Search Patents
  • Method and apparatus for providing emergency calls to a disabled endpoint device
    Patent number: 8737584
    Abstract: The present invention enables the remote activation of a device by a packet-switched service, e.g., VoIP network service for the purposes of receiving calls identified as urgent from a pre-identified calling party when the device is disabled. The present invention enables registered users to select the calling parties they wish to receive emergency calls from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling peer-to-peer communication between endpoints on a per call basis
    Patent number: 8437337
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to signal to the network that a call to be initiated or a call that is in progress needs to occur in a peer-to-peer relationship with the terminating endpoint. The network will then remove itself from the call signaling and media path and direct the signaling and media communication to occur directly between the two endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for enabling international toll free calls using peering arrangements
    Patent number: 7995739
    Abstract: The present invention enables retailers who use toll free services provided by a VoIP network service provider to obtain peering arrangements with international and domestic VoIP carriers to originate, terminate, and bridge multiple call legs among global locations across peering partner carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for assessing the installation of a component in a packet-switched network
    Patent number: 7532579
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing the installation of a component in a packet-switched network is described. In one example, provisioning scripts for a particular network component are generated. A determination of whether the provisioning scripts match a set of configuration parameters associated with the provisioning scripts is then made. Lastly, an alarm is generated in the event the provisioning scripts do not match the set of configuration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECONFIGURING NETWORK ROUTES
    Publication number: 20100085897
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring that every path in an IP network that interconnects a pair of VoIP network elements comprises diverse network routes and is engineered with adequate bandwidth to support VoIP phone calls are disclosed. In the event that a single point of failure or inadequate bandwidth is detected between a pair of VoIP network elements, an alarm is issued and network engineers are notified to reconfigure the routes between the VoIP network element pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for detecting and correcting electrical interference in a conference call
    Patent number: 7599357
    Abstract: The present invention enables a network to detect electrical interference caused by cellular phones and correct the problem by playing a network announcement to the network operator if the interference reaches a certain threshold level. In turn, the network operator will notify participants of the conference call of the interference and ask them to change the location of their cellular phones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for supporting on-net VoIP calls for cellular service subscribers
    Patent number: 8615004
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a subscriber of VoIP services to register a cellular phone as an on-net device with a defined interface to the VoIP network are disclosed. The present method enables calls placed between originating and terminating subscribers using registered cellular phones to be rerouted between the cellular networks and the VoIP network for call establishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for dynamically debiting a donation amount
    Patent number: 7715368
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically debiting a donation amount from an account in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, an interface associated with a network service bill used to allow a subscriber to designate the donation amount is provided to a customer. The data specifying the donation amount from said subscriber is then received by a dedicated application server. Afterwards, the donation amount is debited from the account associated with the network service bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing voice control for accessing teleconference services
    Patent number: 9219820
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to teleconference services using voice recognition technology to receive information on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, the service provider enables a caller to enter access information for accessing a conference service using at least one natural language response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    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: 7664252
    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 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing shared services
    Patent number: 8279856
    Abstract: The present invention enables an overlay capability to be invoked on network systems and elements that are designed to support multiple customer bases. Depending on the registered identification of the user, screens and other user interfaces that provide access to functions can be overlaid on the network component and segmented along customer classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CALL VOLUME IN A PACKET NETWORK
    Publication number: 20110051600
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling call volume in a packet-switched network is described. In one example, a number of concurrent calls per codec of a plurality of codecs is monitored. A concurrent call limit for each of the plurality of codecs is obtained. For each codec of the plurality of codecs, an indication is generated for each call causing the number of concurrent calls for the codec to exceed the concurrent call limit for the codec. In response to the indication, the call may be blocked or an alternative codec may be selected for the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing special call handling for valued customers of retailers
    Patent number: 7783024
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of a network service to register with the network as valued shoppers, thereby allowing them to receive specialized treatment when calling registered retailers. The present invention enables retailers to register with the network, thereby allowing them to set preferred service logic for handling valued customer calls by the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Method and apparatus for providing shared services
    Patent number: 8804703
    Abstract: The present invention enables an overlay capability to be invoked on network systems and elements that are designed to support multiple customer bases. Depending on the registered identification of the user, screens and other user interfaces that provide access to functions can be overlaid on the network component and segmented along customer classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • 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 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 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 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 peer-to-peer communication between endpoints on a per call basis
    Patent number: 8885638
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to signal to the network that a call to be initiated or a call that is in progress needs to occur in a peer-to-peer relationship with the terminating endpoint. The network will then remove itself from the call signaling and media path and direct the signaling and media communication to occur directly between the two endpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi