Patents Assigned to Sierra Wireless
  • Publication number: 20120050109
    Abstract: An antenna system for a wireless device and a method for operating same are provided for controlling radiation characteristics of the antenna system. The antenna system includes first and second sets of feed points disposed so that first and second radiation pattern are generated by the antenna system when drive currents are provided at the first and second set of feed points, respectively. The second radiation pattern is different from the first radiation pattern. The first and second drive currents are supplied such that a predetermined overall radiation pattern is generated. The predetermined overall radiation pattern is at least in part a combination of the first radiation pattern and the second radiation pattern. The system and method may be directed toward SAR mitigation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Nysen, Todd Van Cleave
  • Patent number: 8121071
    Abstract: A gateway adapted to receive data from a device of a local area network is described herein. In some embodiments, the gateway may be adapted to multiplex received data to another device among multiple wide area networks, wherein at least one of the wide area networks is a wireless wide area network. The gateway may have a wireless wide area networking interface and at least one of one or more other wireless wide area networking interfaces and/or one or more wired wide area networking interfaces, the wired and/or wireless networking interfaces each adapted to transmit data to at least one of the multiple wide area networks. In other embodiments, the gateway may be adapted to transmit the received data to the other device through a preferred wide area network, and, if that network is unavailable or operating conditions determine otherwise, transmit the received data to the other device through a back-up wide area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless America, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Polson
  • Publication number: 20120042191
    Abstract: A method for managing execution by a processor of a software architecture included in a radiocommunication circuit is provided. The software architecture includes a radiocommunication software stack and at least one client application. The has the following steps, for a given frequency of the processor: a) obtaining a first computing power associated with the stack; b) obtaining a second computing power associated with the at least one client application; c) computing the sum of the first and second computing powers; d) comparing the sum with a predetermined threshold; e) detecting, based on the result of the comparison step, that the second computing power is insufficient for the processor to execute the at least one client application; and f) in the case of positive detection, restraining at least one functionality of the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS
    Inventors: Erwan Girard, Jacques Montes
  • Publication number: 20120040641
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring identity information for temporary use by a wireless device, visiting a foreign operator network, is provided. The wireless device is identified as foreign to the operator network and presented with an opportunity to download a temporary identity which is recognized by the operator network as belonging to a local subscriber. The temporary identity, once installed on the wireless device, makes the wireless device appear as a local subscriber. Upon termination of use, the temporary identity is returned to a pool and usable for another wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventor: Steven John Bennett
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110312323
    Abstract: A method is provided for locating a radiocommunication device in a radiocommunication network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells. The device comprises a radiocommunication module allowing reception of radiocommunication carriers. Each carrier is associated with a cell of the network and is defined by a frequency and a cell identifier. The module performs the following steps: obtaining initialization information comprising a predetermined list of N1 reference carriers; selecting N carrier(s) from among the N1 reference carriers; for each carrier selected, determining the cell identifier, termed the current cell identifier, associated with the selected carrier, on the basis of system information messages conveyed by the carrier; and obtaining an item of information regarding the location of the radiocommunication device, on the basis of the current cell identifier or identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS
    Inventors: Thierry Didi, Christophe Flechelle
  • 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: 20110292786
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for synchronizing a terminal with a frequency from an ordered initial sequence of frequencies of a radio-communications network. An available power spectrum associates to each frequency of the initial sequence a power value representing the power with which the frequency is received by the terminal. At least one first range of consecutive frequencies is determined within the initial sequence, having a power variation below a first predetermined threshold. The terminal attempts at least one first synchronization with a frequency of the first range. If each first synchronization fails, the terminal obtains a modified sequence by modifying the position of the frequency or frequencies of the at least one first range of the initial sequence or by eliminating the at least one first range. The terminal then attempts a second synchronization with at least one of the frequencies of the modified sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS
    Inventors: Ludovic Haessler, Christophe Fléchelle
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110194259
    Abstract: A device is provided for electromagnetic shielding an electronic component and for dissipating heat generated by the component. The component includes a package designed to be fastened to a first face of a printed circuit, called a rear face, by a heat sink, the heat sink passing through the rear face of the printed circuit and emerging on a second face of the printed circuit, called a front face. The device includes a metal structure mounted on the front face of the printed circuit and defining an electromagnetic shielding enclosure. The metal structure having a first heat discharge opening lying approximately opposite the heat sink. The device further includes at least one thermal connector, a first end of which is fastened to the metal structure and a second end of which is fastened to the heat sink and/or to the front face of the printed circuit near the heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Sierra Wireless
    Inventors: Jacques Goriaux, Alain Bironneau, Jean-Pierre Mauclerc
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110176625
    Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining a calibration frequency for calibrating a transmission chain that can transmit information signals on a frequency band comprising a plurality of channels. The chain includes an amplifier that can be configured according to at least one gain configuration. The method includes: obtaining an output power value of the amplifier; obtaining a frequency dispersion, based on the power value; detecting whether a constraint linked to said frequency dispersion is satisfied; and if the constraint is not satisfied, then obtaining a current frequency subband and a calibration frequency for said current frequency subband.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: SIERRA WIRELESS
    Inventors: Jacques Goriaux, Alain Bironneau, François Raymond
  • 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