Patents Examined by Julio Perez
  • Patent number: 9775218
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing interaction with controllable lighting networks are disclosed. Particularly, a user's input regarding the user's preferred level of interaction with a controllable lighting network is used in conjunction with memories and processors, to selectively allow the controllable lighting network access to the user's personal data such as the user's identity or the user's personal lighting preferences. A user's preferred level of interaction with a controllable lighting network is also used, in conjunction with personal mobile electronic communication devices, to allow the user to control lighting within controllable lighting networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Damien Gerard Loveland, Arend Jan Wilhelmus Abraham Vermeulen, Ian Edward Ashdown
  • Patent number: 9775090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an equipment for controlling the mobile station to switch between different wireless communication systems and belongs to the technical field of data transmission in the wireless communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Beijing Jiatong University
    Inventors: Bing Bu, Hongli Zhao, Tao Tang
  • Patent number: 9769624
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for detecting fine grain copresence between users. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to receive user input regarding copresence detection settings for a first user device, the copresence detection settings comprising a location and/or a user access control list, and determine a current location of the first user device. The system may determine whether copresence detection of the first user device is enabled at the current location based on the copresence detection settings and the current location. Based on determining that copresence detection is enabled, the system may refine copresence and perform an action based on fine grain copresence of the first and second user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nadav Aharony, Andrew Ames Bunner, Alan Lee Gardner, III, Mohammed Waleed Kadous, Brian Patrick Williams, Marc Stogaitis, Brian Duff, Pascal Tom Getreuer, Zhentao Sun, Daniel Estrada Alva, Ami Patel, Benjamin Razon, Richard Daniel Webb, Tony Weber, Thomas Yuchin Chao, Ralph Jacob Cressman, Denise Ho, Liem Tran, Joseph A. Farfel
  • Patent number: 9763098
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for bypassing device security protections to communicate with a contact of a secure device. The method displays a selectable user interface object on the device enabling a user to bypass the security protections of the device. Upon receiving a selection of the user interface object, the method initiates a communication to a contact that is preselected from a list of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Asaf Schushan
  • Patent number: 9763047
    Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable servicing a location request for a user device by providing anonymized location data. Specifically, a location request for a user device is received from an application server associated with a location-based/location-tracking application. Based on an application setting option associated with the location-based/location-tracking application, a geographic cell is defined. A set of available participating devices within the geographic cell is identified. A participating device is selected from the set of available participating devices. The location request is routed to the selected participating device, wherein the selected participating device forwards a location of the selected participating device to the application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Al Chakra, Liam Harpur, Erik H. Katzen, John Rice
  • Patent number: 9762723
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling generation an alarm in a mobile terminal is provided. The method comprises: checking whether a request to operate a microphone has been made by an application intended by a user that initiates an audio processing function when a request to operate the microphone is received; generating an alarm indicating an abnormal microphone operation if the request is determined not to be from an intended application; and turning off the microphone in response to the indication of the abnormal microphone operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Youn Kim
  • Patent number: 9749932
    Abstract: A wireless communication system 5 comprises a wireless communication device arranged to detect multiple wireless access networks available for connection to the wireless communication device for providing data services. The device is arranged to discover one or more access capabilities of at least one of the detected wireless access networks, and compares the discovered access capabilities with a mobility policy so as to select an available wireless access networks for connection. Access capabilities may include aspects such as IP protocols and ports allowed by an access network, and capacity constraints such as available uplink and downlink transmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Apostolis K. Salkintzis, Howard P. Benn
  • Patent number: 9729997
    Abstract: Systems and methods for self-provisioning of mobile devices are disclosed. An implementation includes determining whether the SIM of a mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider, sending an attachment request to a wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a coverage area of the wireless data network, receiving an attachment response from the wireless data network of the wireless network provider in response to the attachment request, determining from the attachment response, whether attachment to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider is successful, reviewing an error code provided by the wireless network provider and based on the error code, displaying a user interface allowing a user to provision the SIM for receiving service from the wireless network provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Zhengfang Chen, Mohammad Raheel Khalid, Ji Hoon Kim, Masudur SM Rahman
  • Patent number: 9723481
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for activating a purchased or previously deployed device by a subscriber. In one embodiment, activation includes authenticating the device to a service provider or carrier, and providing the device with data necessary for enabling the service to the device. In one variant, a user device is activated at a retail store, with the assistance of a carrier representative. In another variant, user equipment is activated via a communications network without the assistance of a representative. In yet another variant, the user equipment is activated via the Internet without the assistance of a representative. The provision of access data includes pre-assigning eSIM from a population of unassigned eSIMs to certain devices for various carrier networks. Alternatively, the eSIM may be assigned on an as-needed basis. Unassigned and/or unused eSIMs can be released (or sold back to the vendor) and/or reused. Solutions for eSIM backup and restoration are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan V. Schell, David Haggerty
  • Patent number: 9723536
    Abstract: In an Long Term Evolution (LTE) environment, LTE base stations may collect relevant data from subscribing wireless devices, as well as from nearby LTE base stations and WLAN access points. Based on the collected data, as well as data of the base station itself, the base station may make a determination as to whether to institute offloading of some or all of the subscribing UEs. Rather than independently communicating the offload command to each of the UEs, the base station may issue a broadcast notification that may be decoded by all of the UEs for performing offloading. In order to mitigate a surge of offloading, the base station can include surge prevention parameters in the broadcast message to distribute or reduce offloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shao-Cheng Wang, Pavan Nuggehalli
  • Patent number: 9719383
    Abstract: A network device that is used in a mobile communication system that supports cellular communication in which a data path passes through a core network, and D2D communication that is direct device-to-device communication in which a data path does not pass through the core network, comprises: a control unit that sets a D2D radio resource that is ensured for the D2D communication from radio resources be available to the mobile communication system. The control unit changes an amount of the D2D radio resource such that the D2D radio resource reaches an appropriate amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Chiharu Yamazaki, Masato Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 9712961
    Abstract: A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventors: Steve Y Chen, David Y Chen
  • Patent number: 9706390
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating information on a cellular system in a wireless communication system is provided. An access point (AP) transmits a request for information on a cellular system and an update configuration for the information on the cellular system to a multi-radio access technology (RAT) device supporting a plurality of RATs, receives a first response to the request, which includes the information on the cellular system, from the multi-RAT device, and receives a second response, which is an update of the first response, according to the update configuration from the multi-RAT device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Heejeong Cho, Eunjong Lee, Hyeyoung Choi, Genebeck Hahn
  • Patent number: 9699081
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described related to generating and using a user equipment (UE) location distribution in a wireless communication network. In embodiments, an evolved Node B (eNB) may determine an angle of arrival (AoA) and a timing advance (Tadv) for individual UEs of a plurality of UEs that are in a connected mode with the eNB. The eNB may assign the individual UEs to one of a plurality of bins to generate a UE location distribution. Individual bins of the plurality of bins may correspond to a range of values for the AoA and a range of values for the Tadv to indicate a physical location of the corresponding UEs. The eNB may transmit the UE location distribution to a network management entity, which may adjust one or more parameters of the eNB, based on the UE location distribution, using a capacity and coverage optimization (CCO) function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventor: Joey Chou
  • Patent number: 9699762
    Abstract: A mobile communications device receives and handles an encoded message. State data about the encoded message is generated based upon a first access of the encoded message. The device stores the generated message state data in a cache of the mobile communications device; generates a message indicator based upon the message state data stored in the cache of the mobile device; and processes the encoded message on a background thread running on the mobile device. The process determines that a message state change has occurred since the message was last opened and provides an updated message indicator to a user of the mobile device that reflects the message state change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Brown, Neil Patrick Adams, Herbert Anthony Little
  • Patent number: 9693219
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a visited network having a first wireless network type, a first update location request message according to a first signaling protocol, the first message associated with a user equipment roaming at the visited network. The first message is converted to a second update location request message according to a second signaling protocol and transmitted to a home network associated with the user equipment, the home network having a second wireless network type. An update location response message according to the second protocol is received from the home network, the update location response message including a user profile associated with the second network type. A combined user profile is generated based on a user profile associated with the first network type and the user profile associated with the second network type. The combined user profile is transmitted to the visited network in an update location answer message according to the first protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: iBasis, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Xu, Hwan Jang Tang
  • Patent number: 9686632
    Abstract: Various methods are provided for facilitating a software smart card environment consisting of multiple virtual UICCs (vUICC). One example method may comprise determining the location of one or more applications stored on a plurality of vUICCs, wherein the plurality of vUICCs are hosted in a secure environment. The method may also comprise receiving a request from a terminal application to execute an application of the one or more applications stored on the plurality of vUICCs. The method may further comprise determining a vUICC identification relating to the requested application. The method may further comprise causing a logical channel to be established with the requested application on a vUICC using the determined vUICC identification. Similar and related example apparatuses and example computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Rune Adolf Lindholm
  • Patent number: 9681283
    Abstract: A method for tracking usage of a wireless device includes monitoring, at a tracking device connected to and different from a wireless network, information regarding a first data packet sent from a wireless device to the wireless network, wherein the information regarding the first data packet includes an identifier of the wireless device, an identifier of a first type of wireless service, and an amount of data included in the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Satish Ramprasad
  • Patent number: 9680516
    Abstract: A retaining arrangement for a mobile communication device has an accommodating means which accommodates a mobile communication device. The retaining arrangement includes a retaining setting in which the mobile communication device is retained in the accommodating means, and a release setting which allows the mobile communication device to be inserted into the accommodating means. The retaining arrangement is characterized by a locking means which can be moved into a locking setting and into an unlocking setting, wherein the accommodating means can be moved out of the release setting into the retaining setting only when the locking means is in the unlocking setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Bury Sp.z.o.o.
    Inventors: Jacek Brzana, Roman Piekarz
  • Patent number: 9680545
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining whether communicating with the second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas in a first configuration, which comprises a beam-forming configuration, is preferable to utilizing a plurality of antennas in a second configuration, which comprises a MIMO or MISO configuration. If it is determined that the first configuration is preferable to the second configuration, the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the first configuration. If it is determined that the second configuration is preferable to the first configuration, then the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, Nambirajan Seshadri, James D. Bennett