AT&T Patents

AT&T Inc. provides telecommunications services in the United States and the world. Its subsidiaries provide landline data and voice communications services, as well as wireless voice and data communications services.

AT&T Patents by Type

  • AT&T Patents Granted: AT&T patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • AT&T Patent Applications: AT&T patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Publication number: 20170102244
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for suspending voice guidance during route navigation. A processor that executes a navigation system interface application can detect a deviation from a route between an origin and a destination. The processor can obtain contextual data including a geographic location and a vector. The processor can set a first value of a point-of-interest parameter that indicates whether the geographic location and the vector imply a visit to an expected stop, a second value of a road-type parameter that indicates a type of a current road segment associated with the geographic location, and a third value of a route-distance parameter based on a distance between the geographic location and a nearest point along the route. The processor can determine if voice guidance should be suspended based on the first value, the second value, and the third value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicants: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Sheldon Kent Meredith, Jeremy Fix, William Cottrill
  • Publication number: 20170105113
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for initiating signaling in mobile management entity pools using workflows. A processor can execute an orchestrator application. The processor can receive location data that indicates a geographic location at which a virtual mobility management entity has been instantiated and registered. The processor can obtain a mobility management entity topology that defines boundaries of two or more mobile management entity pools and identify, based on the location data, one of the mobility management entity pools in which the virtual mobility management entity is located. The processor can identify pool elements included in the mobility management entity pool, obtain a workflow for establishing and configuring the pool elements, and request establishment of signaling between the virtual mobile management entity and the pool elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Vikram Seenappa, Vivek Mhatre, Rajendra Prasad Kodaypak
  • Patent number: 9622274
    Abstract: Automated control of simulcast ratios based on network traffic data provides efficient network capacity management. In one aspect, a remote switching matrix can be utilized at a venue to couple remote transceiver units (RTUs) with different antenna ports, for example, of one or more multi-beam antennas deployed at the venue. A simulcast ratio that can be utilized to support traffic demand at the venue can be determined and implemented by creating dynamic connections between the RTUs and the antenna ports. In one aspect, the simulcast ratio can be modified based on changes in network traffic at the venue that are monitored via self-organizing network devices. In addition, one or more antenna beams of the multi-beam antennas are remotely steered or rotated based on a location of the traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Gary Edward Chow
  • Patent number: 9620106
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices are for identifying a user profile for speech recognition. The user profile is selected from one of several user profiles which are all associated with a speaker, and can be selected based on the identity of the speaker, the location of the speaker, the device the speaker is using, or other relevant parameters. Such parameters can be hierarchical, having multiple layers, and can also be dependent or independent from one another. Using the parameters identified, the user profile is selected and used to recognize speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Rathinavelu Chengalvarayan
  • Patent number: 9622061
    Abstract: An enhanced wireless home phone (WHP) component for use in an emergency call service network is presented herein. A method can include in response to determining that address information representing an address corresponding to a subscriber identity associated with a wireless service has been included in a data store corresponding to an emergency telecommunication service, determining whether a location of a wireless communication device associated with the subscriber identity satisfies a defined condition with respect to a distance of the wireless communication device from the address; and in response to determining that the location of the wireless communication device satisfies the defined condition, and in response to determining that a communication corresponding to the emergency telecommunication service has been received from the wireless communication device, sending the address information directed to a public safety answering point device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Juan Zermeno, Lizbet Gonzalez, Liaqat Ali, Debbie Knittel, John Mark Dammrose, William Morris, IV, Richard Warburton Davis
  • Patent number: 9622254
    Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, facilitating establishing a first interface between a processor and the system where the system performs a policy and charging rules function in a mobile communications network and where the first interface bypasses a packet data network gateway and a serving gateway, facilitating establishing a second interface between the processor and the system where the second interface utilizes the packet data network gateway and the serving gateway, providing a first message from the processor to the system via the first interface where the first message is associated with a quality of service authorization, and receiving a second message from the system via the first interface where the second message is associated with the quality of service authorization. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jiansong Wang, Ryan Redfern
  • Patent number: 9622145
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information associated with a first data request from a base station at a server of a wireless communication network. The first data request is received at the first base station from a first mobile device. The method includes selecting a second base station to transmit data responsive to the first data request to the first mobile device based on a data type of the data and based on a location of the first mobile device. The method further includes transmitting the data from the server to the second base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., AT&T Mobility II, LLC
    Inventors: Yuang Lou, Douglas A. Duet, George O'Quinn Hirvela
  • Patent number: 9619832
    Abstract: A server receives an electronic shopping cart from a client device. The electronic shopping cart describes an item for purchase from a merchant. The server comparison-shops to determine a different merchant offering the same or comparable item for sale. The server sends a notification to the client device describing a lower price offered by the different merchant. The server may then receive an approval to replace the item selected for purchase from the merchant with the item offered by the different merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Ronald Perrella
  • Patent number: 9619437
    Abstract: A mobile multimedia content aggregation and dissemination platform is provided that aims to automate the creation, collection, aggregation, and dissemination of RSS and non-RSS information for and to interested parties. This platform may be used for the construction of a personalized blogging agent as well as for a personalized news aggregator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Yih-Farn Robin Chen, Rittwik Jana, Serban Jora, Bernard S. Renger, Bin Wei
  • Patent number: 9619791
    Abstract: Electronic commerce is enhanced for customer convenience. When an online order is received, a profile may be checked. A customer may her profile with items that are automatically added to the online order. Food and beverages, for example, may be items that are frequently consumed and thus automatically added to any online order. Electronic commerce may thus be enhanced to restock items that are frequently purchased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Dale Malik
  • Patent number: 9619043
    Abstract: A computer keyboard includes position sensors such as capacitive sensors on each of the keys for monitoring positions of fingertips on the keys. A processor receives an indication of contact of a finger on a surface of a key, including an identity of the key and an indication of a position of the contact on the surface. The processor also receives an indication of a motion gesture comprising displacement of the position of the contact on the surface of the key. Using the identity of the key and the indication of the motion gesture, an input from a human operator is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Eric Pate
  • Patent number: 9620006
    Abstract: The emission of variable ultrasonic sound waves from a plurality of sound sources is controlled based on controlled signals generated by a controller. The plurality of sound sources emit ultrasonic waves towards a surface based on the control signals, creating a force which causes particles within a region proximate the surface to move in a desired manner with respect to the surface. The movement of the particles with respect to the surface changes the appearance of the surface. In this manner, the appearance of the surface may be changed in a desired manner to suit needs for home automation and security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Pratt, Ari Craine, Garrett Stettler, Marc Andrew Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9621215
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media are provided to monitor a mobile device. An example method includes determining whether acceleration data collected by an acceleration sensor of a mobile electronic device satisfies a threshold associated with the acceleration data, and when the acceleration data satisfies the threshold, swelling a component of the mobile electronic device to absorb shock from the mobile electronic device impacting a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Barrett M. Kreiner, Ryan Schaub, Randall S. Spell
  • Patent number: 9621194
    Abstract: Receivers in a mobile device are configured to mitigate receiver overload and fully or nearly-fully utilize available spectrum for communication. Configuration is dictated at least in part by at least one of radio link quality or available receiver specifications, and it can be affected by the mobile device or a base station that serves the mobile device. Receiver configuration includes various spectrally asymmetric receivers that tune respective disparate portions of the available spectrum to maximize utilization thereof in the spectral regions prone to overload conditions. In severe overload conditions, a single receiver can be configured to operate in a frequency band spectrally adjacent to a sub-band that leads to overload conditions when employed for telecommunication. To improve performance, the single receiver configuration can be supplemented with at least one of transmit diversity operation, asymmetric multicarrier spreading, or downlink power boost of asymmetrical multicarrier spreading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Arthur Richard Brisebois
  • Patent number: 9621598
    Abstract: User experience is enhanced for Internet Protocol Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) based rich communication services in telecommunication environments. A system receives, from a user equipment, a session initiation protocol invitation packet to commence a communication session, and as a function of the session initiation protocol invitation packet, displays an access network technology type used by the user equipment to access a network device associated with a multiple access communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jayanta Das, Rupam Choudhury
  • Patent number: 9621294
    Abstract: An inter-cell interference coordination procedure in heterogeneous networks (HetNets) is enhanced based on utilization of cell profile data associated with neighbor access points to improve HetNet spectrum efficiency, mobility performance, and/or overall network capacity. In one aspect, a macro access point can receive cell profile data associated with neighbor access points and modify a power level of reduced-power almost blank subframes (ABS) transmitted by the macro access point to manage macro cell capacity. Further, the macro access point can configure the ABS pattern and transmit the ABS pattern to the neighbor access points. Based on the ABS pattern, the neighbor access points can schedule transmissions to user equipment that are located at (or close to) their cell-edge to reduce inter-cell interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Cui, Cheng P. Liu, Hongyan Lei
  • Patent number: 9621556
    Abstract: A system using mobile devices and a network provides access authentication, authorization and accounting to computing resources using a two-person access rule solution approach. A central access control server coordinates a rule-based authorization process in which a requesting user and one or more authorizing users are engaged in real-time communications to facilitate approved access to a sensitive resource. The technique utilizes mobile cellular interfaces and location service technologies, while also providing traditional security control measures of voice and visual verification of user identities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael R. Horton
  • Patent number: 9621573
    Abstract: Described is a method of assigning a network address to a trap, the network address being a dark address of a virtual private network. The network traffic destined for the network address is monitored and a classification of the network traffic is determined. After the classification, a predetermined response is executed based on the classification of the traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, LP.
    Inventors: Edward Amoroso, Albert Greenberg, Balachander Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9620117
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semantic classifier input and a corresponding label attributed to the semantic classifier input may be obtained. A determination may be made whether the corresponding label is correct based on logged interaction data. An entry of an adaptation corpus may be generated based on a result of the determination. Operation of the semantic classifier may be adapted based on the adaptation corpus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Mazin Gilbert, Esther Levin, Michael Lederman Littman, Robert E. Schapire
  • Patent number: 9621475
    Abstract: A method and system for distributing content on a network through network-wide transactions is disclosed. The method and system monitors the network using triggered measurement of the performance of an element of the network, dynamically computing, based on the monitoring, the regions of the network with available performance capacity for the transaction to proceed at a given time, determining, based on the computing, a scheduled time for the transaction to proceed, and distributing the content according to a schedule related to the scheduled time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Balachander Krishnamurthy, Harsha Madhyastha, Oliver Spatscheck
  • Patent number: 9622044
    Abstract: Collection and communication of data are provided on handset attachment procedure, or visitation, to one or more femto cells to provide location information. A mobility component receives actual subscriber and femto access point (AP) attachment signaling and extracts visitation data that facilitates generation of real-time or historical visitation reports. Location information is conveyed through visitation reports which can include mobile device identifier(s), femto AP location, and a timestamp. Visitation reports also can include processed visitation data such as mobility matrices, historical mobility patterns or profiles, and predicted mobility events. Provision of location information occurs without the need for dedicated handset functionality, and associated hardware, or additional battery draw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Arthur Richard Brisebois
  • Patent number: 9621943
    Abstract: A multimedia processing resource (MPR) includes interactive voice response capabilities. A user may control MPR commands and functions over a telephone interface. For example, through a telephone connection a user may receive a listing of electronic programming guide data, may schedule a multimedia program for recording, or may receive a report related to a multimedia program that is viewed at the present time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven M. Belz, James Pratt, Marc Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9621723
    Abstract: In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY II, L.P.
    Inventors: Harry E. Blanchard, Steven H. Lewis, Gregory Pulz, Lan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9621849
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium in a media controller having computer instructions to execute a soft-phone client application on the media processor, receive an audio call or a video call originating from an IP Multimedia Subsystem network where the calls are directed to the media processor by a gateway having a switch that routes the audio call or video call in accordance with a destination address included in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) header message, and selectively answer one of the audio call or the video call. The computer instructions can be operable to present an audio portion of the audio call through a speaker of a presentation device when an audio call is answered. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Benzaia, Bernard Ku, Lakshminarashimhan Naidu
  • Patent number: 9621853
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to service orchestration to support cloud-based, multi-party video conferencing service in a virtual overlay network environment. According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a video conferencing service orchestrator can receive, from a user device, a service request for the cloud-based, multi-party video conferencing service orchestrated by the video conferencing service orchestrator. In response to the service request, the video conferencing service orchestrator can provide, to the user device, virtual network layer system software and a virtual machine container for installation on the user device. The virtual network layer system software can implement a network function to provide an interface between the user device and a service controller during a video conference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Chen-Yui Yang, David H. Lu, Gabriel Bourge, Xidong Wu
  • Patent number: 9621717
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided whereby a parent, or other second party, can monitor and/or control a child's or other first party's wireless device usage. An interface can allow the parent to set rules for the child's usage, and can specify that the parent should receive messages when a call is made to or from the child's wireless device. In addition to call information, the message may prompt the parent for approval of the call connection. Thus, a parent can decide whether a call that is incoming from or outgoing to a third party should be permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Clinton Mikan, John Ervin Lewis, Justin McNamara, Fulvio Cenciarelli, Anastasios L. Kefalas
  • Patent number: 9621719
    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: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Publication number: 20170098517
    Abstract: An electrical switch responds to acoustic inputs. A microphone integrated into the electrical switch generates electrical signals in response to the acoustic inputs. A network interface integrated into the electrical switch provides addressable communication with controllers, computers, and other networked devices. The electrical switch may thus be installed or retrofitted into the electrical wiring of all homes and businesses. Users may thus speak voice commands, which are received by the electrical switch and sent for voice control of appliances and other automation tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: John Willis
  • Publication number: 20170097729
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to a pressure-based input method for user devices. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a user device can receive an output from a pressure sensor. The output can include parameters associated with a pressure applied to the pressure sensor by a user. The user device can analyze the output to determine a command to be executed by the user device. The user device can execute the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James W. Fan, Venson Shaw, Jeffrey A. Aaron
  • Patent number: 9613143
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transmedia video bookmarks, the method comprising receiving a first place marker and a second place marker for a segment of video media, extracting metadata from the video media between the first and second place markers, normalizing the extracted metadata, storing the normalized metadata, first place marker, and second place marker as a video bookmark, and retrieving the media represented by the video bookmark upon request from a user. Systems can aggregate video bookmarks from multiple sources and refine the first place marker and second place marker based on the aggregated video bookmarks. Metadata can be extracted by analyzing text or audio annotations. Metadata can be normalized by generating a video thumbnail representing the video media between the first place marker and the second place marker. Multiple video bookmarks may be searchable by metadata or by the video thumbnail visually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Behzad Shahraray, Andrea Basso, Lee Begeja, David Crawford Gibbon, Zhu Liu, Bernard S. Renger
  • Patent number: 9613531
    Abstract: In determining whether to provide an alert associated with a mobile element to a mobile communication device, speeds and directions of travel of the mobile element and the mobile communication device are determined. A relative location of the mobile communication device is calculated with respect to the mobile element. Based on the relative location of the mobile communication device with respect to the mobile element, a determination is made whether the alert should be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Iftekhar Alam, Ming-Ju Ho, Patrick Mascarenhas
  • Patent number: 9614957
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a customer premise based feature. For example, the method receives a call directed to a customer, wherein the call is associated with a customer premise based feature. The method then forwards the call to a customer premise based communication system located at a location of the customer, wherein the customer premise based feature is implemented locally by the customer premise based communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Armstrong Soo, Bernard Ku
  • Patent number: 9613636
    Abstract: Speaker content generated in an audio conference is selectively visually represented. A profile for each audience member who listen to an audio conference is obtained. Speaker content from audio conference participants who speak in the audio conference is monitored. The speaker content from each of the audio conference participants is analyzed. Based on the analyzing and on the profiles for each of the plurality of audience members, visual representations of the speaker content to present to the audience members are identified. Visual representations of the speaker content are generated based on the analyzing. Different visual representations of the speaker content are presented to different audience members based on the analyzing and identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: David C. Gibbon, Andrea Basso, Lee Begeja, Sumit Kumar, Zhu Liu, Bernard S. Renger, Behzad Shahraray, Eric Zavesky
  • Patent number: 9614722
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring connectivity in a network at a bearer path layer are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request to monitor a user endpoint, identifies an internet protocol address of the user endpoint, an internet protocol address of each transport network element between the user endpoint and a bearer trace server, a bearer path identification of each bearer used by the user endpoint, a quality of service associated with each bearer used by the user endpoint, and a tunnel identification of each bearer used by the user endpoint; and performs a fault isolation and performance monitoring at a bearer path layer, wherein the fault isolation identifies a particular segment where a fault is detected at the bearer path layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald Smith, Wenge Chen, Kuo-Hui Liu, Chou Lan Pok, Mohammad M. Islam, Michael Recchia
  • Patent number: 9615203
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for protecting privacy when a mobile device is located in a defined privacy zone are described herein. The available features that a user of a mobile device may use are controlled while the mobile device is located in a define privacy zone. Once a mobile device is detected in the define privacy zone, a database is accessed to determine if the mobile device has the features available that are to be disabled. If the features are available, a disable signal is sent via the communications network to the mobile device and the feature is disabled. Once the mobile device is detected to be outside of the defined privacy zone, the previously disabled mobile device feature is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Venson Shaw, Qingmin Hu, Justin Allan McNamara, DeWayne Allan Sennett
  • Patent number: 9615227
    Abstract: Methods for appending additional device, location, and/or presence information to a mobile-originated short message are taught herein. One such method for appending additional device information includes receiving a MO short message at a message center. The MO short message includes a content request. The message center sends a query to a subscriber directory for device information corresponding to the device of the requesting subscriber. The subscriber directory searches for the device information and generates a response to be sent to the message center, the response including the device information. The subscriber directory sends the response to the message center, which appends the device information to the MO short message. The message center then sends the short message to the destination, for example, a content provider. Methods for appending location and/or presence information are also taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Justin McNamara, Fulvio Cenciarelli, Ed Lambert
  • Patent number: 9615256
    Abstract: A method and non-transitory computer readable medium for providing an access to a tethering service via an endpoint device are disclosed. For example, the method detects an attempt to access a non-network monitored service at an endpoint device, determines whether the endpoint device is authorized to access the non-network monitored service by sending a query to a service provider network, and provides an access to the non-network monitored service if the endpoint is authorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Patrick Hendricks, Yehoshuva Arasavelli, Feza Buyukdura
  • Patent number: 9614977
    Abstract: A method for controlling media presentation during a teleconference. The method generally includes the steps of coupling a buffer operatively to a host device and a participant device, storing media information associated with the teleconference in the buffer and directing playback of the media information from the buffer to the participant device. The host device is associated with a host of the teleconference and the host thereby enables playback of the stored media information to a participant other than the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory William Bond, Eric Cheung
  • Patent number: 9614978
    Abstract: A software defined networking controller can be provided to manage sharing of information relating to roaming requests for mobile devices that are roaming on visited networks. The software defined networking controller can be a sub-instance of a main software defined networking controller that manages traffic within the home network, and the software defined networking controller can sit at the edge of the home network and control edge routing elements. The edge software defined networking controller may communicate with roaming partner's edge software defined networking controller and/or with the roaming interconnect operator's software defined networking controller to exchange roaming related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Qingmin Hu, Farooq Bari
  • Patent number: 9613259
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for matching faces. The method includes receiving an image of a face of a first person from a device of a second person, comparing the image of the face of the first person to a database of known faces in a contacts list of the second person, identifying a group of potential matching faces from the database of known faces, and displaying to the second person the group of potential matching faces. In one variation, the method receives input selecting one face from the group of potential matching faces and displays additional information about the selected one face. In a related variation, the method displays additional information about one or more face in the displayed group of potential matching faces without receiving input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: William Roberts Cheswick
  • Patent number: 9615146
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve from an address book a communication identifier for each of a plurality of participants, determine from the address book a conferencing type for each of the plurality of participants, and initiate according to the conference type and the communication identifier of each participant a Voice over Internet Protocol conference call directed to communication devices of the plurality of participants. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anup D. Karnalkar, R. Tyler Wallis, William S. Robbins, Susan S. Steele, Mark Ryan
  • Patent number: 9615132
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to track a portion of the advertising data forwarded from a first end user device to a second end user; instructions to generate, based on the tracking, penetration data indicating an extent to which the first end user device forwards and propagates the portion of the advertising data to other end users; and instructions to present a portion of the advertising data in a picture in picture display window on the end user device based on the prioritizing of the advertising data during execution of the trick play command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: James I Cansler, Charles Scott, Scott White
  • Patent number: 9615373
    Abstract: A method includes determining, at a wireless access point, a signal quality indicator associated with a user device in communication with the wireless access point. The method also includes determining, based on the signal quality indicator, a particular frequency band of a set of candidate frequency bands to use in a channel change operation, where each candidate frequency band of the set of candidate frequency bands supports a threshold power level that enables communication between the wireless access point and the user device. The method further includes selecting a particular channel from the particular frequency band to use in the channel change operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Feng Wang, David R. Wolter
  • Patent number: 9615349
    Abstract: Determining levels of geographic redundancy among radios of a wireless radio network is disclosed. The level of geographic redundancy for a radio can affect the determination of location information for a user equipment (UE) on the wireless radio network. The disclosed subject matter can be employed in conjunction with timed fingerprint location (TFL) technologies to facilitate selection of radios employed in determining time values for TFL location determination. Levels of geographic redundancy can be employed to rank or order radios of a wireless radio network so as to reduce the likelihood of using geographically redundant radios in location determination. Further, rules can be selected to adjust threshold values and equations employed in determining the levels of geographic redundancy. Moreover, rules can be selected to apply boundary conditions to reduce the number of determinations formed for a set of radios of the wireless radio network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P., AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Fix, Jie Chen, Sheldon Kent Meredith
  • Patent number: 9615278
    Abstract: A process, device and computer-readable storage medium that incorporate teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, providing a first instruction to mobile user equipment to cause the mobile user equipment to perform a first channel quality assessment of a non-reduced power subframe of a wireless signal comprising the non-reduced power subframe, an almost blank subframe and a reduced power subframe. A second instruction is provided to the mobile user equipment to cause the mobile user equipment to perform a second channel quality assessment of the almost blank subframe. A determination is made as to whether the mobile user equipment is performing instantaneous channel quality measurements based on a result of the first channel quality assessment and a result of the second channel quality assessment. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Arvind Raghavan, Arunabha Ghosh
  • Patent number: 9615269
    Abstract: A system for detecting a fault in a first wire of a power grid that affects a transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that transport data and that propagate along a surface of the first wire, selecting a backup communication medium from one or more backup communication mediums according to one or more selection criteria, and redirecting the data to the backup communication medium to circumvent the fault. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 9615262
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for an antenna placement determination device. An antenna placement determination device can include a signal sensor located at a first end of an extendible arm, a platform located proximate to a second end of the extendible arm, a drive system connected to the platform, and an actuator connected to the extendible arm. The actuator can be configured to extend and collapse the extendible arm. The signal sensor can be connected to the extendible arm by a joint, and a sensor actuator or sensor motor can rotate the signal sensor about the joint. The drive system can include a drive motor and a drive mechanism that is configured to transport the antenna placement determination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Phanishankar Chaganti, Kaushik D. Gohel
  • Patent number: 9615288
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for providing on-demand quality of service guarantees in a wireless network environment. The system determines an on-demand quality of service for a segment of a communication path between a user equipment communicating with a radio access network connected to a core network and an external network connected to the core network. The system then determines if the on-demand quality of service for the segment meets a quality of service requirement. If the on-demand quality of service for the segment does not meet the quality of service requirement, the system identifies an alternate communication path between the user equipment and the external network, wherein the alternate communication path differs from the communication path. The system can then setup the alternate communication path for traffic between the user equipment and the external network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Moshiur Rahman, Paritosh Bajpay
  • Publication number: 20170094463
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for geofence profile management. A processor can execute a geofence profile management service. The processor can receive geofence profile data from an administrator device. The processor can create, based upon the geofence profile data, a geofence profile. The geofence profile can include a geofence profile title, a geofence profile description, and a geofence profile option. The processor can provide the geofence profile to a user device. The processor can determine that the user device accepts the geofence profile, and the processor can activate the geofence profile in response to the user device accepting the geofence profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicants: AT&T Mobility II LLC, AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Taner Baran, Catherine A. Wood, Jonathan Christiansen
  • Publication number: 20170093686
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for management of forwarding tables at edge routers. A processor that executes a software defined networking controller can select an edge router associated with a networking environment. The edge router can access or use a forwarding table. The processor can obtain routing information associated with the edge router. The routing information can include forwarding table contents associated with the forwarding table and next hop information that can indicate communication paths associated with the edge router. The processor can analyze the routing information to determine next hops associated with the edge router, generate a next hop graph that represents the next hops, and initiate updating of the forwarding table such that forwarding table only includes data that corresponds to the next hops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Uttaro, Han Q. Nguyen