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  • Method and apparatus for tracking allocated phone numbers
    Patent number: 8155295
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a method for determining the status of allocated phone numbers in a VoIP network by providing a tool to automatically determine whether allocated phone numbers are in service, deactivated, or waiting to be allocated phone numbers are disclosed. The present method enables access into service provisioning systems and their associated database regarding move, add, change, and disconnect operations to make this determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling a retailer to send a promotional announcement to customers
    Patent number: 8199742
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a retailer to track shoppers by a customer's phone number are disclosed. When the customer reaches a purchase target, e.g., a predefined amount of money spent at the retailer, the present invention enables a trigger to place an outbound call to the customer to present a promotional announcement, e.g., inviting the customer to come into the store of the retailer and to receive a discount at the point of sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing traffic information associated with map requests
    Patent number: 10295358
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling users who request a map of a specified route to invoke a data session to see images of the key markers and a video session to see live views of key points along the route are disclosed. If traffic appears congested, the subscriber can request an alternative route from the network along with image and video sessions to verify the traffic conditions of the alternative route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for sending alerts to internet protocol phones
    Patent number: 8358770
    Abstract: The present invention enables an alert message and the display of calling party identity on all on-hook phones associated with an extension sharing the same phone number, when one phone is off-hook and in use. In one exemplary embodiment, this capability enables all other members of a household to receive information regarding an incoming call even when one phone is in use by another member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling network based media manipulation
    Patent number: 7881294
    Abstract: The present invention enables the network to provide enhanced processing of the media stream before and/or during the call establishment. In one embodiment, the network can use the Session Description Header information to provide service support such as mid call Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) detection, transcoding, and media conversion within the network instead of between two intelligent endpoint devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for graphically displaying call signaling flows in a network
    Patent number: 7995486
    Abstract: A method and system for graphically displaying call signaling flows for a communications network is described. In one example, a call flow alarm indicating an improper call signaling flow for a call is received. A respective projected call signaling flow associated with the call is then obtained. Lastly, the improper call signaling flow and the respective projected call signaling flow are graphically displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing customer premise equipment based routing
    Patent number: 7555113
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider to download routing profiles into an intelligent Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) device to enable the CPE to determine the best provider to route a particular call to are disclosed. The CPE determines the best provider based on criteria specified by the subscriber and the network provider and then sends the call to a specific IP address, that has been previously been downloaded and configured in the CPE, to reach a selected network provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for determining usage of digital signal processing resources
    Patent number: 7738446
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing service providers with a method for determining the best usage of the DSP resources are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network map of DSP resources is also presented so that a service provider may determine whether to use regional DSP resources that are located geographically closer to the edge network elements in a network or to use centralized DSP resources that are located geographically more distant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing traffic information associated with map requests
    Patent number: 9360327
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling users who request a map of a specified route to invoke a data session to see images of the key markers and a video session to see live views of key points along the route are disclosed. If traffic appears congested, the subscriber can request an alternative route from the network along with image and video sessions to verify the traffic conditions of the alternative route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for segmenting communication network customers into service tiers
    Publication number: 20060140381
    Abstract: The present invention enables a capability to identify high spending, or high tier, customers of packet-switched network services, e.g., VoIP network services and provide them with a higher level of service than lower paying, or normal tier, customers. For example, these highly valued customers can be offered free trials or special promotions of new service features and their calls into customer care can always be routed to live, highly experienced customer care agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for certifying a signal message in a communications network
    Patent number: 8614959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a message set in a communications network are described. In one embodiment, a change in the communications network is initially detected. Communication between a customer premise equipment (CPE) and at least one border element in the communication network is subsequently established. Afterwards, a test suite is executed to simultaneously certify that a message set employing a plurality of protocols supported by the communication network is supported by the at least one border element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AND THE PREVENTION OF CALL STORMS IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
    Publication number: 20090323551
    Abstract: The present invention allows monitoring and the prevention of call storms in a communications network, e.g., a VoIP network. More specifically, the present invention enables a VoIP network to monitor the calling pattern, e.g., the number of calls within a period of time that occurs between the same endpoints. If the number of calls exceed a certain threshold, then these calls with the same endpoints will be terminated and an alarm notification will be sent, e.g., to a network operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DISASTER RECOVERY USING NETWORK PEERING ARRANGEMENTS
    Publication number: 20090103526
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING HIGH SECURITY VIDEO SESSION
    Publication number: 20130002804
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing trials and court proceedings to occur in a virtual manner using a one way video session and a two way voice session are disclosed. During the trials or court proceedings, the defendants and their testimony can be viewed by judges and jurors who remain in isolated rooms with their identities masked. Judges and attorneys can verbally intercede during the proceedings via a two way voice session but the video session for the duration of the trial is one way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing secure interface to externally hosted application servers
    Patent number: 7852832
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider to provide a security server in a packet network, e.g., a VoIP network that allows a third party partner to interface an application server hosted in the third party's network with the VoIP network infrastructure are disclosed. The security server provides the appropriate level of network address translations, firewall support, content filtering, and validation for the third party application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 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
    Publication number: 20110164612
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: MARIAN CROAK, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for determining the configuration of voice over internet protocol equipment in remote locations
    Patent number: 8064438
    Abstract: The present invention enables equipment housed in unmanned facilities to be periodically scanned by remote systems for information regarding physical hardware and software configurations. The captured configurations can be compared against a reference configuration that represents the healthy state of the installed equipment. During outages, these captured configurations can be analyzed to determine possible root causes and resolutions for restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for indicating a timeframe modification in a packet-switched network
    Patent number: 8793150
    Abstract: A method and system for indicating at least one modification to at least one timeframe in a packet-switched network is described. In one example, a visual indicator is used to indicate the modification(s) made to the timeframe(s) associated with at least one test suite is provided. Similarly, a notification of the modification(s) is sent to at least one party impacted by the modification(s). In another example, approval for the modification(s) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring a network element
    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
  • Method and apparatus for determining a direct measure of quality in a packet-switched network
    Patent number: 8369230
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing deficiencies in a packet-switched network is described. In one example, network measurement data pertaining to components within a packet-switched network are obtained. Reliability estimates of access networks and associated access links coupled to the packet-switch network are conducted. Lastly, an end-to-end direct measure of quality (DMOQ) is calculated from the network measurement data and network estimation data derived from the reliability estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
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