Patents Assigned to Sierra Wireless, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9769787
    Abstract: A method and system for facilitating communication between an Evolved Node B (eNB) and a user equipment (UE) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. In particular the technology addresses downlink transmission via potentially large TTI bundles. The eNB transmits a downlink grant message to the UE, indicating a pending TTI bundle for downlink transmission. The UE transmits an acknowledgement message to the eNB if the DL grant message is successfully received and decoded. The eNB aborts transmission of the TTI bundle if it fails to timely receive the acknowledgement and may reassign the network resources scheduled for use in the transmission. In some embodiments, the eNB may introduce a delay between the downlink grant message and the TTI bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Gustav Gerald Vos
  • Patent number: 9716988
    Abstract: A method and system for facilitating communication in an LTE network between an eNB and Limited Capability Terminal Equipments (LCTEs). A subset of PRACH preambles is defined for use by the LCTEs. PRACH preambles are selected by LCTEs only from said subset for inclusion in transmission of a PRACH preamble message to the eNB. Upon receipt of a PRACH preamble belonging to the subset, the eNB adjusts its operation to accommodate a limitation of the LCTE corresponding to the PRACH preamble. For example, the eNB may schedule transmission of the associated RAR on a restricted set of PRBs which is predictable and accessible to said LCTEs, to accommodate LCTE reception limitations. The subset of PRACH preambles can be adjusted in size in order to control system performance. The subset may include one or more preambles for exclusive use by LCTEs and/or preambles for non-exclusive use by LCTEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Gustav Gerald Vos
  • Patent number: 9681256
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for abbreviating the blind decoding process performed by a UE, such as an LTE UE, on control channel data such as PDCCH data of PRB pairs of a set of PRB pairs transmitted concurrently within a subframe. In some embodiments, only a prioritized portion of the PDCCH data is decoded, thereby expediting blind decoding. In some embodiments, a reduced number of encoding options for the PDCCH data is used, and blind decoding is expedited by considering only such options as possibilities. When blind decoding of the PDCCH data is completed before the end of the subframe, this may be used to identify and discard corresponding PDSCH data which is irrelevant to the UE. The prioritized portion may be adjusted as needed to include the CSS so as not to miss certain critical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Naveen Mysore Balasubramanya, Lutz Hans-Joachim Lampe, Steven John Bennett
  • Patent number: 9668356
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting circuit operation in response to physical orientation of an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to a host site via direct soldering or a socket. The IC can be installed in a correct orientation or rotated and installed in an incorrect orientation. The IC may have a square, substantially symmetric footprint and the incorrect orientation may correspond to 90 or 180 degree rotation of the IC from the correct orientation. The orientations may be discerned by sensing electrical characteristics of the installed IC. For example, the IC may ground a detection line when installed in the correct orientation, while the detection line may be floating when the IC is installed in an incorrect orientation. The IC may be switchably connected to other components such as a power supply only when it is detected as being installed in the correct orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Syal, Paul David Newman
  • Patent number: 9628474
    Abstract: The present invention provides method, apparatus and computer program product for facilitating verification of an identity module, such as associated with a UICC, operatively coupled to a terminal equipment, such as a machine-type communication device. Upon determining that the identity module is in a bonded state, one or more bonding identifiers are read from the identity module and compared with at least a predetermined portion of the terminal equipment identifier, such as an IMEI, stored in the terminal equipment. If at least one of the bonding identifiers corresponds with at least a predetermined portion of the terminal equipment identifier, the identity module and/or the terminal equipment are shifted into predetermined operating conditions. A bonding process may also be performed, whereby the identity module acquires the terminal equipment identifier of currently associated terminal equipment and stores a bonding identifier in identity module memory based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Steven Lawrence Gielty
  • Publication number: 20170099649
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for paging User Equipment (UE). According to embodiments, repetition of paging can help UEs to more reliably receive pages when they are operating in idle mode DRX, and in particular enhanced idle mode DRX (eDRX). The UE and the eNB are cooperatively configured to determine an eDRX time interval and a value for paging occasion (PO) repetition based on one or more parameters, such as UE mobility requirements; UE power requirements; latency requirements, and timing discrepancies between base stations. The base station transmits pages, and the UE monitors for said pages, with timing that is based on the eDRX time interval and the PO repetition values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald VOS, Steven John BENNETT
  • Publication number: 20160338089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for resource allocation for half duplex frequency division duplexing in a wireless communication system is provided. Fixed or variable HARQ timing of greater than 5 subframes may be implemented. Acknowledgements for multiple downlink (uplink) transmissions can be bundled into a single acknowledgement transmitted on an uplink (downlink) control channel. Bundled acknowledgements for downlink transmissions may also be provided. Variable lead time cross subframe scheduling may be provided in which the number of subframes of delay between an uplink or downlink grant and the corresponding scheduled uplink or downlink transmission changes based on other scheduled events and/or half-duplex transceiver availability in the appropriate mode. The scheduling may select the earliest available subframe after a minimum delay. Uplink grant bundling may also be performed, in which multiple uplink grants are transmitted via a single grant indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventor: Gustav Gerald VOS
  • Publication number: 20160302024
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating system information and random access in a wireless communication system in an LTE system is provided. In some embodiments, a system information block (SIB) is transmitted in a configuration that is receivable by a limited-capability UE. The SIB may indicate a schedule of additional SIBs transmitted in the same configuration. The schedule may also be transmitted in another manner which is beyond capabilities of the UE to receive but within capabilities of full-capability UEs. Legacy SIB data may be spread between multiple new SIBs in this configuration. The configuration may include a limited transport block size and use of a limited number of physical resource blocks. Also provided is a Master Information Block (MIB) which indicates an extended System Frame Number count. Also provided is a means for communicating operating requirements from a UE by varying the timing and frequency of random access calls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven John Bennett, Gustav Gerald Vos
  • Patent number: 9445302
    Abstract: Approaches for managing machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless devices are disclosed. M2M wireless devices may be configured to utilize service classes in order to implement network access policy control. Packets generated by an application running on the wireless device are inspected, for example using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Service class may be assigned based on patent contents such as payload, transport-layer criteria, or communication protocol in use. Service class assignment proceeds according to a rule set which may be remotely configurable. Packets may be buffered and their transmission may be deferred pending service class assignment. Spoofing of the intended recipient and/or the application may be performed while the packets are buffered and/or inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Nicolas Damour, David Anthony Clark, Sebastien Launay
  • Patent number: 9380430
    Abstract: Approaches for managing machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless devices are disclosed. M2M devices may be managed using broadcast messages wirelessly transmitted from a server. M2M wireless devices may be configured to utilize service classes in order to implement network access policy control. Features include per-message or per-group security; randomized delays for acknowledgements and/or network access, optionally per group or network access rule; sequence numbers and/or retransmissions for QoS; pre-defined pathname shortcuts; network access rules based on time, congestion and network events; estimates of congestion at various nodes; spreading and/or maximum wait times; default or universal service classes; application data streams mapped to service classes; and offline triggering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Jen T'ai Chitty, Andrew Hasley Watson Mitchell, Philippe Frédéric Joël René Guillemette, Richard Thomas Kavanaugh
  • Publication number: 20160182250
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting an internal register of an integrated circuit (IC) via a multiplexed pin which also passes an RF signal is provided. An internal RF signal path couples the pin to an internal terminal for the RF signal, and a register setting signal path couples the pin to an internal register. The internal register may be an address register, such as a USID address register of a MIPI RFFE bus. A capacitor on the RF signal path may block the constant voltage, and a resistor or inductor on the register setting signal path may block the RF signal. The integrated circuit may include an RF section and a controller section, where the controller section may be used to control the RF section. The controller section is responsive to an address associated with the address register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Behrouz Pourseyed, Markus Myers
  • Patent number: 9369230
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding the LTE physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The transmissions are made by an evolved NodeB (eNB). At least one template symbol sequence representative of a potential transmission by the eNB over the PBCH is provided. A signal or signals transmitted over the PBCH by the eNB is received, the signal or signals indicative of a received symbol sequence. Correlation operations are performed for correlating the at least one template symbol sequence against the received symbol sequence. A representative symbol sequence, timing parameter, or both, is selected, based on the correlation operations. The representative symbol sequence is indicative of information transmitted by the eNB over the LTE PBCH. The timing parameter is indicative of timing of said information transmitted by the eNB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Steven John Bennett, Lutz Hans-Joachim Lampe, Ghasem Naddafzadeh Shirazi
  • Publication number: 20160162676
    Abstract: A method, system, token and scanning device for gesture-based security are provided. The token includes an information storage module such as an RFID system or a microchip system of a contactless smart card, and a fiducial marker of the token, such as a unique optically recognizable pattern. The token scanning device includes a detection module configured for retrieving details from the information storage module, a motion tracking module for tracking a trajectory of the fiducial marker relative to the scanning device, and an authentication module for authenticating the token if the tracked trajectory matches sufficiently to a reference trajectory associated with the token. A user can authenticate a usage of the token such as a financial transaction by gesture-based motion of the token to match the reference trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: MARKUS MYERS, PHILIPPE FREDERIC JOEL RENE GUILLEMETTE
  • Patent number: 9226117
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcast communication from a broadcast entity to terminals of a wireless communication network. A request for broadcast access to the wireless communication network is received, the request comprising an indication of a predetermined feature. In response, a dynamic association is established between the feature and an identifier selected from a pool of currently unused identifiers. Messages are then received from the broadcast entity, the messages associated with the predetermined feature. The messages are then broadcast along with the identifier. Broadcasting may be via Cell Broadcast Service (CBS), with the CBS Message Identifier as said identifier. The terminals are configured to optionally use the identifier for selective message processing. Upon a predetermined expiry condition, the identifier may be returned to the pool for re-use. Information regarding the temporary association may be published to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Steven John Bennett, Richard Thomas Kavanaugh
  • Patent number: 9184880
    Abstract: A method, device and computer program product for transmitting data blocks in an LTE or similar wireless communication system supporting HARQ and TTI bundling, with dynamic TTI bundle sizing is provided. Each TTI bundle includes a number of redundancy versions of a data block, for example differently encoded versions of the data block which can be combined together in accordance with Type-II HARQ. Plural TTI bundles can be transmitted as necessary in accordance with HARQ, for example in response to a NACK. The present technology involves adjusting the TTI bundle size for a given HARQ process, wherein at least two TTI bundles have different sizes. In various embodiments, the TTI bundle size progressively decreases with retransmissions so that the last TTI bundle is not excessively large, thereby reducing resource waste. TTI bundle size adjustment may be implemented in the uplink, downlink, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Gustav Gerald Vos
  • Patent number: 9173160
    Abstract: A cognitive wireless system that enables a mobile node to operate dynamically with heterogeneous networks by taking into account real-time contextual information about the mobile node and system-wide health information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Joseph LeBlanc, Eddie Shek Cheung Ho, Kirk Arnold Moir
  • Patent number: 9155233
    Abstract: An electromagnetic shield is provided, for example for a printed circuit board. A shield lid fits onto a base structure having at least two, more typically four, opposing sidewalls. The lid includes a top portion and a lip extending downward from the top portion to cap the base structure. The lid includes at least one deformation inhibiting feature extending downward from the top portion, for placement near or against an interior portion of a sidewall, for example against an edge of a folded-over sidewall. The deformation inhibiting feature may include one or more half-dimples stamped into the lid. In response to an external force, the deformation inhibiting feature presses against its adjacent sidewall in order to brace the shield lid. This inhibits the base structure from deforming the lip due to outward pressure of a sidewall onto a portion of the lip, located opposite the deformation inhibiting feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Richard John Samuels, Edwin Sy Liu
  • Patent number: 9144066
    Abstract: The present technology provides for an LTE system comprising a UE which is configured to perform blind HARQ combining of PDCCH messages, and an eNB which is configured with a HARQ transmission mechanism for such PDCCH messages. The PDCCH messages may be uplink or downlink grant messages, for example. In some embodiments, up to 8 messages may be combined via HARQ. Such HARQ combining may facilitate realizing a practical coverage gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Ghasem Naddafzadeh Shirazi, Lutz Hans-Joachim Lampe, Ramon Khalona
  • Patent number: 9075086
    Abstract: A low-power method and apparatus is provided for adapting to time-varying limitations of a power source, such as a vehicle power source which is in a more-limited state when the engine is off. The supply voltage is monitored for changes using an unclocked, low-power first stage having an analog section, a voltage comparator. Upon detecting voltage changes reflective of a potential power source state change, the first stage generates an interrupt. In response, a second stage transitions from a low-power standby mode to a higher-power active mode. The second stage may include a microprocessor and is configured to confirm or disconfirm the state change. Upon confirmation, further operations are triggered. Upon disconfirmation, the second stage returns to standby mode. The first stage may include an operational amplifier whose two inputs are indicative of the supply voltage, one input having a different response rate to voltage variations than the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Seveau, Lik King Au-Yeung
  • Patent number: 9037724
    Abstract: A method and system for forwarding data between network devices is provided. A routing device receives, identifies and forwards data to a network device coupled to a private network. The routing device may make a determination of how to forward the data, for example by determining which of several delivery mechanisms to use. The network device may be also associated with a public network via a public network device identifier (PNDI). The PNDI may include a public IP address of the routing device, a public first port number such as a destination port number, and optionally a public second port number such as a source port number, the combination of public IP address and public port number(s) being unique to the network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kavanaugh, Andrew Hasley Watson Mitchell, Gustav Gerald Vos