Patents Examined by Marisol Fahnert
  • Patent number: 8401521
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention comprise a remote tracking and control server operable to transparently activate control of resources and to monitor operations on a target handheld communication device utilizing code installed on the handheld device. The resources may comprise a camera, microphone, GPS receiver, input device, display, speaker, wireless and/or wire-line transmitter and/or receiver. The monitoring and/or controlling activity is protected from interruption. The handheld device may be accessed by a securely stored unique identifier. Access to the controlling function and/or the resources by a user of the handheld device may be restricted. Monitored information is stored on the handheld device and communicated to the tracking server. The control server may receive monitored information from the handheld device whenever the device is coupled to a communication network. Monitoring may be initiated based on detected motion, sound, user input, video and/or touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 8396461
    Abstract: A mobile device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user, virtually on the fly, to invite another user to participate in an on-line conferencing session, by providing a link that automatically enables the other user to participate in the conferencing session. In one embodiment, the conferencing session is a text messaging conference session, such as one that might employ instant messaging, or the like. In one embodiment, a user may request a conferencing session to be established, by sending a request to a server device. The request may, include an identifier of an invitee with whom the first user wishes to communicate. The server determines a unique link for the invitee and session, and sends the invitee an invite message with their unique link. Selecting the unique link enables the invitee to automatically access and to participate in the conferencing session with the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Gustav Soderstrom, Nathanael Joe Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8380226
    Abstract: Location based reminders are described. A mobile computing device may comprise a location based reminder application to set a target location for a reminder item. The location based reminder application may provide a location based reminder for the reminder item when a current location matches the target location. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Charles Clipsham
  • Patent number: 8374576
    Abstract: The cumulative utilization of communication system resources by a communication terminal is determined. An alert is generated through the communication terminal in response to the cumulative utilization exceeding a threshold amount. The cumulative utilization of resources may be determine by a core network of the communication system and/or by the communication terminal. The core network may transmit an alert message to the communication terminal to trigger an alert therefrom in response to the cumulative utilization of resources exceeding a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr., Quenton Lanier Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8369825
    Abstract: A switched emergency call (e.g., a 911 call, an alarm company call) forwarded by a telematics call center is converted into a session initiation protocol (SIP) packetized phone call at the call center, and routed over an IP network, for presentation to an emergency services gateway, which connects to a selective router via dedicated circuits, gaining full access to the Enhanced 911 network. This provides a PSAP receiving a call from a telematics call center or other call center with all features available in an Enhanced 911 network, e.g., callback number of the 911 caller, and location of the 911 caller. Location of the caller is provided using a VoIP positioning center (VPC), queried from the call center. In this way, the switched emergency call is converted into a SIP packetized phone call and routed without further passage through the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Dickinson, John Gordon Hines, Jonathan Croy
  • Patent number: 8364090
    Abstract: Generating a radio frequency test signal for a mobile wireless communication device from a set of scanned radio frequency data that represents a plurality of radio frequency channels over a sequence of time intervals. A segment of the set of scanned radio frequency data over a time interval is classified into one of several radio frequency environments. A subset of the segment of scanned radio frequency data is selected based on the classified radio frequency environment. A segment of the radio frequency test signal is generated using the selected subset of scanned radio frequency data. The steps of classifying, selecting and generating are repeated for each time interval in the sequence of time intervals. Classifying the segment of scanned radio frequency data into a radio frequency environment includes comparing a set of statistics extracted from the segment of scanned radio frequency data to pre-defined classification ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Venkatasubramanian Ramasamy, Srinivasan Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 8335501
    Abstract: Function-control instructions for controlling a function or feature of a device can be created remotely, locally, or both. A device can receive a function-control instruction or a function-control instruction embedded in received content. Additionally, or alternatively, a function-control instruction can be created locally based on user information or calibration information. Function-control instructions can be passed to an instruction execution application that interprets the function-control instruction. The instruction execution application can pass instructions, based on the function-control instruction, to the device for implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Carl L. Martin, II
  • Patent number: 8301139
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides for the ad-hoc configuration of femtocells using spectrum sensing for the selection of spectrum channels. One or more embodiments of the invention determine frequency bands that are not reserved by macrocells in a location, and perform spectrum sensing to determine communication channels in unreserved frequency bands that are being used by other femtocells in range. In this manner, femtocells can be deployed and configured in an ad-hoc manner without external coordination or control between deployed femtocells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Xilinx, Inc., The Provost, Fellows, Foundation Scholars, and the other members of Board, of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, near Dublin
    Inventors: Jorg Lotze, Baris Ozgul, Juan J. Noguera Serra
  • Patent number: 8295868
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to a wireless communication system. Theses systems and methods include providing information from a base station to a mobile device than enables the mobile device to use at least one DCI format. In some embodiments, this information is provided by receiving data over a wireless communication channel. The transmitted data comprises identification information that identifies the format of the transmitted data being transmitted. These systems and methods may also include identifying the format of the transmitted data and processing the transmitted data using the identified format of the transmitted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianzhong Zhang, Farooq Khan
  • Patent number: 8295853
    Abstract: A method and system for accurately determining the location of the mobile device (10) is disclosed. In the mapping phase collected reference positioning data and collected cell data are used to map a covered area estimation and in the actual location determination phase the covered area estimation is calculated from actual environment data received through wireless cellular communication network (11, 12) and possibly but not necessarily from external databases (17, 19). The covered area estimation comprises at least some of the following calculations: (i) estimation of base station location, (ii) estimation of transmission range, (iii) estimation of signal map and (iv) estimation of area type. The actual location of the mobile device (10) is determined from the covered area estimation based on relative comparison between the actual environment data and estimations (i)-(iv) and weight numbers resulted from the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Glopos FZC
    Inventors: Timo Heikkilä, Anssi Jakorinne, Timo Kuisma, Jyrki Paananen, Arno Hietanen
  • Patent number: 8275395
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the operability of a transmitter on a mobile communications device by determining if the mobile communications device is located proximate to an operator's seat of a vehicle. A condition parameter of the mobile communications device may be determined. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be disabled in response to the mobile communications device being located proximate to an operator's seat of a vehicle and further in response to the determined condition parameter. The transmitter on the mobile communications device may be enabled, in response to determining that the mobile communications device is not located in a restricted location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Christopher Howarter, Charles Michael Lesher, Jeffrey Sweeney, Robert J. Morrill, Heather Hull
  • Patent number: 8271000
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for repeat paging in a wireless communication system. In accordance with the method, a RAN controller will send a repeat-paging directive to a plurality of BTSs to cause each BTS to begin broadcast of a series of page messages destined to a target mobile station. While transmitting the series, one of the BTSs will then receive from the mobile station a page response, and the BTS will responsively provide to the RAN controller a notification of the page response. In response to receipt of the notification, the RAN controller will then send a paging-stop directive to at least each other BTS of the plurality, and each BTS that receives the paging-stop directive will responsively discontinue broadcasting the series of page messages before completing broadcast of the entire series of page messages, thereby helping to conserve air interface resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bhagwan Khanka, Jasinder P. Singh, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Mark Hanna
  • Patent number: 8271044
    Abstract: A system and method for installing wireless broadband service at a customer location. A temporary connection between a customer modem and internet service provider network is established such that final configuration of the customer modem can be completed remotely, thus eliminating the need for highly skilled installers. Further, the system and method of the present invention precludes the completion of the installation process in the event that the signal falls outside of the acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Air Advantage
    Inventors: Jonathan David Joles, Leroy Albert Koglin, Jr., Scott Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8270988
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for implementing an overlay carrier frequency in a wireless coverage area in response to low load in the coverage area. Normally, an carrier frequency may be added in response to high load. However, the disclosed method involves adding a carrier frequency in response to low load, as the addition of a carrier may advantageously increase the likelihood of soft handoff in certain situations, and as low load may facilitate operation on the added carrier without the need to add expensive supporting infrastructure that would typically be added to support full operation on an added carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Debasish Sarkar, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Siddharth S. Oroskar, Manoj Shetty
  • Patent number: 8259708
    Abstract: A system for establishing a universal or overlapping wireless broadband network composed of a plurality of Access Points (AP). These APs, or nodes, may be coupled to existing copper transmission lines, and may work alone or in groups to provide wireless network access. Different types of APs may be utilized to perform various communication-functions, and these nodes may obtain power and/or communication resources from the existing copper transmission lines, and communication resources from either the existing copper transmission lines or from fiber optic transmission lines. Further, peripheral devices may be coupled to nodes to provide ancillary functionality to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Generonix, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Cotton, Robert A. Macaluso, Perlis Joseph Trahan, Douglas R. Milliman, Neil C. Olsen
  • Patent number: 8259707
    Abstract: A system for establishing a universal or overlapping wireless broadband network composed of a plurality of Access Points (AP). These APs may be coupled to existing copper transmission lines, and may work alone or in groups to provide wireless network access. Different types of APs may be utilized to perform various communication-functions, and these nodes may obtain power and/or communication resources from the existing copper transmission lines. Further, peripheral devices may be coupled to nodes to provide ancillary functionality to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Generonix, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Cotton, Robert A. Macaluso, Perlis Joseph Trahan, Douglas R. Milliman, Neil C. Olsen
  • Patent number: 8254915
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling subscribers of a communications carrier to communicate over a network of wireless access points of other consumer subscribers of the communications carrier is provided. In response to a wireless device of a user attempting to access a wireless access point of a subscriber, a database may be queried to determine whether the user of the wireless device is a subscriber of the communications carrier and has a subscription agreement enabling the subscriber to access a communications network via the network of wireless access points of other consumer subscribers. The subscriber may be enabled to access the wireless access point within the network of wireless access points in response to determining that the subscriber has a subscription agreement enabling communication over the communications network via the network of wireless access points of other consumer subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company, LLC
    Inventor: Steven E. Kozisek
  • Patent number: 8244253
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting a fast mobility Internet Protocol (IP) with a link identifier prefix (LinkID prefix) in a wireless communication system are provided. According to a method for performing a handoff from a first access router to a second access router, a Layer 2 (L2) beacon containing a link identifier prefix is sent to a mobile node in the second access router. The first access router establishes a tunneling with the second router, as the mobile node sends a Fast Binding Update (FBU) message including a care-of address (CoA) which the mobile node dynamically constructs using the link identifier prefix, to the first access router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Jyeock Choi, Subba Reddy Kota
  • Patent number: 8238821
    Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which a WAP is coupled to an antenna unit and provides a wireless LAN. In one embodiment, the antenna unit includes at least one remote antenna circuit having one or more ports to receive a control signal and a transmit signal transmitted from the WAP located in a multi-tone transmitter-receiver. Each remote antenna circuit includes a transmit amplifier unit that amplifies the transmit signal, a receive amplifier unit that amplifies a receive signal, and control unit that receives the control signal. The control unit controls an operation of the transmit and the receive amplifier units to extend a range of the wireless WAP with the at least one remote antenna circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: 2Wire, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Barry Angell, Steve Maher
  • Patent number: 8229419
    Abstract: A cordless handset receives status information from two or more base units indicating at least one of a waiting status and a non-waiting status. The non-waiting status may further include an internal-line-call status and/or an external-line-call status. The cordless handset may display the status information on a display with the status information corresponding to the base units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ukon