Alternate Routing Patents (Class 379/221.01)
  • Patent number: 9020126
    Abstract: A system and method that allocate call capacity based on the need to divide the call capacities of at least some call-termination devices across geographic regions. Accordingly, the allocation system uses various input parameters as constraints in a linear programming optimization, which has the objective of maximizing the capacity allocation of a device to fulfill the traffic demands of each region being processed. The input parameters that are used include i) the traffic demand forecast of each geographic region being evaluated, ii) the available call capacity of each call-termination device, iii) the call destinations associated with each region, and iv) service levels associated with each given call destination. Call-capacities are separately allocated for i) the predicted traffic that is expected in the next time period and ii) an additional margin of excess traffic above and beyond the expected traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tata Communications (America) Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Ho, Aakratee Saini, Kesava R. Pokkunuri
  • Patent number: 9014354
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to updating routing patterns in an enterprise network. In some implementations, a method for routing sessions includes identifying information associated with call sessions in an enterprise network. The information includes costs to an enterprise for using carrier services during the call sessions. Routing patterns for call sessions are dynamically updated through at least a portion of the enterprise network based, at least in part, on the costs associated with the call sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Service Bureau Intetel S.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Marcelo Lopez
  • Patent number: 8989365
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring calls routed to a telephone network-based voice mail system. When a subscriber receives a telephone call, a determination is made as to whether the call should be routed to the voice mail system. If call monitoring services are activated, a three-way communication is set up between the calling party, the voice mail system and the subscriber. The subscriber is bridged into the call on a listen-only basis, but upon command by the subscriber, the subscriber may answer the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anita Hogans Simpson, Hong T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150078545
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to voice communication means and systems for provision thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to a computer implemented system and method for providing switching between a plurality of voice networks, or trunks, based at least in part on the quality of service (QoS) of a trunk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Amir Kiai
  • Patent number: 8983052
    Abstract: A critical assured service that includes a network management system and an A/B switch. The A/B switch having at least four ports with a first port being connected to the network management system over a dedicated line. The A/B switch sending and receiving messages and/or signals from the network management system over the first dedicated line. The A/B switch automatically switching telephone service from a first point of presence to a second point of presence after the A/B is signaled that the first point of service is inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Government Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Rawlins
  • Publication number: 20150063555
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, computer software and computer program products for telecommunications service migration. The telecommunications service is being migrated from legacy telecommunications equipment to replacement telecommunications equipment. A first set of cables is communicatively coupled to the legacy telecommunications equipment. The legacy telecommunications equipment is communicatively coupled to a first gateway unit. The first gateway unit is communicatively coupled to a second gateway unit. A second set of cables is communicatively coupled to the second gateway unit. The second gateway unit is communicatively couplable to the replacement telecommunications equipment. This enables data associated with the telecommunications service to be communicated between the second gateway unit and the legacy telecommunications equipment via the first gateway unit prior to the telecommunications service being migrated to the replacement telecommunications equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Alan Scott THOMAS
  • Patent number: 8971514
    Abstract: A system may include a failed route avoidance device. The failed route avoidance device may receive a notification that a record, of a call that failed to be extended to a contact agent in a customer network, is inserted into a failed call list; determine whether an identifier for the contact agent associated with the call is to be placed in an avoidance list based on a response code that a network element sends, to a call router that received the call, when the a connection from the call at the call router to the contact agent fails to be established; generate an avoidance record when the failed route avoidance device determines that the identifier for the contact agent is to be placed in the avoidance list; and send the avoidance record to a configuration device that inserts the avoidance record into the avoidance list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Steven William Statham, David E. Phelps, Kirk Randall Hill
  • Patent number: 8964564
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method is provided that receives a broadcast of available bandwidth from a first routing device. A congestion of traffic is detected along a downstream path to a second routing device. This second routing device is an immediate downstream neighbor. As such, an alternate path is established to the second routing device by way of the first routing device based on the available bandwidth in the network and a portion of the traffic is transmitted along the alternate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Marcel Vasseur, David Delano Ward, Stefano Benedetto Previdi
  • Patent number: 8963982
    Abstract: A method, client application and user terminal, the method including providing a packet-based communication system for conducting voice or video calls over a packet-based network and providing an instance of a client application enabling a first user terminal to access the packet-based communication system. The client application is configured so as when executed on the first terminal to receive an input from multiple different audio and/or video input transducers of the first terminal, to analyze those inputs in relation to one another, and based on that analysis to select at least one audio and/or video input transducer and/or output transducer of the first terminal for use in conducting a voice or video call with a remote user terminal via the packet-based communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Skype
    Inventor: Derek MacDonald
  • Patent number: 8964958
    Abstract: A grid-based contact center and method of managing tasks within such a contact center is provided. Nodes within the contact center are adapted to perform multiple tasks associated with the contact center, including the management of task assignment within the contact center. Accordingly, a truly distributed contact center is provided whereby the building blocks of the contact center include the use of nodes with a conference call SRTP based Operations, Administration, and Management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Steiner
  • Patent number: 8953771
    Abstract: The present application provides an authentication scheme that allows a device to provide additional authentication of a Publicly Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) identity assertion made in a PSTN call by also sending an Internet Protocol (IP) communication. The device sends the IP communication generally in parallel with the PSTN call. The IP communication includes a network identity assertion, which optionally may be authenticated using a cryptographically secure technique. The network identity assertion, being more difficult to falsify, provides additional authentication of the PSTN identity assertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel G. Wing
  • Patent number: 8937867
    Abstract: A communication routing arrangement includes two or more wireless routers coupled to a communication network, and a user device adapted to couple with the communication network through a communication path including at least one of the two or more wireless routers. The communication path between the user device and the communication network is selected based on available resources of the two or more wireless routers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Polsdorf, Cuong Pham, Anand Gore, Dirk DeSchepper, Ulf Söderberg
  • Patent number: 8934348
    Abstract: A communication routing arrangement includes two or more wireless routers coupled to a communication network, and a user device adapted to couple with the communication network through a communication path including at least one of the two or more wireless routers. The communication path between the user device and the communication network is selected based on available resources of the two or more wireless routers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Polsdorf, Cuong Pham, Anand Gore, Dirk DeSchepper, Ulf Söderberg
  • Patent number: 8913733
    Abstract: Efficient telephone number mapping (ENUM) based call routing during area code splits is described. An ENUM domain management component can associate an ENUM domain name with multiple records when a numbering plan area code split links an old area code of a telephone number corresponding to the ENUM domain name with a new area code. An ENUM provisioning component can perform permissive dialing of the old and new area code during ENUM based call routing by utilizing the multiple records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Bernard Ku
  • Patent number: 8908855
    Abstract: Organizations may employ private computer networks to enable customers to place a telephone call to customer service agents (CSAs). To maintain high customer service, it may desirable to expand the private computer network's ability to respond to customer calls on-demand. One or more requests for additional telephony resources may be submitted to a telephony resource allocation service in communication with a configurable network service. The telephony resource allocation service may determine telephony resources available for allocation to the private computer network and facilitate communication between the configurable network service and the private computer network. In this manner, additional computer private network extensions executing instances of call distribution services may also be generated and configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Chunyi Chou, Terrence M. Skemer, Jagwinder Singh Brar, Zachary L. Yeager
  • Patent number: 8908850
    Abstract: A tangible computer-readable storage medium is encoded with an executable computer program for routing international communications. When executed, the processor performs operations including receiving, from an international gateway via a network node, international communication origination data for an international communication to a customer's communication address. Customer routing instructions are received from the customer via a web server and are stored. The received customer routing instructions are retrieved and a determination is made of a first destination communication address based on the international communication origination data and the retrieved customer routing instructions. The first destination communication address is forwarded to the network node for routing the international communication to the destination communication address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: William H. Allen, Susanne Marie Crockett, Robert B. Lasken
  • Patent number: 8903074
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for congestion-based routing of telecommunications signaling messages are disclosed. One method includes determining whether congestion exists on a primary SS7 signaling route to a destination. In response to determining that congestion exists on the primary SS7 signaling route, the method includes redirecting messages to be sent over the primary SS7 signaling route to an alternate SS7 signaling route to the destination independently of whether the primary route is in a failed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Delaney, Todd Eichler
  • Patent number: 8903062
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for populating a least cost routing database. In one aspect, a method includes receiving from a carrier a bid for routing a telephone call to a destination; automatically loading the received bid into a least cost routing database to generate an updated least cost routing database; and making the updated least cost routing database accessible for use in determining one or more least cost routes. Further, the received bid can be analyzed to generate a projected business result and the projected business result can be presented to the carrier before loading the received bid into the least cost routing database. Additionally, input can be received from the carrier specifying an historical period and the projected business result can be generated based on data associated with the specified historical period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Blackwell, Tony Casarez, Kenneth Case, Dan Graf, Percival Verayo
  • Patent number: 8885809
    Abstract: Techniques for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system. In one embodiment, for example, a method performed by one or more computing devices comprises: receiving an incoming call from a device of a caller; determining whether a bypass condition exists for the incoming call; and in response to determining that the bypass condition exists, causing the incoming call to be connected to a device of a callee without performing a call screening action of a call screening rule that, based at least in part on one or more conditions of the call screening rule, applies to the incoming call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 8866868
    Abstract: According to the invention, a method for establishing a personal communication between an originating end and a terminating end of a communication system is disclosed. In one step, a first number of personal communication modes associated with the originating end is retrieved. A determination is made if a second number of personal communication modes associated with the terminating end comprises any personal communication modes compatible with the first number of personal communication modes. A compatible personal communication mode from the first number of personal communication modes and the second number of personal communication modes is chosen to indicate the compatible personal communication mode to the terminating end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Norby
  • Patent number: 8848895
    Abstract: A system for and method of providing a gateway transfer mechanism is presented. In one exemplary embodiment, the system and method of providing a gateway transfer mechanism may be realized as a method, comprising identifying, at a gateway, a call to be routed to a first location, determining whether to transfer the call to a second location, in the event the call is to be transferred to the second location, transferring the call, wherein transferring the call comprises ending a process to route the call to the first location, generating transfer information for the second location, and transferring the call to the second location using the generated transfer information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant B. Desai, Juan M. Vasquez, Meyuresh M. Hegde, Parind S. Poi, Haridas Bhogade
  • Patent number: 8843176
    Abstract: This private branch exchange includes a first communication portion acquiring connection target specifying information related to a connection target from a portable terminal, a second communication portion allowing telephone communication between a fixed telephone corresponding to the portable terminal and the connection target, and a control portion making a call to the connection target on the basis of the connection target specifying information and ringing the fixed telephone corresponding to the portable terminal from which the connection target specifying information has been acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Morisada
  • Patent number: 8837291
    Abstract: A communication routing arrangement includes two or more wireless routers coupled to a communication network, and a user device adapted to couple with the communication network through a communication path including at least one of the two or more wireless routers. The communication path between the user device and the communication network is selected based on available resources of the two or more wireless routers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Polsdorf, Cuong Pham, Anand Gore, Dirk DeSchepper, Ulf Soderberg
  • Patent number: 8824655
    Abstract: Communications within a communication management network are routed according to a dynamic scorecard routing method in which communication routing decision attributes of communication route destinations are monitored through data feeds from the communication route destinations at a communication router. Values of the communication routing decision attributes are processed to produce processed attribute values and these processed attribute values are stored in a scorecard routing database. Thereafter, upon receipt of an indication of an inbound communication, a call controller is instructed to route the inbound communication to one of the communication route destinations according to assessed scores of the communication route destinations compiled using the processed communication routing decision attribute values stored in the scorecard routing database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Transera Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Bobba, Mukesh Sundaram, Prem Uppaluru, Gaya Vukkadala, Arnab Mishra
  • Patent number: 8817775
    Abstract: An access gateway containing IP telephone service functions for subscribers under an integrated access device (IAD), forming a PSTN network side speech path or IP network side speech path selectively for each subscriber, and, further automatically switching, when trouble occurs at the IP network side, the IP network side speech path to the PSTN network side speech path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Isamu Hayama
  • Patent number: 8792898
    Abstract: A technique for managing call-routing numbers in a mobile communication network using a distributed switching system is provided. The switching system embodies a cluster configuration, wherein at least one cluster of the switching system comprises a plurality of cluster members, each of which is capable of routing an incoming call based on a call-routing number temporarily associated with the call. A defined series of call-routing numbers is distributed between the plurality of cluster members. The management technique makes use of a common data structure which defines an amount of assignments equal to the length of a given series of call-routing numbers, wherein each assignment uniquely associates a cluster member with one or more least significant digits of the numbers of the number series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Volker Luessem, Giota Anagnostopoulou
  • Patent number: 8787213
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device attaches a header including an identifier for an original call to an outgoing refer message and may also modify a table entry for a consultative call to include the identifier. The network device then monitors incoming invite messages for a header containing the identifier and observes that an incoming invite message containing the header correlates to the original call. When a header is not included, the network device extracts information from the incoming invite messages and compares the extracted information to the modified table entry to correlate one of the incoming invite messages to the original call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Cai, Shuojiun Wu
  • Patent number: 8780889
    Abstract: A call processing method in an Internet Protocol (IP) converged system includes: requesting an incoming call to be routed through an IP network; checking a data traffic-processing state of a traffic manager in response to the request; and rerouting the call through the IP network or rerouting the call through a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) according to the checked data traffic-processing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eung-Moon Yeom
  • Patent number: 8761369
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus, system and/or method for a central hub of a telecommunications network to provide varying services for a received communication intended for varying telecommunications networks. In one embodiment, the central service hub receives the communication and provides the varying services for the communication based on information concerning the communication, such as the intended telecommunication network. In another embodiment, the central service hub analyzes the communication and determines to which telecommunications network the communication should be routed to apply the appropriate network services. The central service hub may comprise a softswitch, media gateway controller device or other telecommunications device that includes programming, such as an application programming interface (API), configured to receive and process the incoming communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Dean Terpstra, David Allen Tschirhart, Matthew Abram Karp, Michael Jared Officer
  • Patent number: 8761370
    Abstract: A critical assured service that includes a network management system and an A/B switch. The A/B switch having at least four ports with a first port being connected to the network management system over a dedicated line. The A/B switch sending and receiving messages and/or signals from the network management system over the first dedicated line. The A/B switch automatically switching telephone service from a first point of presence to a second point of presence after the A/B is signaled that the first point of service is inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Government Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Rawlins
  • Patent number: 8750484
    Abstract: A telecommunications system is disclosed that enables a telecommunications switch to be “user” programmable in the “field”—in contrast to only programmable by the manufacturer or third-party software company—with audio samples. Each audio sample is exemplar of a sound that might be encountered during or after the establishment of a telecommunications call that is handled by the telecommunications switch. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the audio samples are received by the telecommunications switch through one or more of the same ports that the telecommunications switch uses to route calls, in contrast to programs and program data that are received by the telecommunications switch through a programming port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Lee Fletcher
  • Patent number: 8737988
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and apparatus for providing service provider information for a user communication device. A targeted communication link associated with a target service provider is determined using a user communication device associated with a user service provider. The determination of the indicator for the target service provider may be with a user service provider Central Office or server. An indicator of the target service provider is received and displayed on the user communication device. Communication services available to the communication device are determined and presented to the communication device by audible or visual signals. Representations of services available or restricted to the user communication device are provided to the user device. Restricted services may be enabled by override options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Anthony Petronelli
  • Patent number: 8718260
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and an apparatus for transferring a telephone call and associated data from an IVR system to a live agent or other system are provided. An exemplary embodiment may include a voice portal of the IVR system requesting an access number for a live agent and sending data associated with the telephone call to a CTI system. The CTI system may request and receive a routing label from a router and then send the data associated with the telephone call and the request for an access number to a call center using the routing label provided by the router. The CTI system may receive the access number from the call center and send the access number back through the IVR system to an exchange carrier for transferring the caller to the call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrashekar Srinivasa-Murthy, Achuta Rebala, Vijayanand Arumugam, Santosh Bijur
  • Patent number: 8718258
    Abstract: A system and method for routing calls based on the different fee structure between voice and data is disclosed. The origination type for an incoming call is determined. When the incoming call is a VoIP call then the call is routed based, in part, on selecting the minimum fee required to terminate the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communication Company L.P.
    Inventors: Warren B. Cope, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 8718255
    Abstract: A telecommunication system and method for seamlessly switching mobile devices during a conversation without placing the conversation on hold or otherwise parking the conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Shen-Yuan Yap, Michael Gray, Robert J. James, Jr., Doug Gisby
  • Patent number: 8706501
    Abstract: A method and system (40) for sharing speech processing resources (54) over a (communication network (21) for handling multiple client types (100, 101, etc.) and multiple media protocol types. The system can include a router (400) coupled to the communication network, a speech response system (500) coupled to the router, and a server (600) coupled to the speech response system and the router. The server can include at least one processor programmed to determine a media protocol and a client type of a client used for speech communication with the server, adapt at least one among encoding or decoding for the speech communication based on the media protocol and the client type, and dynamically and adaptively configure of the speech processing resources based on the media protocol and the client type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Baiju D. Mandalia, Pradeep P. Mansey
  • Patent number: 8699690
    Abstract: An inbound traffic allocation module is configured to store, in a database, data received from a plurality of site-services, and to determine a route capacity based at least in part on the received data, data received from each of the site-services including data related to at least one of a health and a busyness of the site-service. A traffic manager module is configured to retrieve the data from the site-services and to provide the data to the inbound traffic allocation module. A service selection engine module is configured to receive a request to route a call, and to route the call to one of the site-services based at least in part on the route capacity associated with the site-service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Dowdy
  • Patent number: 8699689
    Abstract: A mid-point call management node subject to monitoring through a workstation communicatively coupled thereto, provides call services (e.g., through extensible markup language (XML), and in particular call control extensible markup language (CCXML) and/or voice extensible markup language (VXML), instructions) for an inbound call received from an originating network at an originating point-of-presence (POP) associated with multiple, disparate call centers, the call services being provided in response to call management application instructions issued according to enterprise-specific strategies for optimizing call handling between the originating POP and domestic and/or international ones of the disparate call centers communicatively coupled thereto. Call center information (e.g., call load information) received at the management node from the multiple call centers may be used in connection with providing the call services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Transera Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Mukesh Sundaram, Prem Uppaluru
  • Patent number: 8699692
    Abstract: A call routing system employs a primary call outing device configured to receive directory assistance calls from callers at a first directory assistance system, and determines, for each of the calls, whether they will be handled by the first directory assistance system, or by a second directory assistance system among a plurality of directory assistance systems. A secondary router is also provided, configured to route the calls within the first directory assistance system to the primary call routing device The secondary router has a default call distribution logic, such that if the primary call routing device is off-line, the secondary call router routes the calls among the first directory assistance system and the plurality of directory assistance systems according to the default distribution logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine Baumeister, Michael Bates, Robert Pines
  • Patent number: 8681968
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system includes storing a call screening rule for a callee specifying one or more conditions under which the call screening rule applies to an incoming call to the callee and specifying one or more call screening actions to take when an incoming call to the callee is received under the one or more conditions. When an incoming call from the caller's device to the callee's device is received under the one or more conditions of the call screening rule, a determination is made whether a bypass condition exists, and if a bypass condition exists, the incoming call is connected to the callee's device without taking the one or more call screening actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 8670546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a personalized communication processing service are disclosed. In one embodiment, a personalized communication processing system (PCPS) can include a processor, an input/output interface, and a memory. The memory can be configured to store instructions, executable by the processor to intercept an incoming communication from a calling party, identify calling party information, determine a contact category to which the calling party is logically associated based upon a recognized relationship between the called party and the calling party as defined in the contact category, determine a user state of the called party that identifies conditions under which a communication processing treatment is to be provided for the contact category according to a personalized communication processing rule, apply the rule associated with the determined user state and the determined contact category, and process the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Randolph Wohlert
  • Patent number: 8670545
    Abstract: Examples of inbound call identification and management are described including a call management system that includes one or more repositories that can include data representing call action policies and data representing attributes associated with the caller devices and the callee devices. Further, the call management system can include one or more computing devices that include a call identifier (“IDer”) configured to characterize the attributes of the caller devices to form characterized attributes, a call management system controller configured to match the characterized attributes against routing criteria specified in the data representing the call action policies, and a call management system router configured to route calls from the caller devices to the callee devices responsive to a match between the characterized attributes and the routing criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 8654957
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) services to users of a private branch exchange (PBX) in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives user phone information from the private branch exchange (PBX) via a data feed, and stores the user phone information in a storage device located within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Min Lu, Leticia Johnson, Stephanie Parlamas
  • Patent number: 8656169
    Abstract: A method for negotiating a security capability when a terminal moves is provided. When a user equipment (UE) moves from a second/third generation (2G/3G) network to a long term evolution (LTE) network, the method includes the following steps. A mobility management entity (MME) acquires a non-access signaling (NAS) security algorithm supported by the UE, and an authentication vector-related key or a root key derived according to the authentication vector-related key, selects an NAS security algorithm, derives an NAS protection key according to the authentication vector-related key or the root key, and sends a message carrying the selected NAS security algorithm to the UE. The UE derives an NAS protection key according to an authentication vector-related key thereof. A system for negotiating a security capability when a terminal moves, a UE, and an MME are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chengdong He
  • Patent number: 8644297
    Abstract: The present invention provides a communicating device and a method for peer to peer communication between voice over IP (VOIP) devices by means of transmitting IP address to remote site by Call ID method and establishing a data structure. The data structure stated above may record the Internet IP address corresponding to the outgoing and incoming VOIP phone number. When a user dials or receives the phone number recorded in the data structure, the communicating device with this data structure will find the Internet IP address corresponding to this VOIP phone number and using this IP address for peer to peer communication. It is unnecessary to register to SIP proxy or Call Agent which provided by service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Fang Lee
  • Patent number: 8634534
    Abstract: A system for call recovery, according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first device, a second device, a switch and a failover device. The first device, second device and failover device are communicatively coupled to the switch. The switch has a first communicative connection with a first device and a second communicative connection with a second device. The first and second communicative connections form a call between the first and second devices. The switch determines a recovery rule for the call and identifies the failover device based on the recover rule. The switch determines a call failure event during the call between the second device and the first device. The failover device builds a new communicative connection to the switch so that the failover device is communicatively coupled to the switch responsive to the call failure event, and connected on a call with the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Olaf Brandt, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 8625770
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a network element in a communications network are described. In one example, an alarm message from the network element when a change in rate associated with at least one of a central processing unit (CPU) utilization or a memory usage by the network element exceeds a predefined threshold. An instruction is subsequently sent to the network element to reduce the change in rate associated with the at least one of the CPU utilization or the memory usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Patent number: 8619957
    Abstract: A method may include receiving a call having call data, determining that the call data cannot be forwarded along a call path, assigning an identifier to the call data, forwarding the call along the call path without the call data, and storing the call data and the identifier at a device outside the call path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Delacey, David E. Phelps
  • Patent number: 8611344
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing multi-homing to an aggregate endpoint device over a network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method receives a session request directed towards a user endpoint device by a routing device. The method receives at least one Public User Identity (PUID) for the user endpoint device if the session request is for a subscriber of a service with multi-homing via an aggregate endpoint device. The method selects a route for sending the session request in accordance with the at least one PUID and a route priority information of the PUID associated with the user end point device, wherein the route with a highest priority is selected, and forwards the session request via the selected route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Siegel, Martin Dolly, Leticia Johnson, Nancy Lambros, Ricardo Sabat
  • Patent number: 8600391
    Abstract: A positioning system (e.g., GPS) integrated in, or coupled to, a mobile device determines the position of the mobile device. An availability status manager (ASM) in a vPBX acquires the position of the mobile device. The ASM can contain rules on how to route or otherwise control incoming phone calls based on availability status of one or more mobile devices in the vPBX network. When a call is received by the vPBX, the ASM determines the availability status of the receiving mobile device based on the geographic location of the receiving mobile device. The ASM then routes the call to the receiving mobile device, to another mobile device, or to a landline based on the availability status of the receiving mobile device and the availability status based rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Vendrow, Vladimir Shmunis