Patents by Inventor Robert J. Sparks
Robert J. Sparks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9476775Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a housing and a temperature sensing element disposed in the housing. Electrical connections may extend from the temperature sensing element through the housing and an epoxy may be disposed in the housing, wherein the epoxy may at least partially around the temperature sensing element. The epoxy may provide a thermal pathway between the sensing element and the housing and may be being flexible to accommodate different rates of thermal expansion between the temperature sensing element and the electrical connections without requiring a separate mechanical strain relief. A temperature sensor system includes a temperature sensor and a mineral insulated cable coupled to the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be configured to be removably coupled to the mineral insulated cable via a stop flange and a sleeve coupled to the mineral insulated cable. The sleeve may be configured to provide stability and reduce vibrational stress to the temperature sensor system.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: STONERIDGE, INC.Inventors: Robert J. Sparks, Douglas I. Obenour, Ronald N. Landis
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Patent number: 9182297Abstract: A temperature sensor system includes a temperature sensor, a cable having an end coupled to the temperature sensor, and a stop flange coupled to the cable. The temperature sensor system further includes a vibration reducing and/or modifying sleeve positioned against the stop flange. The sleeve includes a body portion defining a through passage configured to receive and retain at least a portion of the cable. The sleeve is configured to provide stability and reduce vibrational stress to the temperature sensor system. The sleeve is configured to be added to the temperature sensor system during assembly of the system and/or to be added after the temperature sensor system is fully assembled.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.Inventors: Ronald N. Landis, Douglas I. Obenour, Robert J. Sparks
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Patent number: 9008653Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing dynamic steering of roaming in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for providing dynamic steering or roaming in a telecommunications network includes a method for providing dynamic steering or roaming in a telecommunications network. The method includes, at a mobile telecommunications device, the device being associated with a subscriber of a first network, detecting a trigger condition for updating a roaming preference, where the trigger condition is not controlled by the operator of the first network, determining an identity of a second network, and performing at least one of: making a change to a preferred roaming network for the device by setting the second network as a preferred roaming network for the device, and connecting to the second network.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Tekelec, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Sparks, Peter J. Marsico
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Patent number: 9001664Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing sedation service in a telecommunications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for providing sedation service in a telecommunications network is provided. The method includes steps that are performed at a session initiation protocol (SIP) sedation node. The method includes receiving a first message sent from a SIP user agent and intended for a SIP server. The method further includes determining whether the SIP server is unavailable. The method further includes responsive to a determination that the SIP server is unavailable to respond to the first message, sending, to the SIP client, a SIP sedation message for reducing the number or frequency of messages sent by the SIP user agent to the SIP server.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Tekelec, Inc.Inventors: Robert J Sparks, Ben Allen Campbell, Adam B. Roach, Ajay P. Deo
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Patent number: 8893248Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for media session policy compliance auditing and enforcement using a media relay and session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling are provided. One method includes at a SIP policy server, receiving SIP signaling from a user agent client to obtain a policy for media session and, in response, generating at least one media session correlation token. At least a portion of the SIP policy server is implemented in hardware. The media session correlation token and the media policy are communicated to the user agent client and to a media relay. Identification information for the media relay is also communicated to the user agent client. At least a portion of the media relay is implemented in hardware. At the media relay, the media session correlation token is received and used to correlate and store usage information for the media session and to monitor compliance with the media policy.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Tekelec, Inc.Inventors: Adam B. Roach, Ben A Campbell, Robert J Sparks, Ajay P. Deo
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Patent number: 8866012Abstract: A sensor system includes a wiring harness including at least one wire, a grommet, a nugget, a sensor, and a harness sleeve, wherein the grommet includes at least one passageway configured to receive the wire and the nugget includes at least one terminal molded into the nugget and coupled to the wire. A mineral insulated cable may be coupled to the sensor and to the terminal and the harness sleeve may define at least one cavity configured to receive the nugget and at least a portion of the grommet. The harness sleeve may be coupled to the mineral insulated cable and may include a first crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the grommet. The harness sleeve may also include a second crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the nugget.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.Inventors: Brian Engelbach, Robert J. Sparks, Tim Murphy, Jeffrey T. Norris, Michael L. Heston
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Patent number: 8660245Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for advertising-supported call service are disclosed. According to one method, a SIP call setup message associated with a first call from a calling subscriber to a called subscriber is received. It is then determined whether the calling subscriber subscribes to a play advertisement pay less (PAPL) service. In response to determining that the calling subscriber subscribes to the PAPL service, an advertisement is presented to the calling subscriber via the subscriber's telephone, the call is connected to the called subscriber, and a reduced charge is effected for the call based on the PAPL service.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2009Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Tekelec, Inc.Inventors: Nirmal K. Gupta, Venkataramaiah Ravishankar, Robert J. Sparks, Peter J. Marsico
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Patent number: 8645565Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for throttling traffic to an IP network server using alias hostname identifiers assigned to the IP network server with a domain name system are disclosed. One method includes maintaining a plurality of weight values and corresponding alias hostname identifiers for the IP network server that are associated with the IP network server in a DNS system. The method further includes throttling network traffic sent to an IP network server by sending, from the IP network server, messages to nodes that send the traffic to the IP network server, where the messages selectively enable or disable traffic flow to the individual alias hostnames.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Tekelec, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Sparks, Adam B. Roach, Byron Campen
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Publication number: 20140008094Abstract: A sensor system includes a wiring harness including at least one wire, a grommet, a nugget, a sensor, and a harness sleeve, wherein the grommet includes at least one passageway configured to receive the wire and the nugget includes at least one terminal molded into the nugget and coupled to the wire. A mineral insulated cable may be coupled to the sensor and to the terminal and the harness sleeve may define at least one cavity configured to receive the nugget and at least a portion of the grommet. The harness sleeve may be coupled to the mineral insulated cable and may include a first crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the grommet. The harness sleeve may also include a second crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the nugget.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: STONERIDGE, INC.Inventors: Brian Engelbach, Robert J. Sparks, Tim Murphy, Jeffrey T. Norris, Michael L. Heston
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Publication number: 20130223478Abstract: A temperature sensor system includes a temperature sensor, a cable having an end coupled to the temperature sensor, and a stop flange coupled to the cable. The temperature sensor system further includes a vibration reducing and/or modifying sleeve positioned against the stop flange. The sleeve includes a body portion defining a through passage configured to receive and retain at least a portion of the cable. The sleeve is configured to provide stability and reduce vibrational stress to the temperature sensor system. The sleeve is configured to be added to the temperature sensor system during assembly of the system and/or to be added after the temperature sensor system is fully assembled.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: STONERIDGE, INC.Inventors: Ronald N. Landis, Douglas I. Obenour, Robert J. Sparks
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Patent number: 8338702Abstract: A sensor system may include a wiring harness including at least one wire, a grommet, a nugget, a sensor, and a harness sleeve. The grommet may include at least one passageway configured to receive the wire. The nugget may include at least one terminal molded into the nugget and coupled to the wire. A mineral insulated cable may be coupled to the sensor and to the terminal. The harness sleeve may define at least one cavity configured to receive the nugget and at least a portion of the grommet. The harness sleeve may be coupled to the mineral insulated cable and may include a first crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the grommet. The exterior surface of the nugget may also include at least one radially disposed groove. The harness sleeve may also include a second crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the nugget, for example, about the radial groove.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.Inventors: Brian Engelbach, Robert J. Sparks, Tim Murphy, Jeffrey T. Norris, Michael Heston
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Patent number: 8321592Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating and using statelessly reversible representations of SIP information by SIP cluster entities. One method includes, at a first SIP cluster entity, receiving a first SIP message including SIP information. The method further includes generating a second SIP message including a statelessly reversible representation of the SIP information. The method further includes transmitting, to a SIP entity that is not a member of the cluster to which the first SIP entity belongs, the second SIP message with the statelessly reversible representation and information for reaching the cluster.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Tekelec, Inc.Inventors: Adam B. Roach, Ben A. Campbell, Robert J. Sparks, Ajay P. Deo
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Patent number: 8090850Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for regulating pinhole preservation traffic generated or received by firewall or network address translator (NAT) session initiation protocol (SIP) user agent clients (UACs) are disclosed. One method includes, maintaining a list of contact information for a plurality of SIP UACs registering from behind at least one of a firewall and a NAT. The method further includes iterating through the list to generate SIP messages to the different UACs such that the SIP messages to the different UACs are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect to each other, wherein the SIP messages to the different UACs trigger responses from the UACs such that the responses are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: TekelecInventors: Adam B. Roach, Ben Allen Campbell, Robert J Sparks, Ajay P. Deo
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Publication number: 20110238281Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a housing and a temperature sensing element disposed in the housing. Electrical connections may extend from the temperature sensing element through the housing and an epoxy may be disposed in the housing, wherein the epoxy may at least partially around the temperature sensing element. The epoxy may provide a thermal pathway between the sensing element and the housing and may be being flexible to accommodate different rates of thermal expansion between the temperature sensing element and the electrical connections without requiring a separate mechanical strain relief. A temperature sensor system includes a temperature sensor and a mineral insulated cable coupled to the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be configured to be removably coupled to the mineral insulated cable via a stop flange and a sleeve coupled to the mineral insulated cable. The sleeve may be configured to provide stability and reduce vibrational stress to the temperature sensor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: STONERIDGE, INC.Inventors: Robert J. Sparks, Douglas I. Obenour, Ronald N. Landis
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Patent number: 7931401Abstract: A temperature sensor including a housing and a temperature sensing element at least partially disposed in the housing. A particulate media, which may include a blend of differently sized particles, is disposed in the housing and at least partially surrounds the temperature sensing element. The particulate media may entrain oxygen to avoid a reducing atmosphere in said housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.Inventors: Ronald N. Landis, Robert J. Sparks, Jeffrey T. Norris
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Publication number: 20100258329Abstract: A sensor system may comprise a wiring harness comprising at least one wire, a grommet, a nugget, a sensor, and a harness sleeve. The grommet may comprise at least one passageway configured to receive the wire. The nugget may comprise at least one terminal molded into the nugget and coupled to the wire. A mineral insulated cable may be coupled to the sensor and to the terminal. The harness sleeve may define at least one cavity configured to receive the nugget and at least a portion of the grommet. The harness sleeve may be coupled to the mineral insulated cable and may include a first crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the grommet. The exterior surface of the nugget may also include at least one radially disposed groove. The harness sleeve may also include a second crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the nugget, for example, about the radial groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: STONERIDGE, INC.Inventors: Brian Engelbach, Robert J. Sparks, Tim Murphy, Jeffrey T. Norris, Michael Heston
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Patent number: 7760639Abstract: A system and method for handling network overload includes receiving one or more requests, wherein an originating client originates the one or more requests. It is determined if a network element processing the one or more requests is overloaded. If the network element is overloaded, a pushback message is generated. The pushback message is sent with request gapping information to a previous hop in a network, wherein the previous hop is one or more network elements operable to route the one or more network requests to the network element processing the one or more requests.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Donovan, Ben A. Campbell, Adam B. Roach, Robert J. Sparks, Ajay P. Deo
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Patent number: 7756034Abstract: A system and method for handling network overload includes receiving one or more requests, wherein an originating client originates the one or more requests. It is determined if a network element handling the one or more requests is overloaded. If the network element is overloaded, a pushback message associated with a specific request of the one or more requests is generated. The pushback message is sent to the originating client.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Steven R. Donovan, Ben A. Campbell, Adam B. Roach, Robert J. Sparks, Ajay P. Deo
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Publication number: 20100174821Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating and using statelessly reversible representations of SIP information by SIP cluster entities. One method includes, at a first SIP cluster entity, receiving a first SIP message including SIP information. The method further includes generating a second SIP message including a statelessly reversible representation of the SIP information. The method further includes transmitting, to a SIP entity that is not a member of the cluster to which the first SIP entity belongs, the second SIP message with the statelessly reversible representation and information for reaching the cluster.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Adam B. Roach, Ben A. Campbell, Robert J. Sparks, Ajay P. Deo
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Publication number: 20100161809Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for regulating pinhole preservation traffic generated or received by firewall or network address translator (NAT) session initiation protocol (SIP) user agent clients (UACs) are disclosed. One method includes, maintaining a list of contact information for a plurality of SIP UACs registering from behind at least one of a firewall and a NAT. The method further includes iterating through the list to generate SIP messages to the different UACs such that the SIP messages to the different UACs are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect to each other, wherein the SIP messages to the different UACs trigger responses from the UACs such that the responses are spaced at substantially regular intervals with respect each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Adam B. Roach, Ben Allen Campbell, Robert J. Sparks, Ajay P. Deo