Patents Assigned to Sprint Communications Company
  • Patent number: 11678176
    Abstract: A mechanism for sharing electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) credentials between two mobile communication devices is described. This includes establishing, by a source user equipment (UE) comprising a first of the mobile communication devices, a data connection with a subscription manager data preparation (SMDP+) server associated with eSIM credentials stored at the source UE. The source UE notifies the SMDP+ server of an intent to transfer the eSIM credentials. The source UE receives metadata describing an activation code containing identification data for the eSIM credentials. The source UE forwards the activation code to a destination UE comprising a second of the mobile communication devices. The activation code is forwarded to support a download of the eSIM credentials to the destination UE from the SMDP+ server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Philip W. Uehling, Ryan P. Dreiling, Balasubramaniam Guru
  • Patent number: 11659366
    Abstract: A method for providing data to a user comprising communicating, from a radio access network to a Minimization of Drive Tests (“MDT”)-channel-communicative sensor device, at least one MDT signal selected from the group consisting of an MDT configuration signal and an MDT control signal. The method also comprises generating, at least in part in response to the MDT signal and using an onboard sensor of the MDT-channel-communicative sensor device, sensor data comprising non-MDT data. The method also comprises receiving at least a portion of the sensor data into the radio access network over an MDT channel and communicating at least the portion of the sensor data from the radio access network to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Zheng Fang, Matthew J. Starzec
  • Patent number: 11653202
    Abstract: A method for edge network authentication and access, implemented by an edge server, including receiving user equipment (UE) information from an application client executed on a UE to establish a connection between the edge server and the UE, verifying whether the UE has authorization to the local access point name (APN) based on the UE information, generating a session key when the UE has authorization to the local APN, sending the session key to the UE, receiving a request to access content of an application on a content server from the UE, decrypting the information to obtain a key, comparing the key with the application key to validate the UE, verifying identifiers of the UE when the UE is valid, identifying the application on the content server to obtain the content based on the request, encrypting and sending a session identifier to the UE based on a new application key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Marouane Balmakhtar, Galip Murat Karabulut
  • Patent number: 11632738
    Abstract: A method of data communication service to a wireless communication device, comprising receiving a first communication session initiation message by a communication gateway from a wireless communication device, wherein the first communication session initiation message provides no access point name (APN) or provides a default APN, based on the first communication session initiation message providing no APN or providing a default APN, sending the first communication session initiation message by the communication gateway to an APN allocation server, parsing the first communication session initiation message by the APN allocation server to determine a destination identity of the first communication session initiation message and to determine an identity of the wireless communication device, looking up a communication policy by the APN allocation server, looking up by the APN allocation server an APN associated with the communication policy, sending the APN by the APN allocation server to the wireless communicati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Dhananjay Indurkar
  • Patent number: 11611861
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of gathering data from a wireless data device that is not connected to the internet using a mobile device like a phone, laptop, or tablet. The wireless data device signals an device monitoring application on the smartphone to connect. The device monitoring application and the wireless data device trade passwords to establish a secure wireless connection. The data is sent from the wireless data device to the smartphone and stored in memory. The device monitoring application connects wirelessly to the internet through a cell tower. If cell service is not available, the device monitoring application waits till cell service is available to connect to the internet. The device monitoring application on the smartphone establishes a secure connection to a server located on the internet and sends the data to an device monitoring application executing on the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Samson
  • Patent number: 11574332
    Abstract: A method of generating and using a 2D barcode to provide an authenticated service subscriber with an adapted offer comprising monitoring and identifying, by a monitoring application associated with a first service provider, a social network for keywords related to a negative subscriber interaction with a second service provider; engaging a subscriber associated with the negative interaction by the first service provider; generating a one-time use 2D barcode associated with an offer and comprising embedded subscriber information; storing the barcode in a data store; sending the barcode to a mobile device; presenting and scanning the barcode; decoding the information by an offer application; authenticating the identity of the subscriber; adapting the offer based on the subscriber information; searching an inventory data store associated with a physical retail location of the first service provider; locating and presenting the adapted offer; and marking the barcode as expired in the barcode data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael A. Gailloux
  • Patent number: 11570253
    Abstract: A method of providing a user interface on a mobile communication device to control smart devices in an environment. The method comprises discovering a plurality of smart devices in an environment by a client application executing on a mobile communication device by initiating wireless communication between the mobile communication device and the plurality of smart devices, wherein the client application learns an electronic model identity of each of the discovered smart devices, communicating with a data store by the client application to look-up control interfaces of the discovered smart devices based on the electronic model identities of the smart devices, looking-up predefined environmental preferences associated with the mobile communication device in the data store by the client application, transmitting control commands by the client application to the plurality of smart devices based in part on the looked-up predefined environmental preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Galip Murat Karabulut, Joao Teixeira
  • Patent number: 11540345
    Abstract: A data connection recovery system is disclosed that includes a data connection management platform configured to monitor a status of a data connection of a wireless communication device with a wireless network. In response to a determination that the data connection is nonfunctional, the data connection management platform is configured to initiate a command to the wireless communication device via a control plane of the wireless network commanding the wireless communication device to switch to a different network slice in a user plane of the wireless network. The system also includes a remote device manager on the wireless communication device configured to receive the command and to initiate establishment of a new data connection with the wireless network via the different network slice in response to the command. The wireless communication device transmits data via the new data connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Lyle W. Paczkowski, William M. Parsel
  • Patent number: 11540112
    Abstract: A wireless communication network enforces a user policy for a User Equipment (UE) and directs another wireless communication network to enforce another user policy for another UE. In the wireless communication network, an Application Function (AF) receives the user policy from another AF in the other wireless communication network and transfers the user policy to the PCF. The PCF distributes the user policy to a Network Function (NF). The NF enforces the user policy. The PCF identifies the other user policy for the other UE and transfers the other user policy to the AF. The AF responsively transfers the other user policy to the other AF. The other AF transfers the other user policy to another PCF in the other wireless communication network. The other PCF distributes the other user policy to another NF in the other wireless communication network which enforces the other user policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Mark Richard Bales, Tracy Lee Nelson
  • Patent number: 11531649
    Abstract: A method for creating a link between hyperledger blocks by a block link server. The method comprises receiving by a block link server executing on a computer system a first link creation message from a first network element, the first link creation message comprising first block information comprising a first hyperledger identifier and a first block identifier, both associated with a first hyperledger, receiving by the block link server a second link creation message, comprising second block information comprising a second hyperledger identifier and a second block identifier, both associated with a second hyperledger, storing by the block link server a link data structure comprising the first block information and the second block information, and sending by the block link server a link identifier of the link data structure to the first network element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Ronald R. Marquardt, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 11528660
    Abstract: A wireless communication network serves User Equipment (UEs) over wireless network slices that comprise Network Exposure Functions (NEFs). The egress AF receives a slice request from an external data system and transfers the slice request to the NEF in the wireless network slice. An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) selects the wireless network slice for the UE. The UPF in the wireless network slice receives user data from the UE and transfers the user data to the ingress AF in the wireless network slice. The ingress AF transfers the user data to the NEF in the wireless network slice. The NEF transfers the user data to the egress AF in response to the slice request. The egress AF transfers the user data to the external data system in response to the slice request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP
    Inventor: Marouane Balmakhtar
  • Patent number: 11523271
    Abstract: A wireless communication network serves a User Equipment (UE) and exports UE capability data. A UE Capability Management Function (UCMF) receives the UE capability data and transfers the UE capability data to a Network Exposure Function (NEF). The NEF transfers the UE capability data to another wireless communication network. The UCMF receives additional UE capability data. The NEF receives a UE capability request for the UE from the other wireless communication network. In response, the NEF transfers the UE capability request for the UE to the UCMF. The UCMF transfers additional UE capability data to the NEF. The NEF transfers the additional UE capability data to the other wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Galip Murat Karabulut, Mark Richard Bales
  • Patent number: 11520749
    Abstract: A method of performing a virtual network function (VNF) is disclosed. The method comprises forking a user plane process on a computer by a VNF process that executes on the computer, forking a control plane process on the computer by VNF process, adding blocks to a user plane blockchain by the user plane process that record user plane events, and adding blocks to a control plane blockchain by the control plane process that record control plane events. The method also comprises creating a first information package by the user plane process based on the user plane blockchain, self-terminating by the user plane process while passing the first package of information to the VNF process, creating a second information package by the control plane process based on the control plane blockchain, and self-terminating by the control plane process while passing the second package of information to the VNF process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Marouane Balmakhtar, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 11516640
    Abstract: In a wireless communication network, Network Function (NF) circuitry determines an initial NF status and indicates the initial NF status to Network Exposure Function (NEF) circuitry. The NEF circuitry processes the initial NF status, and in response, determines an initial NF privilege based on the initial NF status and indicates the initial NF privilege to the NF circuitry. The NF circuitry delivers a wireless data service to a wireless User Equipment (UE) based on the initial NF privilege. The NF determines a current NF status and indicate the current NF status to the NEF circuitry. The NEF circuitry processes the current NF status, and in response, determines a current NF privilege based on the current NF status and indicates the current NF privilege to the NF circuitry. The NF circuitry delivers the wireless data service to the UE based the current NF privilege.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Marouane Balmakhtar, Lyle Walter Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 11516707
    Abstract: A cell site configured to perform group user equipment (UE) handoffs. The cell site comprises an application stored in a non-transitory memory that when executed by a processor of the cell site determines that a first UE is to be handed-off, determines that the first UE is a member of a UE group, wherein the UE group comprises the first UE and at least one other different UE, determines radio resources consumed by the UE group, identifies a second cell site that has sufficient idle radio resources to provide the radio resources consumed by the UE group, and sends a handoff message via the radio transceiver to the second cell site, wherein the handoff message identifies each of the UEs that are members of the UE group, whereby the plurality of UEs that are members of the UE group are handed-off as a group to the second cell site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP
    Inventors: Zheng Cai, Zheng Fang, David Zhijun Sun, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 11516676
    Abstract: A method of providing an electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) profile to a wireless communication device. The method comprises receiving an eSIM profile provisioning request by a subscription manager-data preparation+ (SM-DP+) server, wherein the provisioning request comprises an embedded UICC identifier (EID) number, a private identity code, and wireless communication service subscription information; building an eSIM profile package by the SM-DP+ server based in part on the wireless communication service subscription information, wherein the eSIM profile package comprises an eSIM profile, the EID number, and the private identity code; sending a notification of the availability of the eSIM profile by the SM-DP+ server to a subscription manager-discovery server (SM-DS server), wherein the notification comprises the EID number and the private identity code; and transmitting the eSIM profile package by the SM-DP+ server to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP
    Inventor: David William James Holmes
  • Patent number: 11516719
    Abstract: A wireless communication network controls handovers based on comparative Quality-of-Service (QoS). Wireless access nodes wirelessly deliver wireless data services that have QoS Flow Identifiers (QFIs). The wireless access nodes determine performance metrics for individual QFIs. A handover controller compares the performance metrics for source/target access node pairs on a per-QFI basis to determine QFI offsets for the QFIs and QFI combinations. The source access nodes select the QFI offsets that correspond to the QFIs used by the user device. The source access nodes apply the selected QFI offsets to target signal strengths to reject or perform the handovers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Sanghoon Sung
  • Patent number: 11516732
    Abstract: A method of provisioning an eUICC of a mobile communication device. The method comprises sending a GSMA confirm order request from an eUICC provisioning application executing on a computer system to a SM-DP+ server, wherein the confirm order comprises an ICCID and a FQDN of a discovery server; in response to receiving a GSMA confirm order response indicating a failure of the discovery server, determining by the eUICC provisioning application that a mobile communication device associated with the ICCID is configured with an LPA application that is able to complete an alternative eSIM profile provisioning process using a scanning device to capture an activation code; generating an activation code by the eUICC provisioning application that encodes an address of the SM-DP+ server and the ICCID; and sending the activation code by the eUICC provisioning application to an email account associated with a user of the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Ryan P. Dreiling, Balasubramaniam Guru, Rima Khurana, Philip W. Uehling
  • Patent number: 11510277
    Abstract: In radio circuitry, transceiver circuitry wirelessly exchanges data signals with wireless User Equipment (UEs). Radio Resource Control (RRC) circuitry receives individual subscriber data for individual ones of the UEs. The RRC circuitry transfers the individual subscriber data to Media Access Control (MAC) circuitry. The MAC circuitry selects individual Discontinuous Reception (DRX) duty cycles for the individual ones of the UEs based their individual subscriber data. The transceiver circuitry wirelessly exchanges subsequent data signals with the UEs using the selected individual DRX duty cycles for the individual ones of the UEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP
    Inventors: Sathyanarayanan Raghunathan, Muthukumaraswamy Sekar, Maheswaran Vijayakumar, Suresh Majjara
  • Patent number: D975309
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Julia Lea Gronewold, Joao Teixeira