I have been awarded three patents for my
creative work in user interface design and personal watercraft
design. Brief information on those patents is presented here.
United States Patent 6,546,084
Filed February 2, 1999; Issued April 8, 2003
Title: Voice mail system and method with
subscriber selection of agent personalities telephone user interface
address book and time zone awareness
Inventors: Castagna; William D. (Ojai,
CA)
Notes:
The identification methods allow a subscriber
to select an agent for anyone in their address book. This is
of particular usefulness when the subscriber knows that a person
in the database is more comfortable with a language different
than the language used by the system's default agent. In an
example of this situation where a particular caller prefers
to speak French, the subscriber can have the voice mail system
always use a French language agent once it has identified that
caller.
The preferred embodiment allows the user to select one from
various sets of pre-recorded messages stored in the application
module. Once a set of pre-recorded messages is chosen, that
set represents the subscriber's chosen "agent" for
interacting with the voice mail system. The preferred embodiment
employs a brief interview process to allow the user to select
the agent with the personality preferred by the user.
A system for indicating to a subscriber when a message has been
left for that subscriber , which accommodates multiple time
zones by providing information to the subscriber related to
the subscriber's time zone indicating the time of the call in
the subscriber's local time zone.
United States Patent 6,442,245
Filed February 2, 1999; Issued August 27, 2002
Title: System and method for providing
voice messaging services utilizing a network connection
Inventors: Castagna; William D. (Ojai, CA); Smith; Shawn W.
(Ventura, CA); Vanderford; Jan (Santa Barbara, CA)
Notes:
When an incoming call is received, a signal is sent to a computer
that monitors the telephone line. If the telephone is not answered,
the messaging system sends a signal and streaming audio signals
to the computer. The signals are output over speakers connected
to the computer. In this way, the system retains the advantages
of a central messaging system, but adds the desirable call screening
feature available from home answering machines.
United States Patent D309,596
Filed May 26, 1987; Granted July 31, 1990
Title: Watercraft (design patent)
Inventors: Castagna; William D. (Clearwater, FL)
Drawings:
