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  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING PROPOSED SERVICE FEATURES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK
    Publication number: 20100067399
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for analyzing a proposed service feature in a communication network is described. In one example, a call flow for supporting the service feature in the communication network is created, where at least one network component supports the call flow. First cost data for internally developing the at least one network component is determined. Second cost data for procuring the at least one network component from third party entity is determined. The first cost data and the second cost data are processed to generate a recommendation for either internally developing or externally procuring the at least one network element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for storing user selected video content
    Patent number: 9078023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling registered users to select and purchase video sessions from a network to be viewed from any video display devices connected to the network are disclosed. Specifically, these purchased video sessions can be stored within the network and accessed from any viewable display device connected to any video endpoint device at any time upon the users' request. In one embodiment, the stored video sessions can be downloaded and recorded onto a recording medium for future use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing disaster recovery using network peering arrangements
    Patent number: 8238353
    Abstract: The present invention enables network providers to create peering arrangements with other providers that allow them to fail over to other networks in the event of a site failure. This invention would lower the cost to provide site diversity within a provider's network by allowing cost sharing between the provider's network and other networks. For example, when an Application Server (AS) in a network fails, the network provider can send a call to a partner's network and uses an AS in the partner's network to process the call request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING PROPOSED SERVICE FEATURES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK
    Publication number: 20120263284
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for analyzing a proposed service feature in a communication network is described. In one example, a call flow for supporting the service feature in the communication network is created, where at least one network component supports the call flow. First cost data for internally developing the at least one network component is determined. Second cost data for procuring the at least one network component from third party entity is determined. The first cost data and the second cost data are processed to generate a recommendation for either internally developing or externally procuring the at least one network element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING BLOCKED CALLS IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK
    Publication number: 20100104079
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a communication network is described. In one example, call detail record data generated by network elements in the communication network is parsed to identify occurrence of a plurality of blocked calls over a time period. A plurality of consolidated call detail records for the plurality of blocked calls are respectively generated from the call detail record data. Each of the plurality of consolidated call detail records includes an originating telephone number. The originating telephone number of each of the plurality of consolidated call detail records is then processed to identify unique originating telephone numbers for the plurality of blocked calls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: MARIAN CROAK, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for blocking a pay-per use feature in a communications network
    Patent number: 7912039
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking at least one pay-per-use feature in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, a request to initiate at least one pay-per-use feature from at least one endpoint device associated with a subscriber is received. A determination of whether a blocking function has been activated for the at least one pay-per-use feature is then made. Afterwards, the request to initiate the at least one pay-per-use feature is blocked if the blocking function is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for re-originating calls
    Patent number: 8934474
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a subscriber who is originating a call to a called party endpoint to specify call handling treatments when a busy or a no answer network condition is encountered when calling the called party endpoint with no subscribed network based voice mail service are disclosed. The subscriber, for example, can re-originate the call that is originally directed to a home phone number of the called party to a cellular phone number of the called party instead upon encountering a busy or no answer network condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for routing incoming calls to active network endpoints
    Patent number: 7778402
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for routing an incoming call to at least one network endpoint in a communication network. Specifically, the method comprises identifying at least one registered network endpoint associated with a user in response to an incoming call destined for the user, obtaining presence information associated with at least one active network endpoint from the at least one registered network endpoint, and routing the incoming call towards the at least one active network endpoint using the presence information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for blocking a pay-per-use feature in a communications network
    Patent number: 8588216
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking at least one pay-per-use feature in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, a request to initiate at least one pay-per-use feature from at least one endpoint device associated with a subscriber is received. A determination of whether a blocking function has been activated for the at least one pay-per-use feature is then made. Afterwards, the request to initiate the at least one pay-per-use feature is blocked if the blocking function is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for registering multiple phone numbers associated with a frequently called party
    Publication number: 20080317227
    Abstract: The present invention enables the calling party to register multiple addresses of frequently called parties with a packet-switched network service provider, e.g., a VoIP network service provider, and have the network dials through the numbers on behalf of the calling party until the called party is reached or the list of available phone numbers has been exhausted. Optionally, the network can intersperse each call by asking the calling party if he or she wants to dial a particular phone number of the called party from the list of available phone numbers, and the network can dial the selected phone number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing virtual private access links in a communication network
    Publication number: 20070076692
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an overlay structure in the access portion of a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network, that allows enterprise customers to place their traffic on virtual private links for both signaling and media traffic are disclosed. The method partitions the VoIP access network components so that only subscribers of private access lines can use the virtual private traffic links across the infrastructure. These private links provide the highest quality of service backed by SLA and prioritize the traffic of subscribers of private access lines over any other traffic that is being transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls
    Patent number: 7734024
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscribers of a VoIP service provider to take advantage of wholesale arrangements made by the VoIP service provider with one or more international partner carrier network providers to one or more international countries are disclosed. Specifically, the present method enables a VoIP service provider to display a web page to their subscribers, for each destination country, with one or more international partner network providers and their corresponding calling rates and/or call completion success rates to each particular destination country.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing user access via multiple partner carriers for international calls
    Patent number: 8538005
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing subscribers of a VoIP service provider to take advantage of wholesale arrangements made by the VoIP service provider with one or more international partner carrier network providers to one or more international countries are disclosed. Specifically, the present method enables a VoIP service provider to display a web page to their subscribers, for each destination country, with one or more international partner network providers and their corresponding calling rates and/or call completion success rates to each particular destination country.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for re-originating calls
    Patent number: 8295461
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a subscriber who is originating a call to a called party endpoint to specify call handling treatments when a busy or a no answer network condition is encountered when calling the called party endpoint with no subscribed network based voice mail service are disclosed. The subscriber, for example, can re-originate the call that is originally directed to a home phone number of the called party to a cellular phone number of the called party instead upon encountering a busy or no answer network condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for tagging customer specific signaling packets
    Publication number: 20070070982
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider to tag calls originating from distinct customer segments and process these tagged calls according to rules associated with their tagged identities are disclosed. For example, calls from a business or enterprise customer may be routed to a carrier who ensures 99.999% service availability at a certain cost, whereas calls from a residential customer may be routed to a lower cost carrier. The tags would be formatted in a standard way in the VoIP signaling header so that they can be recognized and acted upon by peered or partner carrier networks involved in processing these tagged calls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for evaluating network operation costs
    Publication number: 20070177509
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a cost index in a communication network are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of cost factors associated with a first network operation mode is obtained. A plurality of second cost factors associated with a second network operation mode is subsequently obtained. A first cost index is then determined based on the plurality of cost factors associated with the first network operation mode. Likewise, a second cost index is determined based on the plurality of cost factors associated with the second network operation mode. Afterwards, the first cost index is compared to the second cost index to determine whether a recommendation for an implementation of the second operation mode is warranted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling customized and selectable network announcements
    Patent number: 8675857
    Abstract: The present invention enables network providers of toll free calls to give customers a choice of what network announcements they want to listen to as they wait in queue. For example, customers could select to hear silence with periodic estimations of wait time, different types of music, current global, domestic, or local news, information about sports or financial information. The present invention allows customers to toggle between different selections via a predefined Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for advancing a call setup signaling message
    Patent number: 7773734
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling all network elements in a geographically diverse network to advance each call setup message that has not been processed successfully by these network elements to their identical backup network elements to attempt to advance and process the original signaling message are disclosed. In other words, the affected call setup message is advanced to an identical network element that serves as a backup to the original network element in order to advance the call establishment to minimize call failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring blocked calls in a communication network
    Patent number: 7903798
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring blocked calls in a communication network is described. In one example, calls in network segments of a packet network are monitored. A graphic representation of each of the network segments is displayed. A block call threshold is associated with each of the network segments. Each of the network segments is monitored to identify a number of blocked calls. For each network segment, the graphic representation is automatically modified to indicate an alarm in response to the number of blocked calls identified for the network segment exceeding the blocked call threshold associated with the network segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING END-TO-END CALL COMPLETION STATUS
    Publication number: 20120320762
    Abstract: The present invention enables a method for following the state of a call and generating defects as function of call completion success as opposed to discrete events that happen at individual network elements during the call. In one embodiment, the invention uses Call Detail Records (CDR) to analyze the end-to-end completion status to measure per call basis defects instead of using defect codes generated by network elements on a per equipment basis. CDR is data associated with a telephone call, including the calling and the called numbers, the date and timestamp, the duration, the call setup delay, and the final handling code of the telephone call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
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