U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

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Brown, Thomas W.


Primary examiner statistics: 1159 patents; average approval time: 762 days
Assistant examiner statistics: 346 patents; average approval time: 923 days

Patents as Primary Examiner

1                      
NumberTitleIssue Date
5822407Communication apparatus controlled by a remote control signal
In a communication apparatus remotely controlled by a remote control signal from a near terminal and a remote control signal from a remote terminal, when amplifying a received signal by an amplifier and detecting a remote control signal based on the ampli...
10/13/1998
5815551Telephonic-interface statistical analysis system
A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a cal...
09/29/1998
5812639Message communication via common signaling channel
A system and method of effecting transfer of message information of varied types from one centralized messaging system to another messaging device in a switched communications network having a plurality of central offices connected to subscriber terminals...
09/22/1998
5809114Anonymous interactive telephone system
An anonymous interactive telephone system for connecting a caller to a subscriber without divulging the identity or telephone number of either unless voluntarily revealed. The subscriber publishes an advertisement together with a telephone number of a sys...
09/15/1998
5799065Call routing device employing continuous speech
The call routing device plugs into existing extensions of the office telephone network or PBX system and acts as a "virtual" operator, prompting incoming callers to spell the name of the desired recipient. The speech recognizer uses a multipass procedure ...
08/25/1998
5793846Telephonic-interface game control system
A control system CS interfaces a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn through a telephone network facility CO to accommodate game formats. At the terminals T1-Tn, callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is i...
08/11/1998
5784437Electronic switch connected to intelligent peripheral while permitting call processing of dialed digits
An electronic switch in a telephone system provides automatic connection of a subscriber going off-hook to a SN/IP, while at the same time remaining responsive to dialing by the subscriber. The switch also permits access code dialing connection to the SN/...
07/21/1998
5768348Anonymous interactive telephone system
An anonymous interactive telephone system for connecting a caller to a subscriber without divulging the identity or telephone number of either unless voluntarily revealed. The subscriber publishes an advertisement together with a telephone number of a sys...
06/16/1998
5761276Voice mail service apparatus and a controlling method thereof
A voice mail service apparatus directly registering mail numbers received from service users as a technique for designating the mail number of the service user facilitates accommodation of a larger number of service subscribers. This voice mail service us...
06/02/1998
5754631Voice response unit having robot conference capability on ports
A Voice Response Unit (VRU) 10 provides ports 12 to which communications devices 13 may be coupled. Two-way conversations between ports 12 are enabled by inter-port connections made by system bus 16 as controlled by distributed switch 15. Summation resour...
05/19/1998
5754630System and associated method for multiple extension routing via an advanced intelligent network (AIN)
A multiple extension routing via AIN system and method is disclosed. The method and system concerns rerouting an incoming call from an incoming caller to a single telephone number to at least one of a plurality of destination telephone numbers correspondi...
05/19/1998
5751790Voice information service device and voice information service method
When a request to record is received from an information provider by way of a telephone network, a storage area is secured for each information number of provided information, and index numbers designated by the information provider and voice file numbers...
05/12/1998
5751792System and method for providing a message system subscriber with a roaming mailbox
An adjunct message system, coupled to a global telecommunications network, provides a roaming subscriber with roaming access to messages left at the subscriber's home mailbox by transferring such messages to a temporary roaming mailbox at a roaming node w...
05/12/1998
5748710Method, network, system and devices for central management of spoken announcements for download on demand
The invention concerns a method for the providing of messages for subscriber information for services in a communication network, as well as a service control facility (SCP1), a service support system (IP1), a service access arrangement, a service switchi...
05/05/1998
5745553On-demand communications services
A communications system is designed to transmit to end-user devices involved in a call information related to communications services that are invokable in real time from the end-user devices. The transmitted information includes activation codes for invo...
04/28/1998
5740229Method and apparatus for a pre-paid return call
A method and apparatus for allowing a caller to leave a message for an unreachable called party. The method and apparatus provides the caller with an option for a pre-paid return call that is billed to the caller. When the intended recipient of the call i...
04/14/1998
5740230Directory management system and method
Communications system (200) comprising a receiving messaging system (202 or 215) connectable to a sending messaging system (210). The receiving messaging system (202 or 215) is operable to receive a message addressed to a recipient and a time stamp of a s...
04/14/1998
5740242Echo canceler
An echo canceler is disclosed having a voice detector. When the voice detector detects the absence of input signals, the echo canceler is trained. In the training mode, the echo canceler receives an impulse signal from an impulse generator, as input throu...
04/14/1998
5737408Echo cancelling system suitable for voice conference
An echo cancelling system has two echo cancellers for cancelling a channel echo and a room echo, respectively. In order to obviate echo estimation errors, the echo canceller at the channel side performs estimation only when an input signal from a channel ...
04/07/1998
5737394Portable telephone apparatus having a plurality of selectable functions activated by the use of dedicated and/or soft keys
A telephone apparatus having a plurality of dedicated keys, a plurality of changeable keys each having at least one respective dedicated function associated therewith, and a display for displaying a plurality of lines of data. The telephone apparatus is a...
04/07/1998
5729592Calling party identification announcement service
Calling party identification announcement service (CPIAS) provides an announcement of the caller's name to a called party, so that the called party may accept of reject a call. This invention relates to arrangements for providing CPIAS using centralized a...
03/17/1998
5729593Annoucement system and method in a telephone call switching system
An announcement system 100 and method is provided which plays announcements recorded in the voice of an agent servicing a call routed by a telephonic switch 106 at substantially any time during the call. A call information circuit 136 detects information ...
03/17/1998
5727046Personal electronic telephone directory apparatus with remote accessibility
A stand alone Personal Electronic Telephone Directory (PETD) apparatus is provided, that includes an internal telephone line segment, an off hook circuit, a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) receiver, a ring detection circuit, a micro-controller, a memory,...
03/10/1998
5721763Method for providing information during a chat session
A subscriber to a chat service is provided with at least one announcement by the chat service provider about product and/or service offerings available to the subscriber from the chat service provider. The announcement typically takes the form of a menu o...
02/24/1998
5708699Hybrid access architecture for voice messaging systems
An architecturally and cost efficient method and system are disclosed for accessing a voice messaging platform. An exemplary method for accessing the platform includes: (1) forwarding a telephone call to the platform over foreign exchange lines when the t...
01/13/1998
5699414Method and apparatus for sharing a single telephone line between a facsimile machine, data modem, telephone answering device, and a person
A device and a method for directing incoming calls from a single input telephone line to either a facsimile machine, a data modem, or a telephone is provided. An incoming call is initially assumed to be a voice call, with ample time provided for allowing ...
12/16/1997
5696812Data communication apparatus having a function of recording a voice into a memory
In a facsimile apparatus, image data and voice data are stored in a common memory, management information for discriminating whether data stored within the memory is image data or voice data is formed, and storage of the image data and the voice data into...
12/09/1997
5694456System for providing automatic voice messaging in a digital network environment
The present invention describes an automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectible to a first switch and a called station connectible to a second switch, with the first and second switches connected by ...
12/02/1997
5689550Interface enabling voice messaging systems to interact with communications networks
Methods and apparatus for interfacing a plurality of voice messaging systems with a communications network are disclosed. Voice messages from voice message computers 450 are processed by an interface 410 and transmitted over communications network 390 to ...
11/18/1997
5689555Method for transferring a subscriber to a new local service provider
A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA) to serve Subscribers of the plurality of Local Service Providers. The method includes the step of assigning to each Subscriber of a Local Service Provid...
11/18/1997
5687220Telephonic voice message transmission control method
The present invention is directed to a method of controlling transmission of voice messages or information via telephonic voice message systems, which are sometimes referred to as Voice Mail systems. Users of the system selectively specify voice message t...
11/11/1997
5684863Telephonic-interface statistical analysis system
A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a cal...
11/04/1997
5682424Telephone mouthpiece protective cover
A protective cover for a telephone mouthpiece and earpiece having a protective cover member with slots therethrough and deflector bars recessed below and spaced from the protective cover member. Openings are formed at the internal edges of the slots and t...
10/28/1997
5675638Communications device entry method and apparatus
When an optional communications device connected to a public network is entered as an extension terminal accommodated by a private network, the communications device sends a predetermined special number. If the service control device provided in the publi...
10/07/1997
5668855Message management system
A message management system comprising apparatus for producing a multi-media message, including a visually sensible portion and an aurally sensible portion, control apparatus for transmitting the multi-media message to a selected subscriber and apparatus ...
09/16/1997
5668865Echo canceler E-side speech detector
The detection of echo is enhanced using a coarse near-end speech detector at a Y-side of an echo canceler and using a more accurate near-end speech detector at the E-side of the echo canceler, such that the latter detector uses a representation of far-end...
09/16/1997
5666401Automated attendant call processor
Disclosed is an intercept system for integrating the personalized services of switchboard attendants associated with on-premises PBX switching systems, with the capabilities of the intercept system for allowing calling parties the opportunity to complete ...
09/09/1997
5666403Method and apparatus for sharing a single telephone line between a facsimile machine, data modem, telephone answering device, and a person
A device and a method for directing incoming calls from a single input telephone line to either a facsimile machine, a data modem, or a telephone is provided. The device and method provide for "isolating" both a facsimile machine and a data modem until af...
09/09/1997
5659610Battery feed circuit
Resistive circuits are provided at the tip and ring of the battery feed circuit as a method of alleviating the need for bulky DC transformers or complex integrated circuitry. The voltage is monitored through a set of comparators eliminating the expense of...
08/19/1997
5657385Connecting device for connecting sheathed lines for telephones and data communications
The device for connecting sheathed lines for telephones and data communications is characterized by a metallic ground plate with supports on a printed circuit board, etc. with one bent-back tongue which forms a contact spike for lateral insertion of a she...
08/12/1997
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