Patents Assigned to Sprint Communication Cômpany L.P.
  • Patent number: 9235865
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for using social information to determine influencers amongst a group of subscribers subscribing to services offered by a wireless-service carrier. A group of subscribers is identified, and a level of social-connectedness for each subscriber is determined based on cliques shared by pairs of subscribers and common friends shared by pairs of subscribers. An overall influence score is generated for each subscriber based on the level of social-connectedness. A set of subscribers is identified as having high influence scores; the set of subscribers comprises influencers. Incentives are provided to the set of subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Yi Wang, Phyllis Reuther
  • Patent number: 9232420
    Abstract: A method provides automated testing of a network. The method comprises controlling an originating mobile communication device by a server and commanding origination of a call from the originating mobile communication device to a destination communication device. The call is associated with a raw call detail record that is unprocessed. The raw call detail record is monitored on a raw call detail record storage. The method also comprises confirming the raw call detail record accounts for origination of the call from the originating mobile communication device. The destination communication device is controlled by the server, and control is confirmed based on a communication log. The method captures the confirmation that the raw call detail record accounts for the origination of the call and the confirmation that the destination communication device is controlled by the server. Based analysis of the captured confirmations, a baseline metric of expected test results is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Tetteh Akiti
  • Patent number: 9230085
    Abstract: A method of executing a trusted application on a trusted security zone enabled electronic device. The method comprises responsive to a trusted security subzone not being provisioned on the electronic device, generating, by a server, a temporary trust token, transmitting the temporary trust token to the electronic device, and comparing the temporary trust token with a plurality of trust tokens stored in the electronic device to determine the trustworthiness of the temporary trust token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle W. Paczkowski, William M. Parsel, Carl J. Persson, Matthew C. Schlesener
  • Patent number: 9223467
    Abstract: Desired portions of a background image presented on a mobile device are prioritized for viewability. The background image, which includes desired feature components, is presented on a display of the mobile device. The desired feature components are identified from the background image. A user interface that includes an indication of the desired feature components is presented on the mobile device. One or more icon images are presented in accordance with the prioritization of the desired feature components of the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Shane Jeremy Landry
  • Patent number: 9226141
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for identifying and managing wireless devices that are performing tethering services are described. The system may include a database and server. The database stores records of services subscribed by wireless devices in a wireless network. The server may poll the database to generate a list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to a tethering service. In turn, the server receives notification messages from each wireless device that is tethering at least one other network element. The wireless devices are identified as unauthorized by the server when the notification message indicates existence of a configured network address translation table at the wireless device and the wireless device is located on the list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to the tethering service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Daniel Alberto Vivanco
  • Patent number: 9226258
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for deriving a wireless device location from base station signaling. In a particular embodiment, a method provides monitoring signaling transmitted by a base station serving a plurality of wireless communication devices. The method further provides identifying a wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices from the signaling and identifying an active set carried in the signaling that is associated with the wireless communication device. The method further provides determining a location of the wireless communication device based on the active set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kosol Jintaseranee, Phyllis J. Reuther
  • Patent number: 9226133
    Abstract: A method for managing device profiles is provided. The method comprises adding at least one alternative primary profile to a memory module at an alternative address different from a main address of a main primary profile. The method further comprises modifying a pointer that points to an address in the memory module from which a profile is retrieved such that the pointer points to the alternative address. The main primary profile comprises a main device identifier and a main authentication key, and the alternative primary profile comprises an alternative device identifier and an alternative authentication key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert L. Spanel, Robert E. Urbanek
  • Patent number: 9226321
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer-readable media for initiating an emergency mode are provided. Emergency modes may be initiated from mobile devices in an accessible manner while still avoiding accidental actuation as a common occurrence. Some devices are simplified to the level of only having a single button so it may be quite difficult to dial a number (as there is no dial pad). In particular, it may be quite difficult to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency situation. Further, if only a single action is required in order to initiate an emergency mode on any user device, accidental actuation may become quite common. To combat this, a sequence of actions may be used such that accidental actuation is avoided and emergency modes are still accessible on user devices without dial pad functionality. In particular, a simultaneous push/pull action may initiate an emergency mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Justin Eddings, Corinne June Fitch, Jeremy Jackson Haney, Kevin Lee Staples
  • Patent number: 9226145
    Abstract: A mobile communication device. The mobile communication device comprises a verification application, when executed by a trusted security zone portion of the processor, examines an integrity of a preloaded open mobile alliance (OMA) device management (DM) payload, wherein a security key in the OMA DM payload is compared with a security key stored in the trusted security zone to determine the integrity of the OMA DM payload and to determine the state of a preloaded first operating system from a first network. The verification application further verifies the identification of the mobile communication device, transmits information comprising the security key in the trusted security zone to a server to verify network provisioning of the mobile communication device, and changes the toggle key based on the verification results, whereby asset migration between network carriers is achieved and unauthorized activities are avoided while security keys are kept confidential to individual carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Clint H. Loman, Lyle W. Paczkowski, Robert L. Spanel
  • Patent number: 9220000
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for transferring text messages are provided herein. A method includes indicating to a wireless communication device a temporary address number, receiving an instruction from a user of the wireless communication device to transfer a text message to a destination number using the temporary address number instead of a device number of the wireless communication device. The method also includes transferring the text message for delivery to the destination number, receiving a response text message from the destination number indicating the temporary address number as a response destination number, and transferring the response text message for delivery to the routing node associated with the temporary address number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Simon Youngs, Gary Duane Koller, Mark Douglas Peden, Raymond Emilio Reeves
  • Patent number: 9220011
    Abstract: A mobile communication device that detects and responds to theft is disclosed. The mobile communication device comprises at least a cellular radio transceiver, a processor, a memory, wherein the memory comprises a user partition and a system partition, and an operating system kernel stored in the system partition of the memory. When executed by the processor, the operating system kernel prevents unprivileged users from accessing the system partition and determines a theft status of the mobile communication device or of at least one hardware component of the mobile communication device. When a theft status is determined, the operating system kernel performs at least one theft response selected from preventing boot-up of the mobile communication device, sending a message via the cellular radio transceiver, commanding presentation of a theft alert message on a display of the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon C. Annan, John E. Belser, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Patent number: 9220033
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for operating a wireless base station with dynamic pilot signals. In one example, a method of operating a wireless base station includes transmitting a first pilot signal at a first pilot frequency centered in a frequency band, wirelessly receiving first user data using a first filter configuration to pass energy within the frequency band, and detecting a network condition. The method further includes, in response to detecting the network condition, terminating transmission of the first pilot signal, and transmitting second and third pilot signals at second and third frequencies. The method also includes wirelessly receiving second user data using a second filter configuration, and wirelessly receiving third user data using a third filter configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Bales, Maneesh Gauba, Paul Jacob Sterchi, Sreekar Marupaduga
  • Patent number: 9219592
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for operating a wireless communication system to predict loading on a wireless access node are provided herein. In one example, a method includes allocating past wireless communication usage in a geographic area served by the wireless access node among different wireless communication device types, identifying a growth metric for each of the wireless communication device types based on past device sales in a geographic region larger than the geographic area, and applying the growth metric for each of the wireless communication device types to the past communication usage allocated to each of the wireless communication device types to predict future communication usage for each of the wireless communication device types at the wireless access node. The method also includes aggregating the predicted future communication usage loading for each of the wireless communication device types to predict the future loading on the wireless access node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Cheryl Marie Nichols, Seng Chai Gan
  • Patent number: 9215572
    Abstract: A system is provided for mobile device alternative text messaging. The system includes a processor, a memory, and a messaging component stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the messaging component receives a first text message sent by a first originator device via a first mobile directory number associated with a mobile device, sends a second text message to the first originator device via the first mobile directory number, receives a third text message sent by a second originator device via a second mobile directory number associated with the mobile device, and sends a fourth text message to the second originator device via the second mobile directory number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael A. Gailloux, Kenneth W. Samson
  • Patent number: 9213931
    Abstract: A method of enhancing a matrix barcode with environment image. The method comprises generating, by a server, an original matrix barcode based on source information, capturing, by a camera, an image of the original matrix barcode in a graphic environment comprising the matrix barcode and at least part of the graphic environment information, and parsing the image to obtain the source information and the at least part of the graphic environment information. The method further comprises generating a key based on the at least part of the graphic environment information, encrypting the source information with the key to obtain encrypted source information, encoding the encrypted source information into a first matrix barcode, and encoding the key into a key matrix barcode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon C. Annan, Joshua R. Cole, Deborah M. Gilbert, Dhananjay Indurkar
  • Patent number: 9214981
    Abstract: A switching device and a method and medium for using the switching device are provided. The switching device is associated with a remote radio unit (RRU) and an antenna of a base station and comprises a plurality of switching cables arranged in predetermined configurations including a single-layer beam forming configuration, a dual-layer beam forming configuration, and a MIMO configuration. In response to inputs received from UEs served by the base station, the switching device can implement the configuration best-suited to target the UEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Sungki Park, Brent Scott, Saied Kazeminejad, Brett Christian, Senthil K. Veeraragavan
  • Patent number: 9215180
    Abstract: A method of transmitting digital content via a communication network. The method comprises receiving by a computer a request for a uniform resource identifier (URI), determining by a computer based on the request for the uniform resource identifier a communication service provider associated with a communication device, and when the communication service provider is affiliated with a digital content custom delivery offer building system, transmitting by a computer an image file to be presented by the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Stephen J. Bye, Daniel J. Sershen
  • Patent number: 9210600
    Abstract: A system for managing a cellular wireless communication network. The system comprises a data store that comprises cellular wireless communication performance metrics, a computer, and an application that is stored in a non-transitory memory of the computer and executed by the computer. The application receives a selection of base transceiver stations, retrieves metrics associated with the selected base transceiver stations from the data store, analyzes the metrics associated with the selected base transceiver stations, identifies a low usage base transceiver station that is one of the selected base transceiver stations, wherein the low usage base transceiver station is associated with a usage that is less than a predefined usage threshold, determines an average of an at least one metric based on the metrics of the selected base transceiver stations excluding the low usage base transceiver station, and transmits the average of the at least one metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Jadunandan, Shane A. Lobo, Drew A. Shinholster, Jr., Jeff Stamborski
  • Patent number: 9208293
    Abstract: A method of authenticating a content reference that is related to a public information display to reduce third party interference with the content reference is provided. The method comprises reading information from a tag, the information including a content reference, wirelessly transmitting the information, and comparing the information with authentication information associated with the content reference. The content reference identifies a content. The method also comprises sending an authentication result, wherein the authentication result is based on the comparing, and requesting the content when the authentication result is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9209853
    Abstract: A switching device and a method and medium of using the switching device are provided. The switching device is positioned between a remote radio unit (RRU) and an antenna on a base station. The switching device utilizes a plurality of switching cables to couple each radio port of the RRU to each of the antenna ports associated with the antenna. The switching device further comprises one or more switching units that are used to selectively communicatively couple one of the RRU's radio ports to one of the antenna ports using at least one of the switching cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Greg Nohalty, Maneesh Gauba, Stephen R. Bales