By Generated Tone Patents (Class 379/88.24)
  • Patent number: 11831804
    Abstract: Implementations set forth herein relate to generating a pre-call analysis for one or more users that are receiving and/or initializing a call with one or more other users, and/or prioritizing pre-call content according to whether security-related value was gleaned from provisioning certain pre-call content. One or more machine learning models can be employed for determining the pre-call content to be cached and/or presented prior to a user accepting a call from another user. Feedback provided before, during, and/or after the call can be used as a basis from which to prioritize certain content and/or sources of content when generating pre-call content for a subsequent call. Other information, such as contextual data (e.g., calendar entries, available peripheral devices, location, etc.) corresponding to the previous call and/or the subsequent call, can also be used as a basis from which to provide a pre-call analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Sandro Feuz, Thomas Deselaers
  • Patent number: 11695869
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying an unwanted caller using a call answering system. The method comprises receiving, by a call records server, information about callers from a plurality of telephony devices and one or more phone number data sources, classifying, by the call records server, one or more of the callers as either wanted or unwanted callers based on the received information, and storing, by the call records server, the received information and the classification of the one or more of the callers into a directory. The method further comprises identifying, by a call answering server, that a call from a given caller from a phone number to a receiving telephony device is from an unwanted caller by searching the directory, and handling, by the call answering server, the call from the given caller according to one or more preferences of the user, the one or more preferences including rejecting the call from the receiving telephony device, playing a recorded message, and disposing of the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: YouMail, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander E. Quilici, Michael J. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 10764428
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that facilitate a commercial data platform that enhances the interaction between a dialer and receiver during a voice call by simultaneously delivering and tracking data content that promotes ongoing commerce and interactions between these parties. One such system includes first and second interaction managers on a dialer device and a receiver device that transmit first and second sets of interaction data to a database during a call. A server obtains receiver content data from the database using the receiver identifier, transmits the receiver content data to the dialer device, obtains dialer content data from the database using the dialer identifier, transmits the dialer content data to the receiver device, and stores data from both the first set of ID and the second set of ID in the database in association with both the receiver identifier and the dialer identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventors: Trysit Nitidharmatut, Timothy Maslyn, Vira Intanate
  • Patent number: 9553985
    Abstract: Unwanted calls are detected by determining all calls which are unverified by prior prompting the caller to provide data, such as “press 5 to be connected” or “say ‘proceed’” before being allowed to connect. Once connected, the called party may indicate that the call was/is unwanted and should be disconnected. Then, the call is disconnected from the called party while being maintained with the switch. The call is also recorded in embodiments of the disclosed technology, with the audio therefrom, or audio signature, being used to detect future unwanted calls. The detection of future unwanted calls may further be modified or determined based on association of called parties to each other, which, additionally, may be used to change the threshold of closeness of audio signatures between calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Meir Cohen
  • Patent number: 9386149
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatuses and methods to better interdict or screen calls without disturbing the callee. The phone user can implement a warning for unwanted human, i.e., live person callers, and a challenge or barrier for unwanted automated or robocalling, particularly the usage of a required response to a question. The warning and particularly the challenge would weed out undesired solicitations. The present invention also makes allowance for desired human, robotic or automated calling in addition to the proscripted calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Stanley Korn
  • Patent number: 9219821
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Randy McDonald, Odie Garrison, James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., Terry R. Droke
  • Patent number: 9154597
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for deterring unsolicited calls are described for deterring unsolicited telephone calls that include a service provider searching and determining that the originating telephone number is in a no-call list, and based on this determination, prohibiting the call from terminating (i.e., connecting with the destination telephone number). Penalties may also be imposed against callers (e.g., solicitors) for no-call violations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Charles Ivan Cook
  • Patent number: 8880035
    Abstract: An improved system and method to provide important information either, as voice, text, picture, holographic image or video from the called party to a calling party before the called party answers a telephone. The information may be a recorded voice, text, image or video message. The called party may send a voice message, for example, and send it along with a call alerting message. The voice message may be recorded beforehand. Instead of the calling party's telephone playing a ringback signal, the recorded voice message is played or a data/bearer stream is heard. The calling party hears the voice message instead of the ringback tone normally heard when there is an incoming telephone call. If the calling and called party have telephones, such as mobile phones, IP phones, IP softphones, PDA with telephony capabilities, etc., which allow for multimedia messages such as text, images and video messages, the called party's recorded voice message may include text, images or video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander John Gray Beck, Colin Blair, David Preshan Thambiratnam, James K. Wan
  • Patent number: 8855272
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for implementing a CLIP service, which includes: a resource storage entity used for storing multimedia resources subscribed by a calling terminal; a resource playing entity used for downloading the multimedia resources from the resource storage entity and playing the multimedia resources; a CLIP service management entity used for obtaining a storage address of the multimedia resources and sending the storage address of the multimedia resources to the resource playing entity. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a method and apparatus for implementing the CLIP service. The system, method and apparatus for implementing the CLIP service in the embodiments of the present invention enable the calling terminal to subscribe to the multimedia resources for a called terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Inventergy, Inc.
    Inventor: Junxian Zhao
  • Patent number: 8774384
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Randy McDonald, Sr., Odie Garrison, James Carlton Bedingfield, Terry R. Droke
  • Patent number: 8666039
    Abstract: A voice traffic gateway including: a voice traffic input, a voice traffic output, a first domain router, non-secure warning (NSW) tone application apparatus and a signalling filter. The input receives voice traffic including voice messages and signalling messages from a first traffic domain. The output delivers output voice messages and signalling messages to a second, different traffic domain. The first domain router routes voice messages to the NSW apparatus and routes signalling messages to the signalling filter. The NSW apparatus applies a NSW tone to a received voice message to form an output voice message. The signalling filter compares a feature of a received signalling message with a reference feature. The signalling filter will pass a signalling message if the signalling message feature is the same as the reference feature and will block a signalling message if the signalling message feature is not the same as the reference feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventors: Robert John Salter, Stephen Matthew Allan Jenner
  • Patent number: 8620278
    Abstract: In system and method of prioritizing a voice mail message, a voice mail message is received comprising caller information and chronological information, a voice mail priority is associated with the first voice mail message based on at least one of a matching criteria, a call history criteria, a chronological criteria, a frequency metric, and a missed call value, and a voice mail list is ordered according to the voice mail priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Siddharth S. Oroskar, Anoop K. Goyal, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Maulik K. Shah
  • Patent number: 8615280
    Abstract: Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based different behaviors of the mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Valentina Iquorevna Kramarenko, Ximing Zeng, Zhigang Ruan
  • Patent number: 8606256
    Abstract: In a method of processing an incoming sequence of one or more DTMF tones at a mobile device, the sequence is decoded to thereby identify any encoded message. Where the decoding does not identify a message, at least applying an error correction algorithm to the sequence to identify a message. Where the algorithm fails to correct the sequence, the sequence is compared to messages currently expected by the mobile device. If a message is not identified, a negative acknowledgement message may be sent. At a server, upon receipt of a negative acknowledgement message, it is determined if a message was sent to the mobile device in a previous pre-determined time window. If so, the message is re-sent. The server repeatedly sends certain messages to a mobile device until an acknowledgement message indicating receipt of the message by the mobile device is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Zhigang Ruan, Ximing Zeng
  • Patent number: 8515396
    Abstract: A method for providing ringback tone presence information includes: obtaining a subscription record of a ringback tone presence service corresponding to a user terminal of a call and a routing address of a ringback tone device; connecting the call to the ringback tone device according to the routing address; obtaining the presence information of the called user according to a user terminal number of the call; and sending the presence information of the called user to the calling user terminal. The present invention further provides a system and a ringback tone device for providing presence information. According to the present invention, the calling user may obtain the presence information of the called user via a ringback tone to acquire the state and mood of the called user; therefore, the communication experience is improved; the telecom service types are enriched; and the presence service is popularized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Quan Qi, Jian Liu
  • Patent number: 8509409
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Randy McDonald, James C. Bedingfield, Odie H. Garrison, Terry R. Droke
  • Publication number: 20130114801
    Abstract: A call-recording and retrieval system operates from a computerized server in a contact-center, the server executing software from a machine-readable medium. There is a data repository coupled to the computerized server, and an interface at the server enabled to monitor voice interaction between an agent of the contact center and a customer. The server is enabled to follow one or both of direct input from the customer in a monitored interaction and stored rules associated with the customer to record and playback voice interaction between the agent and the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: S. Michael Perlmutter
  • Patent number: 8423102
    Abstract: Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based different behaviors of the mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Valentina Iqorevna Kramarenko, Ximing Zeng, Zhigang Ruan
  • Patent number: 8370145
    Abstract: The present invention aims at extracting a keyword of conversation without preparations by advanced anticipation of keywords of conversation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Endo, Maki Yamada, Keiko Morii, Tomohiro Konuma, Kazuya Nomura
  • Patent number: 8260264
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable a terminal such as a computer-based softphone to retrieve and handle, transparently for its user, the voicemail that has been left by calling parties who called the user's cell-phone number. Furthermore, the softphone is able to integrate the presentation to its user of the voicemail associated with the cell phone with the voicemail that has been left by calling parties who called the softphone itself. The softphone features both i) a personal area network interface that is used to communicate directly with the cell phone and ii) a local area network interface that is used to retrieve the cell-phone voicemail from a voicemail system. Once the softphone is paired with the cell phone, the softphone is able to retrieve signals directly from the cell phone and, based on those signals, retrieves the voicemail from the cell phone's voicemail system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Omer Boyaci, Lynne Shapiro Brotman, Parameshwaran Krishnan, Michael J. Sammon, Shalini Yajnik
  • Patent number: 8233951
    Abstract: Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based different behaviors of the mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Valentina Iqorevna Kramarenko, Ximing Zeng, Zhigang Ruan
  • Patent number: 8208607
    Abstract: There is provided a device for managing recorded data, comprising: a recording unit configured to record a telephone communication; a designation unit configured to designate a time delimiting point to be set to recorded data being recorded by the recording unit; a receiving unit configured to receive a signal indicating a time delimiting point from an external device of a party on the other side; a setting unit configured to set the designated time delimiting point designated through the designation unit and the received time delimiting point received from the external device to the recorded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kanae Ogura
  • Patent number: 8085921
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L. P.
    Inventors: Randy McDonald, James C. Bedingfield, Odie H. Garrison, Terry R. Droke
  • Patent number: 8060101
    Abstract: According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) telephone number provisioning and voicemail routing by a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes: provisioning a telephone number (TN) and its associated mobile subscriber identification (MSID) owned by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on a home location register (HLR) of a third party carrier, the third party carrier is not the owner of the TN; routing a call to the provisioned TN from a calling party by utilizing the HLR, wherein a called party of the TN is at least one of providing no answer or unreachable; receiving an indication from a gateway mobile switching center (GW MSC) of the third party carrier that there is no voicemail transfer number associated with the TN; and initiating a new call to a voicemail server of the MVNO, the new call to provide voicemail associated with the TN to the calling party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Bill Long, Wayne Simpkins
  • Patent number: 8060055
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for downloading media resources to a terminal. The method may be applied to mobile communication network, and includes: calling by a calling terminal a called subscriber through an MSC at a calling side; establishing a bi-direction connection between the calling terminal and a color ring back tone platform through the MSC at the calling side according to ring back tone registration information of a called terminal obtained by the MSC at the calling side; and receiving by the color ring back tone platform the download command from the calling terminal through the bi-direction connection and sending a media resource corresponding to a ring back tone to the calling terminal. The present invention also discloses a system and a color ring back tone platform for downloading media resources to a terminal. With the present invention, the subscriber may download media resources easily and conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chonghui Huang
  • Patent number: 8054166
    Abstract: A method for accessing and browsing the internet through the use of a telephone and the associated DTMF signals is disclosed. The preferred embodiment provides a system that converts the information content of a web page from text to speech (voice signals), signals the hyperlink selections of a web page in an audio manner, and allows selection of the hyperlinks through the use of DTMF signals generated from a telephone keypad. Upon receiving a DTMF signal corresponding to a hyperlink, the corresponding web page is fetched and again delivered to the user via one of the available delivery methods such as voice, fax-on-demand, electronic mail, or regular mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ben Franklin Patent Holding LLC
    Inventors: Kyung H. Rhie, Richard J. Kwan, Lee E. Olsen, John S. Hahn
  • Patent number: 7991128
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and computer program product for managing conversational input. The process authenticates a user on a device in a set of communication devices for manipulating conversation stubs. The process monitors an exchange of conversation for a triggering event on the device in a set of communication devices. Responsive to detecting the triggering event, the process generates a conversation stub that contains information relating to the topic of conversation. The conversation stub is stored in a storage device located remotely to the set of communication devices. Responsive to receiving a selection of the conversation stub, the process presents the conversation stub on a communication device selected from the set of communication devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Negley Abernethy, Jr., Gabriel Aaron Cohen, Travis M. Grigsby, Renee Marie St. Amant
  • Patent number: 7805119
    Abstract: The method provides a method and device for detecting in a single or multi frequency signal, one or more frequencies from a predetermined set of frequencies. The Signal is subjected to a complex filter substantially passing all of the frequencies in the predetermined set of frequencies. For each of one or more pairs of members of the complex filtered signal, a complex number Yd is determined having a phase indicative of a phase difference between the two members of the pair. The one or more frequencies are then determined based upon the one or more complex numbers. The method and device of the invention may be used in an apparatus such as a call indicator (CI) detector or a DTMF detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: D.S.P. Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Arie Gur, Israel Greiss
  • Patent number: 7644126
    Abstract: Described are techniques and mechanisms for easily allowing a user to unsubscribe (“opt out”) from receiving subsequent messages in a particular message thread. Generally stated, a component maintains information about a message thread that a user has indicated a desire to opt out of. The information includes identifying information about the message thread and an indication that a particular user desires to receive no further messages in the thread. New messages that are identified as belonging to that thread are handled in some fashion that differs from ordinary messages. For example, the messages may simply be deleted, may be held at a message server, may be redirected to a special storage location, or the like. The user indicates the desire to opt out through a user interface mechanism that is available in connection with the user viewing a message in the particular thread. Optionally, the user may have the ability to re-subscribe (“opt in”) to the thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incoporated
    Inventor: Mazen Chmaytelli
  • Patent number: 7602892
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a telephonic annotation services is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile telephone may be configured to include an annotation component used to record audio-based annotations for a telephone conversation. In another embodiment, a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) enabled telephone is used. Annotation recordings may be created both during and after a telephone conversation. The annotation recordings may be stored in a database and indexed to a telephone number associated with the other participant in the conversation. Subsequently, prior to calling the same telephone number, or prior to placing a call to the same telephone number, annotations may be selectively played back, according to criteria specified in an annotation profile. Additionally, annotations templates may be used to structure an annotation recording according to a predefined format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Brian J. Cragun
  • Publication number: 20090252307
    Abstract: A method and a system for incorporating audio clips during a voice call between a calling subscriber A and at least one called subscriber B is provided. At least one of the subscribers A or B incorporates a desired audio clip into the voice call by a press of a button on the respective subscriber's telecommunications terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Joerg-Michael Hasemann, Christoph Dierkes
  • Patent number: 7600033
    Abstract: A method and an electronic unit are disclosed for controlling traffic on a network, especially for controlling peer-to-peer related traffic. A filter unit is intercepting messages related to peer-to-peer application from a network line, irrespective of the messages' destination, A control logic then manages a request represented by an intercepted message subject to its content and subject to peering specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel N. Bauer, John G. Rooney, Paolo Scotton, Marcel Waldvogel
  • Patent number: 7469043
    Abstract: A system that enables a telephone service subscriber to maintain his or her privacy by providing callers with a disposable telephone number. The system comprises a database that associates the disposable telephone number with subscriber information. The system also comprises a routing device that is in communication with the database. The routing device is adapted to receive calls dialing the disposable telephone number. When a call is received by the routing device, the routing device consults the database to retrieve the subscriber information. When the subscriber information comprises a true telephone number of the subscriber, the routing device forwards the call to the true telephone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy McDonald, James C. Bedingfield, Odie H. Garrison, Terry R. Droke
  • Patent number: 7436940
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a subscriber to reply to a voice mail message that has been made available for the subscriber at a voice mail system (VMS). In response to an indication, the VMS transmits a release message with respect to the subscriber's communication to the VMS, which communication then is terminated to an intelligent network element (INE). The INE originates a call to the party to whom the subscriber desires to reply. The subscriber's communication and the INE's call are bridged to form the reply call from the subscriber to the party. The VMS is not included in the call path. After the reply call is concluded, the bridge is dismantled, the IP is released, and the subscriber's communication is returned to interaction with the VMS without the subscriber having to make a separate call into the VMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Maria Adamczyk, Joel Brand
  • Patent number: 7424098
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business by selectably mixing one or more sound files with a telephone caller's voice message, either as background for that message or embedded within the message. Or, the mixing may occur within a telephone conversation between parties. The disclosed techniques enable alleviating some of the problems that result from distance communication (as contrasted to face-to-face communication). In particular, context information (such as emotional context) can be provided through appropriate use of background sound and/or embedded audio files. The disclosed techniques may also make communication through voice mail exchange more enjoyable and/or increase its productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Renee M. Kovales, Edith H. Stern, Barry E. Willner
  • Patent number: 7411984
    Abstract: Telephone tones such as dialing tones and busy or engaged tones differ in different countries and in traditional telephone networks it has been possible to deal with this because national telephone networks have been used. However, with the advent of next generation communications networks in which telephone services are transmitted over a packet network, a need has arisen to manage telephone tones in a more sophisticated manner. To address this, a tone service provides telephone tone information to tone recipients such as media gateways, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones and virtual media gateways. In the event that a new tone recipient is added to the packet network, the tone service is able to automatically provide appropriate telephone tone information to that new tone recipient. Similarly, if telephone tones need to be upgraded or rolled back, the tone service is able to automatically provide appropriate telephone tone information to each of the tone recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Albert T Moth, William Parton
  • Patent number: 7369649
    Abstract: A voice-mail annotation system and method that enables callers to annotate the messages they leave at the time they leave them. Annotation may be performed using a touch screen or a telephone key-pad. In addition to allowing the caller to more clearly specify the intent of their message and the location of crucial information within the message, the annotations of this invention then allow the person retrieving the message flexibility in how they listen to the message. These choices include prioritizing the messages by the importance of subject, listening to summaries of the message and having random access to embedded information such as names and call back numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Jialin Zhong
  • Patent number: 7336656
    Abstract: A method of handling incoming calls directed to a virtual communication subscriber is disclosed. An incoming call intended for the virtual communication subscriber is received at a communication device. A call is placed to the communication device using contact information provided by the virtual communication subscriber. Extension information is provided to a SLS when the call is answered which corresponds to a communication line associated with the communication device. Upon connection to the communication device, the incoming call is bridged with the call placed to the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Yihsiu Chen, Mark Jeffrey Foladare, Shelley B. Goldman, Shawn Jean, Joan Madden, Shaoqing Q. Wang, Roy Philip Weber, Robert S. Westrich, Aleksandr Zelezniak
  • Patent number: 7260190
    Abstract: A system and method for managing voicemails using metadata is presented. The metadata includes an audible introduction which a user records and associates the audible introduction to a voicemail. The user is also able to associate other types of metadata to a voicemail, such as a description data flag, a reminder flag, and a retention flag. Once the user associates the metadata with a voicemail, the user is able to retrieve the audible introduction and the voicemail in a sequential manner or through search criteria. The user is able to customize metadata based upon the user's requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig William Fellenstein, Carl Phillip Gusler, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, James Wesley Seaman
  • Patent number: 7251253
    Abstract: A host apparatus incorporates a holding-tone generator. The holding-tone generator generates a holding-tone packet. The holding-tone packet is broadcast, as a broadcast packet, to network telephone terminals. Each network telephone terminal receives the holding-tone packet if it assumes a holding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuo Funato, Takeshi Makita
  • Patent number: 7224963
    Abstract: Themes provide the mobile phone with changeable characteristics pertaining to the appearance and sound presented by the mobile phone. A theme profile associated with the mobile phone contains data pertaining to which theme to apply to the mobile phone and when to transition to another theme as well as where theme content data is located. The mobile phone then waits for a triggering event to occur. When such a triggering event occurs, it causes a transition from the currently active theme to another theme. A new theme based on an associated triggering event is applied to the mobile phone changing its look and feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Keith W. Anderson, Christopher J. Sheely
  • Patent number: 7181003
    Abstract: A method of generating a subscriber line ringing signal includes the step of applying a time-varying waveform W(t) to the tip line while maintaining the ring line at a pre-determined supply level for a duration T/2. The time-varying waveform is subsequently applied to the ring line while maintaining the tip line at the pre-determined supply level for the duration T/2. A subscriber line interface circuit apparatus includes a power supply providing a time-varying supply level, W(t). A signal processor controls a linefeed driver to alternately couple W(t) to one of the tip and ring lines while coupling an alternate supply level to the other of the tip and ring lines for a duration T/2. In various embodiments, the resulting differential ringing signal is trapezoidal or sinusoidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. George
  • Patent number: 7181004
    Abstract: A method of generating a subscriber line differential ringing signal with a DC component includes providing a time-varying supply level, W(t), having a plurality of non-equidistantly spaced critical points along a folding line. W(t) is coupled to the tip line while coupling an alternate source to the ring line in response to a first critical point. W(t) is coupled to the ring line while coupling the alternate source to the tip line in response to a second critical point. An apparatus for generating the ringing signal includes a power supply providing a supply level W(t)=|f(t)?C|+C+D, wherein D is a power supply offset, wherein C?0. When W(t)?K a signal processor controls a linefeed driver to toggle between 1) coupling W(t) to the tip line while coupling the ring line to an alternate supply, VALT(t), and 2) coupling W(t) to the ring line while coupling the tip line to VALT(t), wherein K is a pre-determined switching threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. George
  • Patent number: 7130582
    Abstract: A communication link is established between wireless communication devices when an audio tone emitted by a first device is detected by a second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Timothy Barilovits
  • Patent number: 6996532
    Abstract: A browser with a sound input receives a sound sequence that can be used to access a content site. The sound sequence encodes characters according to a predetermined scheme. These characters are extracted by the browser and may either directly constitute the URL of the content site, or include a site code that can be translated into the content site URL by a service system. In this latter case, the browser contacts the service system to have the site code translated into the content site URL. Once in possession of the content site URL, the browser contacts that site. Where the encoded characters represent a site code requiring translation, the URL of the translation service system is preferably included in the set of encoded characters with the encoding being such that the URL encodes to a musical tune.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Thomas
  • Patent number: 6870835
    Abstract: A method of handling incoming calls directed to a virtual communication subscriber is disclosed. An incoming call intended for the virtual communication subscriber is received at a communication device. A call is placed to the communication device using contact information provided by the virtual communication subscriber. Extension information is provided to a SLS when the call is answered which corresponds to a communication line associated with the communication device. Upon connection to the communication device, the incoming call is bridged with the call placed to the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Yihsiu Chen, Mark Jeffrey Foladare, Shelley B. Goldman, Shawn Jean, Joan Madden, Shaoqing Q. Wang, Roy Philip Weber, Robert S. Westrich, Aleksandr Zelezniak
  • Patent number: 6862344
    Abstract: A telephone-based information announcement system provides a mouse-like selection means for user browsing, selection, and editing of audio information messages, for reducing user dependence on guidance regarding the use of the keypad, and for general purpose system control. The user presses any number on the right side of the keypad to go forward through an ordered list of messages, and any number on the left side of the keypad to go back. To link to a message in another list, the user presses 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Kevin Michael Brooks Cook
  • Patent number: 6801763
    Abstract: A user while traveling may call an operator in an information/call center to request directions to a desired destination. In response, the operator obtains a directions file containing the requested directions. To facilitate the user receiving directions in installments in accordance with the invention, the directions file has an indicator associated therewith. The requested directions are read from the directions file to the user by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit via synthesized voice. The indicator is used to indicate in the file which direction is to be read to the user. The user may terminate the call after hearing a desired quantity of directions. When the user subsequently needs another installment of directions, the user may call back the IVR unit which then continues to read directions in the directions file from where the associated indicator indicates. The above process can be repeated, thereby enabling the user to controllably receive the directions in installments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Elsey, Jonas S. Reyes, Corvin F. Swick, Christopher A. Huey
  • Patent number: 6788767
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling provision of a call return service is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a method of generating telephone numbers from voice messages. The method includes the step of using speech recognition to isolate a spoken number in a voice message, and confirming to a high degree of accuracy that the spoken number represents a telephone number. The method further includes the step of converting the spoken number into a data sequence representing the telephone number. This data sequence is then made available for immediate or later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay V. Lambke
  • Patent number: RE45566
    Abstract: The present invention introduces an aliased selection system with audible cues to allow a user of a handheld computer system locate a desired item from a list of item. The aliased selection system allows a user to spell out a desired item by activating an input that specifics a subset that containing a next letter. In one embodiment, two different subsets are used: A to M and N to Z. When the user has entered information on enough letters such that the number of possibilities fits entirely on a display screen then a first audible cue is given. The user may enter additional information on until a single list item is uniquely identified. Once a single item is uniquely identified, the system emits a second audible cue that informs the user that a single item has been specified. The aliased selection system allows a user to select a desired item from a list with a single hand and without looking at the display screen. However, the user may shorten the selection process by looking at the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas Anderson, Jeffrey Charles Hawkins, Robert Yuji Haitani, Justin Evan Manus