At&t Mobility II LLC

Coulter C Henry, Jr

Robert Zacaries Evora

Francis Richard Lazaro, Jr

Andrew Lamont Hines, Jr

Venson Shaw

Linda Stanley Giles

Brian Kevin Daly

DeWayne Allan Sennett

Fulvio Cenciarelli

Mark Causey

Daryl Robert Gazzard

Scott Andrus

Derek Ekow-Badu Johnson

Adrianne Binh Luu

Kevin Wray Jones

Alexander E Silverman

Derek Eko-Badu Johnson

Stephen John Ambrose

Gaviphat Lekutai

Eddy Arnold Graefen

Jonathan A Paulis

Architecture for playing back personal text-based messages such as email and voicemail over a vehicle-based media system. The user can use a cell phone that registers over a cellular network to an IMS (IP multimedia subsystem) to obtain an associated IP address. The personal messages are then converted into audio signals using a remote text-to-voice (TTV) converter and transmitted to the phone based on the IP address. The phone then transmits the audio signals to the vehicle media system for playback using an unlicensed wireless technology (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.). Other alternative embodiments include transmitting converted message directly to the media system, via a satellite channel, converting the messages via a TTV converter on the cell phone, and streaming the converted messages to the phone and/or the media system for playback.

Vehicle-based message control using cellular IP

Methods for adding minutes to a calling plan having a calling plan period. The methods including determining whether a threshold number of minutes have been reached during the calling plan period; and incrementally adding minutes to the calling plan when the threshold number of minutes has been reached. The cost per minute of the added minutes is less than the high-cost per minute rate normally associated with exceeding the threshold number of minutes during the calling plan period.

Methods for providing overdraft protection for post-paid communication service plans

Architecture for offering enticements to cellular customers that will lead the customers to use the available services at times away from peak usage. For example, the provider can offer incentives (or enticements) that direct users to make phone calls during off-peak times of the hour or day. An incentive can include charging customers reduced minutes (e.g., 0.75 minutes) for each minute used from the customer plan when the customer uses services during off-peak time of the day. This applies to text messaging where users can attach files such as images and short video clips for communication to other cellular users, and to cellular devices via which users can access websites. In general, any services supported by the wireless provider can benefit by providing incentives to move users away from times of high network usage during the day.

Directing wireless customers to a network service using an incentive

A mobile security system is described herein. A detector communicates with a mobile device if an event has occurred. The event may be various types of events, such as fire or motion. Once the mobile device receives the communication of the event occurrence, the mobile device may, among others, sound an alarm or communicate with a central monitoring system to notify emergency services of the occurrence. The mobile device may also communicate with another communication device, such as another cell phone or a computer, using various forms of communication. The detector may be an integral part of the mobile device, i.e. fixed part of the mobile device, or may be detachable. The detector may also be wholly separate.

Mobile security system

A device holster configured to hold a device and at least one accessory module is disclosed. The accessory module can be an electronic module or a non-electronic module. In one embodiment, the accessory module is inserted into a pouch. The pouch includes a pouch interface for communication of data and/or transmission of power between an accessory module interface and a device interface. The pouch can be positioned on a face of the device holster or alternatively may be hingedly connected to the device holster. The accessory module may alternatively be built into the device holster or removably attached. The device holster may be integrated into an article of clothing or itself may be an article of clothing.

Device and module interface

A mobile device requests map information to locate an item in a store. If the item is available, map information is sent to the mobile device. The map information includes directions to the item. If the item is not available, alternative item information is sent to the mobile device.

Network systems and methods utilizing mobile devices to enhance consumer experience

An apparatus and methods for communicating text messages to the recipients' communication devices utilizes multiple communication modes, including, but not limited to, network-based and non-network based communication modes or methods. Generally, the network-based communication mode utilizes a messaging communication network to communicate text messages over relatively large distances and the non-network-based communication mode utilizes a proximity communication transport mechanism to communicate text messages over relatively small distances. The non-network communication transport mechanism includes, for example, the Bluetooth proximity communication transport mechanism and/or the unlicensed free radio spectrum. The apparatus is operable in either of the communication modes or in an auto-select communication mode in which the apparatus initially attempts to communicate text messages via a proximity communication transport mechanism and if unsuccessful, subsequently communicates text messages via a messaging communication network. The apparatus is configurable to operate in any of the communication modes.

Apparatus and methods for communicating text messages using multiple communication modes

A group billing component may be adapted to determine whether a source wireless device and a destination wireless device may be members of a group. The group billing component may receive a group identifier, a destination device identifier, and a source device identifier from the source wireless upon initiating communication with the destination wireless device. The group billing component may compare the destination device identifier with a group list that may be indexed by the group identifier. Based on the comparison, the group billing component may determine whether to output a usage fee to a subscriber of the source wireless device. The usage fee may be output if at least one element in the group list does not match the destination device identifier.

Group information and components for wireless devices

A system and method for managing an event related message by a user of a mobile station connected to a network is disclosed. The system and method provides a user with the ability to pre record a message to be delivered at a date associated with an event pertinent to the recipient of the message. A reminder capability for other contacts about the event is provided as is a merchandizing capability for the network operator.

Systems and methods for managing event related messages using a mobile station

A way to modify a media file to include an advertisement is described herein. A media includes, but is not limited to, broadcast television, video, or music. The content of the media is analyzed to determine an appropriate advertisement to be inserted into the media content. For example, the advertisement may be a pizza commercial inserted into media that is popular among college age individuals. The content of the media may be further analyzed to determine an appropriate position within the media to insert the advertisement. For example, the pizza commercial may be inserted after a scene in which the characters are eating. Another example may be the insertion of a dating service commercial in a movie immediately following a dating scene in the movie.

Classification engine for dynamic E-advertisement content insertion

A technique for managing simultaneous incoming and outgoing calls between the same far-end called terminal and far-end calling terminal and/or same user associated with a far-end called terminal and user associated with the far-end calling terminal includes an easy call abandon facility on a near-end terminal configured to compare information associated with an outgoing call to information associated with an incoming call. The easy call abandon facility is configured to initiate an audible or visible indicator when the terminal and/or user of the far-end called party is the same as that of the far-end calling party. In response to an easy call abandon indication received from a near-end terminal user, the easy call abandon facility disconnects the call from the near-end and connects the call received from the far-end terminal.

Growing community of inventors

Marietta, GA, United States of America

Coulter C Henry, Jr