Patents Assigned to Sprint Communication Company L.P.
  • Patent number: 9985866
    Abstract: A Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software Defined Network (SDN) performs a network task. An NFV management system processes Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify the network task and to direct an NFV orchestration system to install a virtual Probe (vProbe) with filter criteria to collect additional KPIs for the network task. The NFV orchestration system directs an NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) to install the vProbe. The vProbe sends the filter criteria to a virtual Switch (vSW) in the NFVI, and the vSW applies the filter criteria to Virtual Network Function (VNF) traffic and transfers the filtered data to the vProbe. The vProbe processes the filtered data to generate the additional KPIs for the NFV management system. The NFV management system processes the additional KPIs to perform the network task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Arun Rajagopal, Marouane Balmakhtar, Carl Joseph Persson
  • Patent number: 9986513
    Abstract: A wireless access point dynamically controls Device-to-Device (D2D) transmission power. The wireless access point exchanges wireless communications with a plurality of User Equipment (UEs) comprising Device-to-Base Station (D2BS) UEs and D2D UEs, determines geographical locations for each of the D2BS UEs and the D2D UEs, and processes the geographical locations for each of the D2BS UEs and the D2D UEs with a neighbor distance threshold to identify which of the D2BS UEs neighbors the D2D UEs and which of the D2BS UEs do not neighbor the D2D UEs. The wireless access point monitors a Radio Frequency (RF) interference for the neighbor D2BS UEs and the non-neighbor D2BS UEs, determines that a difference between the RF interference of the neighbor UEs and the non-neighbor D2BS UEs is above an RF interference threshold, and transmits an instruction to the D2D UEs neighboring the neighbor D2BS UEs to decrease a transmission power amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Chunmei Liu, Pratik Kothari, Krishna D. Sitaram, Hemanth Balaji Pawar
  • Patent number: 9985938
    Abstract: A wireless communication device controls access to a geographically-distributed Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network. The wireless communication device graphically presents WiFi network data to receive user selections of multiple WiFi access systems, a network name, and a user password. The wireless communication device receives configuration data that associates broadcast identification signals for the WiFi access systems with the network name. The wireless communication device detects a broadcast identification signal for one of the WiFi access systems and responsively presents the network name and a password prompt to receive the user password. The wireless communication device transfers the network name and the user password to the WiFi access system, and in response, the wireless communication device exchanges user data over the WiFi access system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: John M. Gatewood, Lee Alan Schnitzer, Sharon L. Woodrum, Bhanu Prakash Voruganti
  • Patent number: 9984395
    Abstract: A method for proxying an advertisement content between a content source provider and an electronic device comprises receiving, at an advertisement gateway, an advertisement from an advertisement provider server, determining at least one content source reference in the advertisement identifies a content source provider, embedding the at least one content source reference as a parameter in the advertisement, rewriting the at least one content source reference from the content source provider to a proxy reference identifying the advertisement gateway, creating a modified advertisement based on the embedding and the rewriting, sending the modified advertisement to an electronic device, receiving a content request message from the electronic device based on the proxy reference that identifies the at least one content source reference, retrieving the content from the content source provider using the at least one content source reference, and providing the content to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, Geoffrey A. Holmes, Richard A. Rofail
  • Patent number: 9986414
    Abstract: Ways for performing servicing a service request from a communications device that is normally associated with a first domain are disclosed. An illustrative method includes dynamically assigning a CSCF (Call Session Control Function) associated with a second domain to receive service requests from the device in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) networking environment, receiving the requests by way of the dynamically assigned CSCF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Mangal, Jeremy R. Breau, Frederick C. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9986487
    Abstract: A donor base station in a wireless communication network exchanges first user data with a wireless relay using a standard communication throughput. A relay control system in the wireless communication network exchanges data with the wireless relay over the donor base station and the neighboring base station. The relay control system detects Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) between the wireless relay and the neighboring base station and in response, the relay control system identifies the donor base station serving the wireless relay and signaling the donor base station of the ICIC between the wireless relay and the neighboring base station. The donor base station receives the signaling and reduces the standard communication throughput of the wireless relay. The donor base station then exchanges second user data with the wireless relay using the reduced communication throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Siddharth Oroskar, Jasinder Pal Singh, Nitesh Manchanda, Vanil Parihar
  • Patent number: 9985735
    Abstract: A broadcasting system having a transmitter that broadcasts a one-way signal is provided. The one-way signal is embedded with data that is transmitted to a device that is enabled with near field communication (NFC) technology. The NFC-enabled device may then transfer at least a portion of the transmitted embedded data to another NFC-enabled device by bringing the NFC-enabled devices into close proximity to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9980144
    Abstract: A wireless relay serves User Equipment (UE) with hardware-trusted wireless data communications over Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 links and Long Term Evolution (LTE) links. The wireless relay maintains hardware-trusted wireless backhaul links to a data network. The wireless relay broadcasts an IEEE 802.11 Service Set Identifier (SSID) and a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Network Identifier (NID). The UE wirelessly transfers a hardware-trusted attachment request using the 802.11 SSID or the LTE NID. The wireless relay validates hardware-trust of the UE, and in response, establishes a hardware-trusted attachment of the UE. The wireless relay exchanges user data with the UE using hardware-trusted circuitry. The wireless relay exchanges the user data over hardware-trusted wireless backhaul links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle Walter Paczkowski, George Jason Schnellbacher
  • Patent number: 9977914
    Abstract: An electronic device. The electronic device comprises a memory comprising a confidential information region and a non-confidential information region, a processor, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application determines if a reboot has occurred after a most recent power-off boot, where a reboot takes place without removing power from the processor and memory and, in response to determining that the reboot occurred after the most recent power-off boot, prevents access of applications to the confidential information region in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle W. Paczkowski, William M. Parsel, Carl J. Persson, Matthew C. Schlesener
  • Patent number: 9979790
    Abstract: A Long Term Evolution (LTE) data communication network to route Vehicle-to-X (V2X) data communications. The LTE communication network includes an LTE network central core and distributed LTE network cores individually connected to LTE network agents. The LTE communication network further includes a wireless base station receiving V2X service data individually associating the distributed LTE network cores and the LTE network agents with multiple V2X service types; and receiving user communication data identifying one of the V2X service types from the vehicle UE. If the identified V2X service type is associated with one of the LTE network agents, then the wireless base station transfers the user communication data to the associated distributed LTE network core for delivery to the associated one of the LTE network agents. If the identified V2X service type is not associated with one of the LTE network agents, then the wireless base station transfers the user communication data to the LTE network central core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Sunyong Park
  • Patent number: 9979562
    Abstract: A Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE) determines an enhanced communication requirement. In response, the LTE UE determines one or more Network Function Virtualization (NFV) requirements for an LTE network. The LTE UE wirelessly attaches to the LTE network. In response, LTE UE wirelessly transfers a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) file indicating the NFV requirements to the LTE network. The LTE UE receives and processes a second NAS file from the LTE network to determine if the LTE network can service the NFV requirements. If the LTE network can service the NFV requirements, then LTE UE wirelessly exchanges data over the LTE network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Marquardt, Lyle Walter Paczkowski, Arun Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 9978053
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided comprising a processor, a memory, a first radio transceiver, a second radio transceiver, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, receives a first rule associated with a first commercial promotion via the first radio transceiver. The application also determines, based on the first rule and information specific to the device, that the device is qualified to exercise a right associated with the first commercial promotion. The application also transmits to a server via the first radio transceiver a message indicating that the device has qualified to exercise the right associated with the first commercial promotion and associating a code with the first commercial promotion. The application also completes a payment transaction for one of a product or a service via the second radio transceiver, wherein the payment transaction comprises transmitting the code associated with the first commercial promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9979699
    Abstract: A system for establishing a trusted end-to-end communication link between different NFV networks is disclosed. The system comprises a server operating in a trusted security zone and configured to generate and send a trust ticket, a communication request, and disable communication with the first NFV network. The system further comprises a virtual machine executing virtualized network functions and a session border controller. The session border controller is configured to receive the trust ticket, request, and trusted data from the first server; transmit the trust ticket and request to a second session border controller, wherein the trust ticket and request are transmitted to a second server associated with a second NFV network, and receive a response and second trust ticket from the second NFV network, compare the first and second trust ticket for compatibility, and transmit the trusted data if the trust tickets are compatible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ronald R. Marquardt, Lyle W. Paczkowski, Arun Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 9973997
    Abstract: A data communication network to provide network access data sets for User Equipment (UE) selection of a wireless relay. The wireless relays transfer relay status data to a network control system. The network control system processes the relay status data to generate network access data sets for the wireless relays and transfers the individual network access data sets for delivery to the wireless relays. The wireless relays receive their individual network access data sets and wirelessly broadcast relay Long Term Evolution (LTE) System Information Blocks (SIBs) indicating their individual network access data sets. The wireless relays receive wireless UE attachments responsive to the relay LTE SIB broadcasts of the individual network access data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: G. Murat Karabulut, Zheng Fang, Dennis R. Canoy
  • Patent number: 9973910
    Abstract: A method of mobile content distribution. The method comprises receiving requests to provide mobile content to a mobile communication device by an application executing on a computer system, where each request comprises a user identity, looking up profile information by the application based on the user identity, and evaluating the profile information by the application according to a Boolean rule, where each rule defines a plurality of conditions for satisfying the rule in terms of three or more of gender, location, identity of a mobile application installed on a mobile communication device, age category, and identity of a mobile communication device model. The method further comprises, for a content request that evaluates true in the Boolean rule, scoring the profile information according to a model and sending mobile content to a mobile communication device associated with the profile information whose score exceeds a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Prashanth Dannamaneni, Matthew Habiger
  • Patent number: 9971637
    Abstract: A data distribution computer system. The system comprises a data store, a non-transitory memory, a processor, and a data propagation application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the application initiates execution of a plurality of data propagation agents in a restricted runtime environment and provides information to the agents identifying data that is available in the data store via a discovery application programming interface (API). The application further provides data from the data store to the agents via a data access API, where the data propagation application manages the scheduling of the agents and restricts the data in the data store that is propagated to the agents based on an access policy for each agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Geoffrey A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 9973256
    Abstract: A Relay Gateway (R-GW) proxies Long Term Evolution (LTE) signaling in a network core for wireless relays that serve mobile User Equipment (UE). The R-GW receives relay-originated LTE signaling from the wireless relays through a data gateway system in the network core. The R-GW transfers the relay-originated LTE signaling to a UE control system in the network core. The R-GW receives core-originated LTE signaling that was transferred by the UE control system in the network core. The R-GW transfers the core-originated LTE signaling to the data gateway system for delivery to the wireless relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Zheng Fang
  • Patent number: 9973371
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media are described for allowing a user to request a version of a website. In one embodiment, a user interface is provided that allows the user to specify the version of the website. The request is sent to the web server hosting the website. The web server retrieves the requested version of the website and transmits it to the requesting web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Piyush X. Upadhyay, Badri P. Subramanyah, John W. Davis, Ayodeji Abidogun, Lyle T. Bertz
  • Patent number: 9973952
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE). The UE comprises a client application that presents prompts to guide a user through inputting a personal quality metric definition, transmits personal quality metric definition inputs via the radio transceiver, creates data based on wireless communication service experienced by the UE, transmits the performance data to one of a server application or a data store, receives a personal quality metric from the server application, where the personal quality metric represents the quality of wireless communication service received by the UE based on the quality metric definition inputs and performance data transmitted by the UE to the server application or the data store and based on the performance data transmitted by other UEs to one of the server application or the data store, and presents the personal quality metric on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communication Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ali Reza Hosseinmostafa, Dwight D. Inman, Raymond E. Reeves
  • Patent number: 9971683
    Abstract: A method of automatic memory management on a group of servers, the group of servers operably coupled to a coordinating program. The method comprises a first server of the group of servers performing garbage collection, the coordinating program performing an analysis on the group of servers, and, based on the analysis, the coordinating program determining a feasibility of having a second server performing garbage collection during a time when the first server is performing garbage collection without degrading a service provided by the group of servers. The method further comprises, responsive to the coordinating program determining that the second server can perform garbage collection during the time that the first server is performing garbage collection without degrading the service provided by the group of servers, the coordinating program commanding the second server to perform garbage collection when the first server is also performing garbage collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy L. Bell, Wayne W. Schroeder