Priority Override (e.g., Butt-in) Patents (Class 379/208.01)
  • Patent number: 11219094
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoyeon Lee, Sunghoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10757545
    Abstract: In a multi-call scenario, a UE can receive an incoming call while an active call is already established on the UE. In response to receiving the incoming call, a process for handling the incoming call in a user-customizable manner can include accessing a history of user input received by the UE in context of handling multiple contemporaneous calls on the UE, and handling the incoming call based at least in part on the history of the user input. By the UE considering past user input received by the UE in context of handling multiple contemporaneous calls, the UE is configured to learn from past user behavior during multi-call scenarios, and adjust its call handling approach for the incoming call based on the past user behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Hsin-Fu Henry Chiang
  • Patent number: 9736309
    Abstract: Receiving a telephone call to an auto-attendant, artificial intelligence, or person takes place. While this phone call is being conducted, a speech to text transcription is created and sent in real-time to another person at another network node. This person can read the transcript and interact with the phone call by sending his or her own commands, text, or speech to be made part of the phone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Circle River, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bentitou, David Mansfield, Robert Lippman
  • Patent number: 9674367
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing voice-over-IP (VoIP) services to and configuring contact lists for a plurality of VoIP-enabled devices. The apparatus includes a VoIP server communicatively connected to the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices. The VoIP server includes a call routing circuit configured to route VoIP calls to and from the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices communicatively-coupled to the VoIP server. The VoIP server also includes a device management circuit configured to maintain a list of IP addresses for each of the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices. In response to receiving a first data message, from a first device not included in the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices, that includes contact information and identifies one of the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices, the device management circuit adds a new contact having the contact information to the respective contact list of the identified one of the plurality of VoIP-enabled devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: 8x8, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruiqiang Huang, Zhishen Liu, Garth Judge
  • Patent number: 9060055
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a user to monitor and/or override a forwarded call. Typically, the forwarded call was initially an incoming call from a caller to the user and thereafter forwarded to a remote service system, such as a remote messaging system. The system and method determine a redirecting number from which the incoming call was forwarded. The system and method then initiates a second call to the user and a voice path is established connecting the forwarded call to the second call. Thereafter, the user is notified, for example, with a distinct ring at the user's telephone, of the option that the user may monitor and override the forwarded call. The system and method can also execute procedures to actuate the options elected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Lisheng Huang, Jeffrey Paul Johnson
  • Patent number: 9026438
    Abstract: A method for detecting barge-in in a speech dialog system comprising determining whether a speech prompt is output by the speech dialog system, and detecting whether speech activity is present in an input signal based on a time-varying sensitivity threshold of a speech activity detector and/or based on speaker information, where the sensitivity threshold is increased if output of a speech prompt is determined and decreased if no output of a speech prompt is determined. If speech activity is detected in the input signal, the speech prompt may be interrupted or faded out. A speech dialog system configured to detect barge-in is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Buck, Franz Gerl, Tim Haulick, Tobias Herbig, Gerhard Uwe Schmidt, Matthias Schulz
  • Patent number: 9008297
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for providing called party initiated priority marking are provided. The method includes receiving a request from a called party to mark a telephone call currently in session as a priority telephone call. The telephone call is initiated by a calling party and received by the called party. It is determined if the called party has authorization to mark the telephone call as a priority telephone call. The telephone call is marked as a priority telephone call if it is determined that the called party has authorization to mark the telephone call as a priority telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaowen Mang, Carolyn Roche Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140376706
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a user to monitor and/or override a forwarded call. Typically, the forwarded call was initially an incoming call from a caller to the user and thereafter forwarded to a remote service system, such as a remote messaging system. The system and method determine a redirecting number from which the incoming call was forwarded. The system and method then initiates a second call to the user and a voice path is established connecting the forwarded call to the second call. Thereafter, the user is notified, for example, with a distinct ring at the user's telephone, of the option that the user may monitor and override the forwarded call. The system and method can also execute procedures to actuate the options elected by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Lisheng Huang, Jeffrey Paul Johnson
  • Patent number: 8913730
    Abstract: A method of operation of a communication system includes: processing a communication event by a control module; identifying a contact list entry from the communication event; calculating an urgency based priority for the communication event; generating a pending communication list, having the urgency based priority for displaying on a display device; and generating a communication event indicator, for the contact list entry, having the largest instance of the urgency based priority from the pending communication list for displaying on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Hand, Nastasha Tan, Yun Z. Wu
  • Patent number: 8873739
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for servicing a transaction in a contact center. When an instant message communication associated with a transaction is suspended prematurely, special treatment may be provided to the transaction initiator. The special treatment includes: (a) maintaining the assigned service priority for the transaction for assignment to a subsequent communication; (b) scheduling a subsequent outbound instant message to an external endpoint associated with the transaction initiator; (c) assigning to the transaction initiator a favored service priority when the subsequent inbound instant message is received by the contact center; and (d) maintaining previously selected item(s) in memory and providing the item(s) to the transaction initiator in a subsequent communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee E. Kohler, Rodney A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8861705
    Abstract: A communication control system receives a call request indentifying a priority level of a calling party to establish a call from the calling party to a called party through a plurality of resources. The communication control system transfers a call setup request to setup the call the called party and receives a call rejection indicating that one of the resources is unavailable. The communication control system determines a call queue for the call based on which call queue of a plurality of call queues corresponds to the one resource and determines if the call should be placed in the call queue based on the priority level of the calling party. The plurality of call queues each correspond to a unique resource of the plurality of resources. If the call should be placed in the call queue, the communication control system places the call in the call queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Abdolreza Asghari, ShouJei Cheng, James D. Kirby, Dominick Mangiardi, Jonathan E. Schaff
  • Patent number: 8855288
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a user to monitor and/or override a forwarded call. Typically, the forwarded call was initially an incoming call from a caller to the user and thereafter forwarded to a remote service system, such as a remote messaging system. The system and method determine a redirecting number from which the incoming call was forwarded. The system and method then initiates a second call to the user and a voice path is established connecting the forwarded call to the second call. Thereafter, the user is notified, for example, with a distinct ring at the user's telephone, of the option that the user may monitor and override the forwarded call. The system and method can also execute procedures to actuate the options elected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Lisheng Huang, Jeffrey Paul Johnson
  • Patent number: 8843119
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method of call handling comprising a first communications device having an acceptor of call purpose from a first party for a call, a communications channel including a conveyor of call purpose and a second communications device coupled to the first communications device via the communications channel and having a presenter of call purpose to a second party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Erb
  • Publication number: 20140270131
    Abstract: A method of operation of a communication system includes: processing a communication event by a control module; identifying a contact list entry from the communication event; calculating an urgency based priority for the communication event; generating a pending communication list, having the urgency based priority for displaying on a display device; and generating a communication event indicator, for the contact list entry, having the largest instance of the urgency based priority from the pending communication list for displaying on the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Hand, Nastasha Tan, Yun Z. Wu
  • Patent number: 8825013
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for quick note messaging. In one embodiment, a call from a calling party to the communication device is intercepted by a network system. The network system is configured to receive a calling party selection to record a quick note message for a user of the communication device prior to connecting the call. The network system monitors for at least one of a termination of the call by the calling party or a time-out threshold. The network system indicates at the communication device if a quick note message has been received. If the calling party selection to record a quick note message is not received, then the network system is configured to handle call processing normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: David E. Rondeau
  • Patent number: 8825107
    Abstract: A method of an embodiment may include receiving a request for a toll free priority call from a caller, verifying authorization of a caller for priority service, translating a caller provided number to a routable destination number, and routing the toll free priority call with priority to the routable destination number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Bhumip Khasnabish
  • Patent number: 8787360
    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: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: John C. Brown, Koan S. Chong, Robert Peters, Mark A. Ratcliffe, Harish Samarasinghe
  • Patent number: 8774369
    Abstract: A method implemented to provide voice calls in a network. The method comprises receiving a voice call initiation request at a caller agent, wherein the voice call initiation request is triggered by a caller initiating a voice call via a caller equipment, wherein the voice call is destined to a callee equipment communicatively coupled with the network to reach a caller, and wherein the caller agent and a callee agent interact with the caller equipment and the callee equipment respectively. The method further comprise sending a call connection message to the caller equipment, receiving an acknowledgment message from the caller equipment, and opening a voice channel between the caller and the caller agent without waiting for a callee agent response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Bo Xing, Yi-Pin Eric Wang
  • Patent number: 8699685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to managing communication events in a Communication System at least comprising a first communication device (1), associated with a first user named Caller; a second communication device (2), associated with a second user named Callee; a central component, named Gatekeeper (3), being connected to said first and second communication devices (1, 2) to mediate communication connections between the Caller and the Callee, wherein said Gatekeeper (3) is also connected to said users' workstations (1, 2). A method is provided for reducing or preventing a negative impact of communication-based interruptions on a user's work. The invention relates to the case that a communication connection is established and, therefor, proposes to initiate state-saving actions on the workstation (1, 2) of at least one user involved in said communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Wasmund
  • Patent number: 8660254
    Abstract: A method and system for call management is provided. In a system embodiment a call manager server is provided that can managing incoming call requests from certain telephony devices and effect connections to other telephony devices based on those incoming call requests. The call manager server can also maintain a policy that defines permissions as to whether certain telephony devices can request interruption of an ongoing phone call at a destination telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Colbert, Michael Gray, Peter Baccay
  • Patent number: 8611519
    Abstract: A disclosed application server and method are operable to enable a user to access and modify a remote user profile stored on or otherwise accessible to the application server. The user profile identifies the user's CPE devices and information indicative of priority based call handling rules defined by the user. The profile may also include priority levels assigned by the user to selected telephone numbers. The application server downloads a user's profile information to the CPE devices identified in the profile, which may include multiple CPE devices that operate on different telecommunications networks, for example, VoIP networks, wireless cellular networks, and/or traditional TDM networks. The application server communicates the profile information to the CPE devices defined in the profile. In the case of a TDM phone, the application server uses an intermediary, such as a central office or Service Node, to implement the service on behalf of a TDM telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jyotindra N. Shah, Anup D. Karnalkar
  • Patent number: 8583736
    Abstract: A communication device is described in which a communication path is to be established with another communication device. The communication device transmits a first request packet to the other communication device and awaits a response. When a second request packet is received from the other communication device instead of a response to the first request packet, the communication device determines whether to transmit a positive response to the second request packet based on additional information included in the second request packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 8537999
    Abstract: An attempt by a first endpoint device to establish a particular communication session with a second endpoint device is identified during a first, preexisting communication session between the second endpoint device and a third endpoint device. It is determined whether the first communication session has priority over the particular communication session. If the precedence level of the attempted particular communication session preempts the precedence level of the first communication session, the first communication session is terminated and the particular communication session is established between the first and second endpoints. A notification is provided to the third endpoint corresponding to the end of the particular communication session. Alternatively, if the first communication session has priority over the particular communication session, the attempt to establish the particular communication session is denied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandrashekhar Hiremath
  • Patent number: 8520504
    Abstract: A method and system of controlling state for devices operable to support signaling or sessions between endpoints, such as the type used to support phone, video, messaging, and other calls. The state control may include transitioning the device between in-service and out-of-service states as a function of current, past or future operating demands on the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David Hancock, Jean-François Mulé
  • Patent number: 8478242
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an emergency ringing facility able to remotely override a silent mode of a wireless communication device are disclosed. The systems comprise profile-management applications residing on wireless devices and allowing one user of a wireless device to override a silent mode of a remote wireless device. The profile management application executed on the wireless device queries whether the silent mode of the remote wireless device can be overridden, and if so, communicates with a profile-management application executed on the remote device and overrides the silent mode of that device. In an alternative embodiment, a silent mode of a wireless device can be overridden by a profile management server. A profile-management application is executed on a profile-management server communicating with a profile-management application executed on a wireless device and requests the overriding of the silent mode of a remote wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: George Mathew, Kotaro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8442201
    Abstract: A telephone device comprises an operating device, a call request receiving device, a first identification information determination device and a first positive response sending device. The call request receiving device may be configured to receive a call request. The first identification information determination device may be configured to determine, on a condition that the call request is received by the call request receiving device in a time between a call preparing operation being started and the call preparing operation being ended on the operating device, whether or not telephone identification information corresponding to the call preparing operation is identical to telephone identification information of the source of the call request. The first positive response sending device may be configured to send the positive response in reply to the call request on a condition that a positive determination is obtained by the first identification information determination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 8437460
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and devices for user supervision and notification. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following: monitoring activities performed by a telephone device; and notifying a user of the activities performed by the telephone and identification of users performing the activities, notification of activities being made by the telephone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William Todd Daniell, Larry Kent, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8433051
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system are described. In some examples, a first communication attempt of a third party to a first party is received, the first party being in an established communication session with a second party. A busy operation is performed with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt. At least one additional communication attempt by the third party is received. A busy override operation is performed with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying at least a threshold pattern of communication attempts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Vonage Network LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey P. Langos
  • Patent number: 8406406
    Abstract: A call connection method and apparatus in a communication system are provided, in which a call connection request message is received from each of first and second terminals, it is determined whether the first and second terminals are requesting a call connection to each other, one of the first and second terminals is selected if the first and second terminals are requesting a call connection to each other, the call connection request of the selected terminal is rejected, and a call is connected between the first and second terminals by performing a call connection to the selected terminal according to the call connection request of the non-selected terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Deok-Ki Kim, Jung-Soo Woo, Seung-Hoon Park, Su-Ryong Jeong, Young-Kyun Kim, Ho-Kyu Choi
  • Publication number: 20130070920
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a user to monitor and/or override a forwarded call. Typically, the forwarded call was initially an incoming call from a caller to the user and thereafter forwarded to a remote service system, such as a remote messaging system. The system and method determine a redirecting number from which the incoming call was forwarded. The system and method then initiates a second call to the user and a voice path is established connecting the forwarded call to the second call. Thereafter, the user is notified, for example, with a distinct ring at the user's telephone, of the option that the user may monitor and override the forwarded call. The system and method can also execute procedures to actuate the options elected by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. via transfer from SBC Technology Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. via transfer fr
  • Patent number: 8355491
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing parties to temporarily and automatically bypass an established “do not disturb” (DND) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes applying a DND with respect to a telephone apparatus associated with a telephone number for a first party, and obtaining a first indication of a first new attempt by the first party to establish contact with a second party. The method also includes maintaining a second indication which indicates that a first attempted call from the second party to the telephone number is a response to the first new attempt. It is determined if the first attempted call from second party to establish contact with the first party occurs. If the first attempted call is made, the method includes routing the first attempted call from the second party to the telephone apparatus such that the DND is effectively bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Butt
  • Patent number: 8335492
    Abstract: A system and method for quick note messaging on a wireless device. A message prompt is issued indicating a caller may leave a quick note message during a ring back period. A recording alert is played in response to receiving a caller selection to record the quick note message. The quick note message is recorded. An indication is given to the wireless device indicating that the quick note message has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: David E. Rondeau
  • Patent number: 8300792
    Abstract: An active call between two parties can be established as a call having priority over other users in a tiered priority system. Changes to the level of priority are permitted if made by an authorized user in attendance on the active call. The change of call priority can be to either raise or lower the priority based on call circumstances. If approved, the new active call priority level is propagated to other nodes and switches so that system knowledge of the new priority level is consistent. The new priority level is reset to the pre-established call priority level after the active call is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: DeWayne Allan Sennett, Brian Kevin Daly
  • Patent number: 8228905
    Abstract: When a telephone a belonging to an office a calls up a telephone b belonging to an office b, a subscriber of the telephone a operates a WS a connected to a computer network and edits camp-on request information when the telephone b is busy. The camp-on request information is transferred from the WS a to a CTI server b belonging to the office b connected to the computer network. The CTI server unit b performs camp-on control between the telephone b belonging to the office b and the telephone a belonging to the office a by controlling a private branch exchange b based on a schedule corresponding to the received camp-on request information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hisashi Fukuda, Hideaki Matsune
  • Patent number: 8208955
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and techniques for identifying VoIP phone connector locations whereby an emergency call request can be specifically located on a VoIP phone network. This system addresses prior-art shortcomings in which the location information is attempted to be tracked with identification information stored in VoIP phones, or in which databases of location information are created relative to MAC addresses of component pieces of the VoIP phone network (such as the VoIP phones themselves, data switches, or LAN routers) Further described are VoIP phone server embodiments that enable the location and/or caller information to be determined according to the associated VoIP phone connectors and for that information to be transmitted both to public safety access points and to campus security networks, and for emergency calls to be bridged both to public safety access points and to campus security networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Paramount Pictures Corporation
    Inventor: Sherrie Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 8204208
    Abstract: A method of administering a priority service is provided in a telecommunications network (20). The priority service provides higher priority handling of calls employing the service as compared to calls not employing the service for purposes of call completion. The method includes: obtaining at least one authentication credential from a user placing a call over the network (20); verifying a validity of the obtained credential; designating the call for priority handling if the credential is valid, otherwise designating the call for non-priority handling if the credential is invalid; and, attempting to complete the call over the network (20) in accordance with the designated handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Stuart O. Goldman, Richard E. Krock, Karl F. Rauscher, James P. Runyon
  • Patent number: 8194843
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system are described. In some examples, a first communication attempt of a third party is received by a first party, the first party being in an established communication session with a second party over a communication network. A timer is initiated in response to the first communication attempt. A busy operation is performed with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt. At least one additional communication attempt by the third party is received during the established communication session. A busy override operation is performed with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying a threshold pattern of communication attempts, the threshold pattern being based on elapsed time of the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Vonage Network LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey P. Langos
  • Patent number: 8170594
    Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for precedence group calling in a dispatch station is provided. The method includes: receiving a precedence order for each of a plurality of group call originators, based upon a group call identifier of each of the plurality of group call originators; receiving a new group call from one of the plurality of group call originators; and automatically switching the dispatch station from a current group call to the new group call, if the group call identifier of the originator of the new group call has a higher precedence than the group call identifier of the originator of the current group call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nextel Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Manish Sharma
  • Patent number: 8165280
    Abstract: A method and system of an embodiment of the present invention may include sending an override signal to a first user wherein the first user is having a first dialog with a second user; establishing a second dialog with the first user; receiving a signal from the second user; and establishing a third dialog with the second user, in response to the signal, wherein the first dialog is terminated after the third dialog is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Verizon Services Organization Inc.
    Inventor: David C Robbins
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8036348
    Abstract: A method of presenting instructions to a user sending an incoming communication to a service center includes presenting a menu to the user. The menu includes a plurality of procedure descriptors to the user. The user is presented, according to a selection of one of the procedure descriptors by the user, a sequence of instructions which enable completion of a procedure described by the selected procedure descriptor. The incoming communication is transferred at a position in the sequence of instructions to a representative. The incoming communication is also transferred back to the same position in the sequence of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Ted Kortum, Robert R. Bushey
  • Patent number: 7903805
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting announcement to a called party that is busy on a first call and receives a second call. Information provided by a second calling party is recorded and played back to the called party after the first call is over. The called party is not interrupted during the duration of the first call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Susanne Marie Crockett, Karen Jeanne Pelletier, Tricia Ehlers Henry, Roberto Carrion, Mary Louis Hardzinski, Thomas Joseph McBlain
  • Publication number: 20100220849
    Abstract: A method and system for call management is provided. In a system embodiment a call manager server is provided that can managing incoming call requests from certain telephony devices and effect connections to other telephony devices based on those incoming call requests. The call manager server can also maintain a policy that defines permissions as to whether certain telephony devices can request interruption of an ongoing phone call at a destination telephony device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ASCENDENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Michael COLBERT, Michael GRAY, Peter BACCAY
  • Patent number: 7734301
    Abstract: A communication system has a main device capable of communicating with a destination station through a line and at least one subsidiary device connectable to the main device. The main device includes an operating state signal transmitting system that transmits an operating state signal representing that the main device is currently performing a predetermined operation when the main device receives, from the subsidiary device, a communication request signal requesting a communication from the subsidiary device through the line, while the subsidiary device includes a first notifying system that notifies that the main device is performing the predetermined operation when the subsidiary device receives the operating state signal from the main device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Izaki
  • Publication number: 20100098233
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for providing called party initiated priority marking are provided. The method includes receiving a request from a called party to mark a telephone call currently in session as a priority telephone call. The telephone call is initiated by a calling party and received by the called party. It is determined if the called party has authorization to mark the telephone call as a priority telephone call. The telephone call is marked as a priority telephone call if it is determined that the called party has authorization to mark the telephone call as a priority telephone call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaowen Mang, Carolyn Roche Johnson
  • Patent number: 7693509
    Abstract: When an incoming voice call is detected, a mobile phone 100 judges whether an application that coordinates multicast service and unicast communication is running. If the application is not running, the user is notified of incoming voice calls. On the other hand, if in an application running state, priority mode setting information 1041 is referenced and data cell priority mode is judged. If judged to be in data call priority mode, data communication is continued without notifying the user of the reception of incoming voice calls. On the other hand, if judged to be in voice call priority mode, the user is notified of incoming voice calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Miyata
  • Publication number: 20100020958
    Abstract: A method for delivering a priority call waiting alert service to a telephone subscriber. An embodiment of the present invention may be implemented on an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). When a call intended the subscriber is received by a service switching point from a calling party while the telephone line is already engaged in a first communication between the subscriber and a third party, the calling party is solicited to supply a priority code. If the priority code is recognized by a service control point, a call waiting tone or a priority alert signal associated with the priority code is played to alert the subscriber that a priority call has been received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Linda Ann ROBERTS, Edward Michael SILVER
  • Publication number: 20090290688
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for ensuring that calls from emergency responders and public safety answering points are connected to prepaid wireless or voice over internet protocol devices where the accounts associated with such devices have no remaining credit. According to certain embodiments of the invention a prepaid intercept is provided that enables telephone calls from certain entities to be connected to prepaid wireless devices, regardless of whether the accounts associated with such prepaid wireless devices have remaining credit. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for determining whether an incoming call to a prepaid wireless device is from a public safety answering point and validating all calls from a public safety answering point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: VIXXI Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Peters, Bennie C. Stringer, JR.
  • Patent number: 7606561
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an emergency ringing facility able to remotely override a silent mode of a wireless communication device are disclosed. The systems comprise profile-management applications residing on wireless devices and allowing one user of a wireless device to override a silent mode of a remote wireless device. The profile management application executed on the wireless device queries whether the silent mode of the remote wireless device can be overridden, and if so, communicates with a profile-management application executed on the remote device and overrides the silent mode of that device. In an alternative embodiment, a silent mode of a wireless device can be overridden by a profile management server. A profile-management application is executed on a profile-management server communicating with a profile-management application executed on a wireless device and requests the overriding of the silent mode of a remote wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: George Mathew, Kotaro Matsuo
  • Patent number: RE49395
    Abstract: A service implementation method, apparatus, and system are disclosed. The service implementation method includes: receiving, by a serving gateway, a data packet of a terminal device sent by a packet data network gateway; if the data packet is a data packet with a serving priority and the serving gateway has sent a paging trigger message with a serving priority to a mobility management element, skipping, by the serving gateway, sending a paging trigger message to the mobility management element; or if the data packet is a data packet with a serving priority and the serving gateway has sent no paging trigger message with a serving priority to a mobility management element, sending, by the serving gateway, a paging trigger message to the mobility management element; wherein the paging trigger message is used to enable the mobility management element to page the terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fenqin Zhu, Yan Li, Wei Lu