Patents Assigned to Sierra Wireless, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120033611
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for operating a femtocell base station of a wireless communication system. A method of the present invention comprises obtaining a list of designated wireless devices capable of communication with the base station; counting the number of designated wireless devices currently within range of the base station; and switching the base station between an active state and a standby state based on the count. The base station may obtain information for counting wireless devices currently within range by monitoring the wireless environment, and/or by monitoring information received through a network interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Huaming Wu
  • Publication number: 20110316750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mitigating undesired portions of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) associated with an antenna. The apparatus comprises a coupling element EM inductively coupled with the antenna, the coupling element being substantially co-polarized with the antenna. The apparatus further comprises one or more dissipating elements EM inductively coupled with the coupling element, each of the one or more dissipating elements being substantially differently polarized than the antenna, for example cross-polarized to the antenna. The coupling element may be a conductive element configured for predetermined EM inductive coupling with at least the antenna and the one or more dissipating elements. Each of the one or more dissipating elements may be a conductive element configured for predetermined EM inductive coupling with the coupling element. A method of manufacture is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Chuan Yen
  • Patent number: 8072388
    Abstract: A dual-band diversity antenna includes a ground plane and a main antenna system coupled to the ground plane, the main antenna system being a dipole having a primary dipole axis directed along the longitudinal axis of the wireless communication device, and a diversity antenna system coupled to the ground plane, the diversity antenna system being a monopole having an primary axis directed along the longitudinal axis of the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Nysen, Todd Van Cleave, Daniel George Laramie, Geoffrey G. Schulteis, Kevin Wolentarski
  • Publication number: 20110287740
    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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav Gerald Vos, Steven Lawrence Gielty
  • Patent number: 8059046
    Abstract: A diversity antenna for use with a portable host device such as a laptop computer, for example as part of a PCMCIA card pluggable into the laptop computer to enable wireless computer by the laptop computer, includes a main antenna and a diversity antenna. Various configurations for these antennas are possible, including the use of a balanced dipole as the main antenna element and a split diversity antenna for the diversity antenna element. The diversity antenna provides high isolation between the antenna elements and isolation from interfering self-noise generated by the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Nysen
  • Patent number: 8049671
    Abstract: A diversity antenna for use with a portable host device such as a laptop computer, for example as part of a PCMCIA card pluggable into the laptop computer to enable wireless computer by the laptop computer, includes a main antenna and a diversity antenna. Various configurations for these antennas are possible, including the use of a balanced dipole as the main antenna element and a split diversity antenna for the diversity antenna element. The diversity antenna provides high isolation between the antenna elements and isolation from interfering self-noise generated by the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Nysen
  • Publication number: 20110261891
    Abstract: Management of communication operations of wireless devices is provided. A traffic-control parameter is generated, for example at a base station, indicative of desired aspects of communication operations of the wireless devices. The one or more traffic-control parameters may comprise a delay parameter, such as a maximum value for generating random backoff times, and/or a connection-time parameter, indicative of the maximum length of time a wireless device can hold a connection. A bit sequence indicative of the one or more traffic-control parameters is generated and communicated to the wireless devices. A wireless device determines the traffic-control parameter based on the communicated bit sequence and adapts its operation based thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Gustar Gerald Vos, Steven John Bennett, Huaming Wu, Richard Thomas Kavanaugh
  • Patent number: 8032612
    Abstract: A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. R. Tosey
  • Patent number: 8020114
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes input handling to provide enter-then-act capability for user inputs. User inputs are received, and a set of one or more secondary applications are executed using the input. A priority rating may then be calculated for each of the one or more secondary applications in the set, the priority rating indicating how pertinent the input was to a corresponding application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Peter Robert Tosey
  • Publication number: 20110199901
    Abstract: The present technology provides a method and apparatus for managing communications in a wireless communication system. The method and apparatus evaluate one or more network traffic levels, each network traffic level associated with a respective network sector, and submit access-configuration messages in one or more network sectors when the evaluated network traffic level of a particular network sector has a predetermined relation to the traffic threshold for that particular network sector. The access-configuration messages are configured to shift one or more of wireless devices into one or more predetermined operational conditions. The present technology further provides corresponding wireless devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Kavanaugh, Gustav Gerald Vos
  • Patent number: 7986263
    Abstract: The present invention provides a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver apparatus, such as a GPS receiver, operable with a host computer system equipped with a real time clock configured to provide a time signal to the GNSS receiver apparatus. The time signal is used to facilitate acquisition of navigation and global timing information through observation of satellite signals. The global timing information is used to adjust the time signal and/or the real time clock to improve subsequent acquisitions of navigation and global timing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Maddock Smith
  • Patent number: 7958198
    Abstract: Redirecting a notification to a wireless user device includes registering for notification of incoming messages for an account on a message server, the incoming messages being directed to an account on the message server. The redirecting also includes receiving at least one notification and redirecting the at least one notification through a firewall to a wireless user device associated with the account. The remote message server is in communication with a network protected by the firewall. According to one aspect, a cradle is configured to perform the redirection. According to another aspect, the cradle is associated with a remote desktop computer in communication with the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Peter Robert Tosey
  • Patent number: 7952528
    Abstract: A duplex antenna system includes first and second antenna portions that are at least partially separated by a gap, a first feed line coupled to the first antenna portion, the first feed line being overlapped by the gap and the second antenna portion, and a second feed line coupled to the second antenna portion, the second feed line being overlapped by the gap and the first antenna portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Nysen
  • Patent number: 7924767
    Abstract: A host interface protocol and a control and status protocol for use with host unit and a wireless communication unit are described. The host interface protocol allows for multiplexing between data transfer messages and control and status messages. In a preferred embodiment, the control and status message protocol supports messages that can be a message payload of a host interface protocol payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Riley Steve Hoyt
  • Publication number: 20110076873
    Abstract: The present invention provides a computer port interface apparatus having a compound swivel. The apparatus comprises: a computer port connecter portion configured for mated coupling with a computer port, a compound swivel portion, and a peripheral portion operatively coupled to the computer port connector portion. The peripheral portion may include an integral peripheral device or a connector for mated coupling with a device. The computer port connector portion and peripheral portion extend at angles from opposing ends of the compound swivel portion. The compound swivel portion comprises two or more swivels in series. Each swivel is operatively coupled to a swivel stop assembly configured to limit relative rotation of the swivel to a predetermined range. Swivelling allows reorientation of the peripheral portion and a device coupled thereto to facilitate operation. Swivel stop assemblies protect portions of the apparatus and/or facilitate operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventor: Chistopher Vincent FONZO
  • Patent number: 7916090
    Abstract: A wireless communication device is configured to provide wireless communication to a host device when disposed in a mated position with the host device such that a housing of the wireless communication device extends a distance Lid from a face of the host device. The wireless communication device includes a transceiver, a controller in communication with the transceiver, and a modem in communication with the controller. The wireless communication device also includes a dipole antenna having a dipole effective current axis Ix for a selected wavelength ? in the mated position that is at a distance from the face of the host device that is in the range of about 0.09? to about 0.25?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Nysen
  • Publication number: 20110066842
    Abstract: A platform discrimination indication register is stored in a wireless network card. This register holds a platform discrimination indication that indicates whether the wireless network card can be used to transfer data with notebook computers or whether the wireless network card is restricted to transferring data from a personal digital assistant or defined set of restricted devices. The platform discrimination indication can be upgraded using a key value obtained from an Internet site. This key value is limited to a specific wireless network card because of the use of a unique electronic I.D. An Internet site encrypts the electronic I.D. to produce the first key, such as a platform activation key (PAK). This first key is then decrypted at the personal data device in order to obtain a unique calculated I.D. value. If the calculated I.D. value matches the electronic I.D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Wodzianek, Jody Crowther, Iulian Mocanu, Kirstin Gulbransen
  • Publication number: 20110029630
    Abstract: Redirecting a notification to a wireless user device includes registering for notification of incoming messages for an account on a message server, the incoming messages being directed to an account on the message server. The redirecting also includes receiving at least one notification and redirecting the at least one notification through a firewall to a wireless user device associated with the account. The remote message server is in communication with a network protected by the firewall. According to one aspect, a cradle is configured to perform the redirection. According to another aspect, the cradle is associated with a remote desktop computer in communication with the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Peter Robert Tosey
  • Patent number: D638001
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahsa Nakhjiri, Christopher Vincent Fonzo, Paul A. Nysen
  • Patent number: D645869
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: James Hathway, Randy Wilfred Hackbart, Matthew Plested, Hugo Martin, Tan Tran, Gus Desbarats