Patents Assigned to Sprint Communication Cômpany L.P.
  • Patent number: 9032547
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for provisioning vehicle based digital rights management (DRM) for content delivered through a brought-in mobile device. Content may be delivered by the content provider to the vehicle via connection with the mobile device, wherein the content may be accessed using a computer system (or head unit) in the vehicle. Access to the content may be controlled or managed using a DRM package associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communication Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ricky A. Hohler, Robin Dale Katzer, Richard S. Morton, Ashish K. Singh
  • Publication number: 20150127839
    Abstract: Wireless communication systems may transfer communication status to a session icon that is displayed on a wireless communication device such as a smart phone, a tablet, a personal computer, a game console, a hand-held or wearable console, or other software processing device that has a wireless transceiver. A session quality server system obtains communication status data for a set of communication contacts. The session quality server system transfers the communication status data of the contact set over to the wireless communication device. Before a media session such as a voice call is established with a communication contact, the wireless communication device displays a session icon for that communication contact. The communication status of that contact is visually indicated in the session icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Trevor Daniel Shipley, Jason W. Rincker, Benjamin P. Blinn
  • Patent number: 9026354
    Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are provided to determine optimal locations at which it is suggested that a mobile device download portions of a map corresponding to an initial location and a destination location. A navigation server receives an indication of an initial location and a destination location from the mobile device and retrieves a map corresponding to a route between the two locations. A first download location is determined based on one or more of signal strength, a time of day that the map is likely to be downloaded, periods of known high saturation, a battery level of the mobile device, and/or a cost associated with roaming. Using one or more of these factors, the first download location is determined and is communicated to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Carl Persson, M. Jeffrey Stone, Woojae Lee, Cesar Perez
  • Patent number: 9026105
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for customizing the service for a mobile device via near field communication (NFC). A mobile device may comprise an activation application operable to complete a provisioning process on the mobile device to enable the device for service. The activation application may require provisioning data to be input by a user or operator of the mobile device, where provisioning data may comprise service provider information, service preference information, branding information, technical parameters, user credentials, and/or other parameters needed to customize service enablement of the mobile device, and may be communicated to the mobile device via near field communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Trevor Daniel Shipley, Robert L. Spanel
  • Patent number: 9025463
    Abstract: A system and method for intelligently managing wireless congestion in a wireless telecommunications network is provided. An ad-hoc device relay is built to communicate data from a mobile device in a congested coverage area to a base station in an uncongested coverage area. Embodiments of the invention optimize the relay through careful device selection and management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Adeel Mankee, Muhammad Saad Safiullah, Hassan Raza
  • Patent number: 9027102
    Abstract: A mobile access terminal providing access to data in a secure element of the mobile access terminal is provided. The mobile access terminal comprises the secure element; a web browser; a near field communications system; an over-the-air proxy; an application programming interface layer; and a web server residing on a secure storage area of the mobile access terminal, wherein the web browser is provided with exclusive access to the web server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robin Dale Katzer, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 9026157
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying frequency band interference based on a mobile device activity record. The mobile device activity record may include a plurality of frequencies used by the mobile device and for each frequency in the plurality of frequencies a geographic location where the frequency was used. The mobile device activity record is received and compared to a spectrum license record that lists an assigned frequency band for an assigned geographic location. The assigned frequency band and assigned geographic location may be licensed to a frequency carrier. It is determined that that a frequency band interference has occurred based on identifying a frequency in the mobile device activity record when, according to the spectrum license record, the frequency is not licensed to a frequency carrier for the mobile device, in the geographic location where the frequency was used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Falk, Michael P. McMullen, Darrin Christopher Mott, Julie Ann Hart
  • Publication number: 20150117193
    Abstract: A wireless access node and method for performing signaling aggregation for a plurality of User Equipment devices (UEs) through a hub UE are provided. The wireless access node in one example includes a communication transceiver configured to allocate traffic channels and signaling channels between the wireless access node and the plurality of UEs and a processing system configured to determine whether a signaling load exceeds a predetermined signaling load threshold, if the signaling load exceeds the predetermined signaling load threshold, then select a hub UE from among the plurality of UEs, with remaining UEs comprising one or more secondary UEs, allocate a plurality of traffic channels between the wireless access node and the hub UE, and relay all signaling for the one or more secondary UEs through the hub UE via signaling aggregation using one or more traffic channels of the plurality of traffic channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Sreekar Marupaduga, Rajveen Narendran, Andrew Mark Wurtenberger
  • Publication number: 20150119012
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method provides for receiving commands within a mobile communications application running on a mobile communication device. The method includes monitoring text entered into a text input region of a touchscreen keyboard module within a user interface on the mobile communication device for an interrupt code, and detecting an interrupt code. The method also includes determining a command from a plurality of commands, based on user inputs following the interrupt code, identifying an action from a plurality of actions corresponding to the plurality of commands, and initiating the action corresponding to the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: John Gatewood, Kenneth Wayne Samson, Bhanu Prakash Voruganti, Matthew P. Hund
  • Patent number: 9021598
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing application events are provided. In embodiments, a notifier is received that indicates a usage of an application installed on a user device and a date associated with the usage. A verification notifier is also received that verifies that the user device is registered in association with the application and indicates a date associated with the verification. The date associated with the usage and the date associated with the verification are compared to determine whether the dates occur within a predetermined time period relative to one another. In such a case, it might be determined that a provider of the application installed on the user device should be rewarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Duane Myers, Terry Gene Rayburn, Raymond Emilio Reeves, Ryan Alan Wick
  • Patent number: 9021527
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating initiation of communication actions in accordance with cable attributes. In one embodiment, cable attributes are referenced that indicate utilization of a cable device at a time a communication event is directed to a user device. The user device and the cable device may be associated with the same user. Communication actions to apply in accordance with the communication event are determined based on at least one of the cable attributes. Thereafter, the communication actions are initiated, for example, such that a user is provided with an indication of the communication event visually via the cable device and/or audibly via the user device, depending on the particular cable attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Wen Xue, Jay Douglas Cole, Talat Jamshidi, Sharon Lynn Woodrum, Philip Martin Kunkel
  • Patent number: 9020509
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for dynamically changing Qrxlevmin and Sintrasearch values in a LTE network. An eNodeB sets the Qrxlevmin and Sintrasearch values for each mobile device. The Qrxlevmin value and Sintrasearch value are changed based on RF conditions and a velocity of the mobile device. A lower Qrxlevmin value coupled with a higher Sintrasearch value increases a search period to locate better performing neighboring cells and reduces the chance of handing down from the LTE network to a non-LTE network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Sreekar Marupaduga, Nicholas David Caola Kullman, Rajveen Narendran, Andrew Mark Wurtenberger
  • Patent number: 9021585
    Abstract: A method of configuring a trusted security zone into a portable electronic device. The method comprises executing instructions on a processor of the portable electronic device that determine the state of a JTAG (JTAG) port of the portable electronic device, if the JTAG port is determined to be enabled, executing instructions on the processor preventing configuration of the trusted security zone into the portable electronic device, and if the JTAG port is determined to be disabled, configuring the trusted security zone into the portable electronic device, whereby a vulnerability to hacking the trusted security zone via an enabled JTAG port is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle W. Paczkowski, William M. Parsel, Carl J. Persson, Matthew C. Schlesener
  • Patent number: 9019820
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for optimizing voice services are provided. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is an algorithm that implements fast retransmissions of lost blocks or packets of data. HARQ is an error correcting algorithm. Data may be lost at any layer of a protocol stack, thus, increasing a retransmission rate. In order to reduce the retransmission rate and increase quality of voice services, HARQ may be implemented at each layer of a protocol stack based on, for example, radio frequency signal and retransmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Sreekar Marupaduga, Nicholas David Caola Kullman
  • Patent number: 9020533
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and software are provided to provide location services to a mobile device. In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving a call request (including a caller identification) for a call from a mobile device, and determining if the call qualifies for a status update based on the caller identification. In response to determining that the call qualifies for a status update, the method also comprises receiving a location of the mobile device, determining the identity of a mobile unit that is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and initiating a location request of the mobile unit, receiving a location of the mobile unit in response to the location request, and providing status information based on the location of the mobile unit and the location of the mobile device to a user of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Dominick Mangiardi, Abdolreza Asghari, Mark J. Bonn, ShouJei Cheng, James D. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20150111564
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods and systems for provisioning and/or customizing a mobile device. After a mobile device is purchased by a user, custom settings and information (or customization content) may be delivered to or accessed on the mobile device. In some embodiments, the customization content may be pre-loaded onto the device and access via a uniform resource identifier (or URI) string. In other embodiments, the customization content may be accessed from a remotely hosted location via a uniform resource locator (or URL) string. Additionally, customization content may be accessed via a combination of the above methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Robert E. Urbanek
  • Publication number: 20150111565
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods and systems for provisioning and/or customizing a mobile device. A method may comprise receiving a provisioning payload to the mobile device, wherein the payload comprises one or more file locator. The file locator(s) may comprise a uniform resource identifier (URI) string and/or a uniform resource locator (URL) string. The method may further comprise accessing pre-loaded customization content based on a URI string, wherein the URI string directs to one or more pre-loaded customization content items on the mobile device. Alternatively, the method may comprise accessing a remotely hosted location based on at least one of the URL strings, and downloading customization content to the mobile device from the remotely hosted location. Additionally, a combination or URI strings and URL strings may be used to access the customization content. Further, the method may comprise completing a customization process for the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Robert E. Urbanek
  • Patent number: 9015808
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for restricting mobile device services between an occurrence of an account change and an acquisition of a security code. The method includes recognizing that a low level of security is in effect in association with a user device, or a set of credentials associated therewith. In accordance with the low level of security, an indication is provided to restrict one or more services initially provided for the user device, or the set of credentials associated therewith. In addition, an indication is provided to initiate an authentication event. Performance of such an authentication event results in the user device, or the set of credentials associated therewith, obtaining a security code that results in application of an increased level of security in effect in association with the user device, or the set of credentials associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Gary Duane Koller, Raymond Emilio Reeves, Simon Youngs, Mark Douglas Peden
  • Patent number: 9014046
    Abstract: Media, systems, and methods for ensuring adequate data-processing capacity in a communications network are provided. An embodiment of the method includes identifying a communications resource to evaluate, determine a maximum capacity that the resource is capable of handling, projecting a capacity-exhaustion timeline, wherein the timeline includes time estimations that are adjusted by an adjusting factor that is based at least in part on an accuracy of prior projection estimates. Determining a more accurate capacity exhaustion timeline allows for more accurate comparison against a time required to add such capacity. Recommends to effect capacity additions can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Derek Michael Spain, Shun Calvin Lai, David Jason Gregory Butler, Randall Lee Rezac, Paul Aaron Woelk
  • Patent number: 9014669
    Abstract: A system configured to limit an un-provisioned mobile communication device from repeatedly failing to access a network. The system comprises an authorized activation application, a setting, wherein the setting is configured to limit access to a data connection to the authorized activation application, and a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to: maintain the data connection in an inactive state, prevent unauthorized applications from activating the data connection, activate the data connection in response to input from the authorized activation application, and attempt to connect to a network in response to the data connection in an active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Hassan Abou-El-Ella, John D. Sumler