia capabilities indicated in the presence information have changed and optimizes delivery of multimedia content based on the updated multimedia capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luisa Attanasio, Giancarlo Carbone, Giuseppe Ciano, Francesco Lecciso, Luigi Pichetti, Stefano Sidoti
  • Patent number: 8180024
    Abstract: In the present invention, a caller is presented with the state of the call as detected by the network, along with a number of potential options, such as: request sequential or parallel call notification to one or more other stations; end the call but leave a voicemail for the caller even if the called party does not subscribe to voicemail; end the call but leave a text message for the caller if the station is capable of receiving the text message; send a text or voice message as e-mail to the called party, if the called party permits such a service; request the network to leave a missed call notification along with a number to dial back; request to notify the caller when the original called party is idle or willing to accept a call; or any number of other options the service provider is capable of supporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Babu Mani
  • Patent number: 8179916
    Abstract: In one embodiment, interworking procedures between H.323 and SIP ensure that in-band tones and announcements, along with local and remote ringback, are properly played or generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Arumugam Kannan, Sandeep Singh Kohli, Paul E. Jones
  • Patent number: 8175245
    Abstract: A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Yolab Networks, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Karen A. Gross, Thomas J. Galvan, Rupika Chib
  • Patent number: 8155296
    Abstract: A dialed number of a called party is received from a calling party. Based on the dialed number, a name of the called party is retrieved from a database. An audio message which includes the name of the called party is generated and communicated to the calling party. A call is routed between the calling party and the called party after said communicating the audio message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond Walden Bennett, III, Robert Wesley Bossemeyer, Jr., Gayle Roberta Ekstrom, Laura Marie Griffith, Edmond W. Israelski, Denise Violetta Kagan, Richard Peter Krupka, Donald Bernard Liebrecht, Jordan Howard Light, Karen Jeanne Pelletier, Michael Steven Pickard, Bruce Edward Stuckman, Barry James Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8150791
    Abstract: A system and method of presenting benefits to a user of a computing device is provided. The method may include detecting user activities via a computer program executed on the computing device, storing a list of detected user activities in a user history in the computing device, and receiving a list of predefined benefits from at least one remote server. Each of the predefined benefits may include an associated trigger user activity. The method may further include storing the list of predefined benefits in the computing device, and determining a predefined benefit to present to the user based at least on the presence of a trigger user activity for the predefined benefit in the user history, via the computer program in the computing device. The method may further include presenting a matched predefined benefit to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Hartwell Brown
  • Patent number: 8149824
    Abstract: A method for implementing a service triggered by off-hook includes: sending information of a service triggered by off-hook which is subscribed by a user to a service implementing server; carrying out an operation of the service triggered by off-hook according to the information of the service triggered by off-hook when the user is off-hook. The embodiments of the present invention also provide a system for implementing a service triggered by off-hook. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the service implementing server may carry out the operation of the service triggered by off-hook according to a subscription type of the user to implement the service triggered by off-hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongda Lin, Tianyu Yang
  • Publication number: 20120076282
    Abstract: A telephone notification method and system, a signaling monitoring unit and a server are disclosed. The telephone notification method comprises that: acquiring a hang-up signal of a target user terminal from a signaling network and then sending a notification message to a server; and after receiving the notification message, the server calls the target user terminal when determining there is a telephone notification task for the target user terminal. According to the embodiments of the present invention, a server can timely initiate a telephone notification for the target user, and the success rate of the telephone notification can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xianguang Wang, Tianjian Lai
  • Patent number: 8144858
    Abstract: Communication address identification information is obtained. A communication address number is collected from a customer at a telecommunications apparatus in response to a trigger being initiated at a switch and a connection being established between the switch and the telecommunications apparatus. Communication address identification information is obtained from a memory in response to collecting the communication address number from the customer. The communication address identification information is returned to the customer when communication address identification information corresponding to the communication address number is available at the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Tana Marie Sweeney, Nancy Ann Book, Carol Shifrin Gruchala, Dianna Inara Tiliks
  • Patent number: 8144856
    Abstract: A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a wireless connect unit connected between an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX) network and a public switched telephone network. The wireless connect unit preferably serves as a gateway between the PBX and one or more remote communication devices. The remote devices can be used as standard PBX office telephones for both inbound and outbound telephone calls. Thus, features of the PBX network (e.g., voice mail, direct extension dialing, corporate calling plan, etc.) are available to the remote device even though they are not physically connected to the PBX. When the system receives an incoming call, it can route the call to an office telephone and one or more of the remote devices simultaneously or as desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Forte
  • Patent number: 8139740
    Abstract: A method for operating a telephone system with at least two telephony terminals to where, in addition to voice data or user data, functional data is transmitted by means of special functions of the telephone system, such as forwarding or holding established call connections. It shall be possible in a simple way for the user to handle even a relatively large multitude of special functions. For this purpose, according to the invention, an action key of a first telephony terminal, provided for triggering special functions is assigned the respective special function to be triggered, depending on its own status or the status of a second telephony terminal within the same team.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Schlossecki, Michael Grün, Stephan Stadler, James Farber, Steven Greenspan
  • Patent number: 8135613
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which an indication of a telephone call being placed from a calling number is received, and a determination is made of an audio advertisement to play based on the calling number. The audio advertisement is played based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Ho, Jennifer W. Lin
  • Patent number: 8135121
    Abstract: A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a wireless connect unit connected between an enterprise private branch exchange (PBX) network and a public switched telephone network. The wireless connect unit preferably serves as a gateway between the PBX and one or more remote communication devices. The remote devices can be used as standard PBX office telephones for both inbound and outbound telephone calls. Thus, features of the PBX network (e.g., voice mail, direct extension dialing, corporate calling plan, etc.) are available to the remote device even though they are not physically connected to the PBX. When the system receives an incoming call, it can route the call to an office telephone and one or more of the remote devices simultaneously or as desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ascendent Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Forte
  • Patent number: 8135438
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to manage call control in a Computer Telephone Interface (CTI) system includes: a computer terminal to generate a call control message including call control identification information using a CTI application program in response to a call control command from a user, and transmitting the generated call control message; wireless terminals to perform call control upon receipt of the call control message; and an exchange to receive the call control message from the computer terminal, and to maintain the call control message generated by the computer terminal unchanged and to interface it to a corresponding one of the wireless terminals in response to the call control identification information being detected from the received call control message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon-Hyun Kwon, Seung-Ku Lee, Ji-Wook Kim
  • Publication number: 20120057689
    Abstract: A method comprising establishing a first call between a first device having an associated first user and a second device having an associated second user. During the first call, the first device receives a second call from a third device having an associated third user. In response to receiving the second call, the first user is prompted with call-back options to respond to the second call. The call-back options can include ignore, accept, and auto-schedule a return call. In the event the auto-schedule a return call option is selected, an auto-schedule command is sent from the first device to a server. After the first call is terminated, the first user is prompted with calling options to call the third device in response to the first call terminating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Daryl Joseph Martin
  • Publication number: 20120057690
    Abstract: A call handling system receives an incoming call from a caller. In response to receiving the incoming call, the call handling system determines a call count for the caller. The call count for the caller is based on a number of calls in a sequence of calls received by the call handling system from the caller, including the incoming call. A maximum amount of time between any of the calls in the sequence of calls does not exceed an expiration period. Based on the call count for the caller, the call handling system identifies and performs an action to take with regard to the incoming call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: LOUIS J. CUTAJAR
  • Patent number: 8126130
    Abstract: System and method for coupling an IM session with a PBX call session are described. One embodiment is a multimedia session manager system comprising a first controller for controlling telephony services to a plurality of terminals; and a second controller for controlling IM services to a plurality of user communications devices; and wherein, responsive to application of a private branch exchange (“PBX”) service to a telephony call, the second controller automatically applies a corresponding IM service to an IM session associated with the telephony call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Timucin Ozugur, Jack Jachner
  • Patent number: 8121274
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling multiple services to be invoked in a specific precedence per call are disclosed. For example, the present method allows a subscriber to interact with a plurality of services provided by a service provider on a single call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: John C. Brown, Koan S. Chong, Robert Peters, Mark A. Ratcliffe, Harish Samarasinghe
  • Patent number: 8116443
    Abstract: The method of the present invention allows a voice mail recipient to activate an automatic callback to a previous caller whose calling telephone number and recorded voice message have been left in the voice mail recipient's mailbox associated with a voice mail system coupled to an end office switch which serves the voice mail recipient. More particularly, the method of the present invention automatically delivers to the previous caller's busy or idle station caller identifying information (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Morris Reese
  • Patent number: 8116449
    Abstract: A digital logger system includes a multichannel interface circuit that: 1. concurrently and continuously-receives audio telecommunication signals for at least two telephone calls from a digital hybrid telephone line; and 2. continuously transmits linearly encoded digital audio data representing the received audio signals. A Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) hub of the system receives the transmitted digital data for retransmission to a USB root hub. A USB root hub of personal computer (“PC”) receives transmitted digital data, and executes PC software which continuously monitors the digital data for embedded line status and signaling information including a telephone line “going off hook.” When a telephone line goes “off hook,” the software records both: 1. an audio header that stores information about a telephone call; and 2. an audio file that stores compressed digital data for the telephone call. Jul. 2, 2009.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Computer Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin J. Bodo, Robert A. Rosenbloom
  • Publication number: 20120020469
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing mute status reminders are presented. The system and method includes monitoring a mute status duration upon activation of a mute status at a communication device, outputting a periodic mute reminder having an output period responsive to activation of the mute status, and adjusting the output period responsive to the mute status duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Anthony Reese
  • Patent number: 8098800
    Abstract: The present invention provides an option to record messages that can be geared to specific audiences, using PIN-restricted access as needed. The present invention provides a method and apparatus way for subscribers to record a number (more than one) of personalized messages or greetings geared towards specific callers or audiences in a plurality of bulletin boards associated with a single telephone number. The personalized greetings comprise public messages, private messages, public comments and private comments. The method and apparatus of the present invention also ensures customer privacy and increases the level of security by providing an option to PIN-protect the content and access to the content for each of the public and private recorded messages and comments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellecutal Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kathy Goode Piatt, Martha Karen Boyd
  • Patent number: 8099118
    Abstract: A voice call request for a voice call involving the mobile device is received in a wireless network while the mobile device is engaged in a connected data communication service via the wireless network. The service utilizes a radio traffic channel between the mobile device and the wireless network and a data session for communication of data. In response to the receiving of the voice call request, the wireless network causes the radio traffic channel for the service to be torn down without terminating the data session. The wireless network also causes a voice call involving the mobile device to be established and maintained over a new radio traffic channel via the wireless network while the data session for the service is maintained. Subsequently, the wireless network identifies an indication that the voice call involving the mobile device has ended and, in response, resumes the communication of the data in the data session over a radio traffic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Shahid Rasul Chaudry, Muhammad Khaledul Islam
  • Publication number: 20120008758
    Abstract: A moveable barrier operator actuates an actuator thereby causing a message to be formed. The message indicates that the user at the moveable barrier operator requires assistance. A communication channel is established between the moveable barrier operator and an assistance center. The message is transmitted to the assistance center over the communication channel. An assistance action is performed to provide assistance to the user at the moveable barrier operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 8090370
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing an availability of a call agent, comprising acquiring a session identification by a basestation (BS) and a call agent (CA), wherein the BS is coupled to the CA, if the CA's state is changed from an active state to a standby state, requesting a new connection with the BS; and after the new connection is established between the CA and the BS, sending another session identification from the CA to the BS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Airwalk Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Myoung Chul Choi, Jae Hong Park, Hyunyung Cha
  • Patent number: 8085918
    Abstract: A communication terminal includes an alerting unit, a capturing unit, an identifying unit and a phone answering unit. The alerting unit is configured for generating an alert signal when the communication terminal has an incoming call. The capturing unit is configured for capturing consecutive images according to the alert signal from the alerting unit. The identifying unit is configured for identifying the captured consecutive images from the capturing unit, and determining whether the last captured image shows an image of an ear. The phone answering unit is configured for answering the incoming call according to a determination result of the identifying unit that the last captured image shows the image of the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lung Dai, Rong-Xiao Fang
  • Patent number: 8081748
    Abstract: A method, phone, and system for answering phone calls in such a manner as to limit or otherwise ameliorate interruptions to a called party and others in an environment of the called party. The answering optionally including silently answering the phone call with a message instead of requiring the called party to verbally communicate with a calling party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Johns
  • Publication number: 20110299675
    Abstract: Safe parking and retrieval of multimodal conversations is enabled through a park server generating a token and encoding it in an address identifier associated with a parking slot. A client application can display the address identifier with the token as a link in a text-based message or in conversation history items. The identifier encoded link may ensure that the intended call can be retrieved from a given parking slot without being confused with another parked call. If another call is parked at the same orbit, the encoded token does not match, and the park server may reject the retrieval attempt with an error message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian S. Stucker, Lokesh Srinivas Koppolu, Stephen H. Houchen
  • Patent number: 8064595
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing mute status reminders are presented. The system and method includes monitoring a mute status duration upon activation of a mute status at a communication device, outputting a periodic mute reminder having an output period responsive to activation of the mute status, and adjusting the output period responsive to the mute status duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William Brown, Anthony Reese
  • Patent number: 8059801
    Abstract: A telephone communications system, a method of delivering content to a calling party and a method of distributing information to a calling party. In one embodiment, the telephone communications system includes: (1) a master subsystem configured to store ringback information including content and application rules for the ringback information and (2) a trunk interface subsystem coupled to the master subsystem and configured to perform call processing and apply at least a portion of the ringback information to at least one call-in-progress according to the application rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Preferred Voice, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard F. Bareis
  • Patent number: 8040874
    Abstract: A method, a system, a server, and a computer program product are provided for Multimedia Capability discovery of different user terminals. Unnecessary use of the radio interface is avoided based on a network storage, which is accessible without registration to find out about the calling as well as the called user's multimedia capabilities during a voice call. If there is a positive capability discovery result out of this for both users, the system sends a message to each of the user terminals that they should notify the users, e.g., by displaying an icon above a soft button. There is no need for establishing a packet switched session, which uses a lot of radio interface signalling, until the Multimedia Service capability of both subscribers and their user terminals is investigated and responded to both user terminals and their users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Robert Skog, Peter Bleckert, Mats Stille
  • Patent number: 8040825
    Abstract: A multiparty calling method, which includes initiating a multiparty call between at least a first, second and third terminal, and setting a flag in the first terminal to inform a processor of the first terminal to skip a process of closing an existing communication path between the first terminal and the second terminal, when the first terminal is disconnected with the third terminal. Further, the set flag is released when the multiparty call between the at least first, second and third terminals has been established for a predetermined time period. In addition, the first terminal preferably sets the flag when the multiparty call join command is transmitted to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hee-La Park
  • Patent number: 8041024
    Abstract: A system for broadcasting a notification. In response to receiving a new telephone number for a communication device from a service provider, a telephone number change notification is automatically broadcast to a plurality of contact telephone numbers within a contact list. Each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers within the contact list is tracked to determine whether each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers received the telephone number change notification. In response to a contact telephone number within the plurality of contact telephone numbers not receiving the telephone number change notification, a configurable indicator is displayed in a display when a user inputs the contact telephone number into the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, Fabian F. Morgan, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Patent number: 8031851
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing calls for a subscriber based on the identification of the calling party or the originating line. Generally, the present invention operates to identify a calling party or originating line and then select a routing list based on this identification. Once a routing list has been selected, the call will be routed to the destination in the routing list. More specifically, when a call is received, an inquiry is made regarding the identity of the calling party or calling line. If the identification can be determined, then an attempt to retrieve a routing list associated with this identification is made. If a routing list has been provided for the identified party or line, the routing list will be retrieved. If a routing list has not been provided for the identified party or line, a default routing list will be selected for routing the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Crandall Holt, Christopher Bertram Medders, Drina C. Yue, Raymond J. Smets, Thomas Joseph Moquin, Terry Durand, Lawrence R. Berke, Evan Kraus
  • Publication number: 20110237228
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a display module, an option module, a determination module, and a control module. The option module is operable to offer an answer option, a first rejection option, and a second rejection option to display on the display module. The determination module is operable to determine whether the answer option, the first rejection option, and the second rejection option are selected. The first rejection option is operable to operate a first incoming call during a current active call. If the first rejection option is selected, the control module rejects the first incoming call. If the second rejection option is selected, the control module rejects incoming calls after the first incoming call and ignores incoming call information indicating the incoming calls occurring after the first incoming call during the current active call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FOXCONN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: WEN-CHING CHUNG
  • Patent number: 8023479
    Abstract: A mobile application gateway for connecting devices on a cellular network with individual networks, such as enterprise voice and data networks and/or residential networks. The effects of the present invention are far reaching in terms of transferring effective call control from the cellular network into the control of the individual network such as the enterprise, and enabling new business models for the purchase of cellular service from a public cellular carrier by an enterprise. The invention may consist of a primarily of core network and services components based on the IMS network architecture, and is backward compatible to support legacy systems in place in current telecom and data networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tango Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Silver, Lathan Lewis, Patricia Landgren, Glen Schmid
  • Patent number: 8019078
    Abstract: A phone call mute notification applies an aural effect to the user's speech, other parties' speech, non-speech, or combinations thereof. The phone call mute notification does not render speech unintelligible and may provide a constant indication that the phone call mute function is active. Furthermore, the phone call mute notification does not serve as a distraction to the user, because the aural effect may be applied to speech itself rather than drawing the attention of the user away from the speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Chavez, Jacob D. Eisinger, Jennifer E. King, William A. Reichert, III
  • Patent number: 8014507
    Abstract: A method for processing subscriber calls is disclosed. A call agent receives signals associated with a first call from a first subscriber of a first point of presence. The first subscriber is associated with a first feature set. The call agent receives signals associated with a second call from a second subscriber of a second point of presence. The second subscriber is associated with a second feature set. A feature server is notified of the first call and the second call. A feature from the first feature set is provided to the first subscriber in response to the notification, and a feature from the second feature set is provided to the second subscriber in response to the notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad Praturi, Srikrishna Kurapati, Pravin Kumar Khandelwal, Sankara S. Manepalli, Krishna P. Bhat, Kasturi Narayanan
  • Patent number: 8015272
    Abstract: Disclosed here is an integrated application system for enabling a new application to be added and a user to select an optional application easily. The integrated application system includes a plurality of clients for receiving services from a plurality of application servers for supplying a plurality of services and a management apparatus for controlling services supplied by the application servers to the clients according to an integrated service starting request from any of clients. Each of the clients includes a client management unit for controlling participation of a plurality of application clients corresponding to a plurality of services in an integrated service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideya Yoshiuchi, Tohru Setoyama
  • Patent number: 8009818
    Abstract: A method for processing an incoming call using a communication device includes following steps. A phone number of the incoming call is detected. The phone number of the incoming call is logged. A ring duration of the incoming call is computed. The ring duration of the incoming call is compared with a predetermined time interval. If the ring duration of the incoming call is shorter than the predetermined time interval, related features are invoked thereby the incoming call is not returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lung Dai, Bang-Sheng Zuo
  • Patent number: 8005201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a call protecting method for the coloring ring back tones in an intelligent network, wherein said intelligent network includes an intelligent network service control point (SCP), a service switch point (SSP) and an intelligent peripheral (IP). The method includes the following steps: an IP-state detecting module is added to the IP for detecting whether the IP is available; the IP-state detecting module sends a state-query request to the IP for checking whether the IP is available; if the IP returns a result of availability, the SCP will direct the SSP to connect the call to the IP; if IP returns a result of unavailability, or returns no IP-state detecting result on time, then the SCP will direct the SSP to connect to the called directly rather than to the IP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Dechun Kong
  • Patent number: 7995728
    Abstract: After a call with a called party ends, a caller is provided with prompts or messages which allow the caller to control ringback media content which is to be rendered when the caller calls the called party in the future. For example, the caller is provided with prompts by which they can select ringback content from content they already have purchased and apply it to the called party number. Alternatively, the caller is linked to a content provider where they can purchase additional content and have it applied to the called party number. Thus, the caller is able to exert control over ringback media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Geoff S. Martin, Jay S. Harmon, Baoquan Zhang, Jonathan R. Kindred
  • Patent number: 7991143
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are disclosed for use by organizations that have PBXs at a plurality of sites. The invention pertains to cell phone calls from an affiliated terminal to her “home” private branch exchange. For example, an employee who works at the Chicago branch office might call the Chicago office's PBX to invoke a feature such as setting up call forwarding, retrieving voice mail, etc. Such calls might be automatically and transparently directed to another PBX when it is advantageous to do so. In the illustrative embodiment, the need or desirability to redirect such calls to another PBX is ascertained while the caller is still in the process of entering all of the required calling information. The effect of assessing whether to redirect the call in parallel with the caller entering the information is to reduce the delays otherwise experienced by the caller when placing calls outside of the enterprise area served by the home private branch exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra R. Abramson, Stephen M. Milton