Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Publication number: 20080125111
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for encapsulating upper layers of CDMA signaling messages between a multi-mode device and a signaling gateway. In an exemplary embodiment, a multi-mode device has a CDMA mode and a Wi-Fi mode. In Wi-Fi mode, the device generates an upper-layer portion of a CDMA signaling message. The device then encapsulates the first upper-layer portion in at least one packet-switched-protocol, such as SIP. The device then transmits the encapsulated upper-layer portion of the CDMA signaling message via a Wi-Fi network and a packet-switched network to a signaling gateway, which then translates the upper-layer portion into an SS7 message, and transmits the SS7 message over an SS7 network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
    Inventors: Dan Durig, Arun Santharam, Robert C. Lamb
  • Patent number: 7376091
    Abstract: A network access point can serve as a bridge between an 802.11 network and a cellular network. The network access point can receive packets from the 802.11 network and reformat the packets for transmission over the cellular network. Similarly, the network access point can receive packets from the cellular network and reformat them for transmission over the 802.11 network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Eccles, Jeffrey B. Danley
  • Patent number: 7373118
    Abstract: A wireless network may have a digital base station and a radio link converter unit. The digital base station may receive bearer data for each of a plurality of channels, establish control information for each of the plurality of channels, and output a digital signal that defines the bearer data and the control information. The radio link converter may receive the digital signal and extract from the control information, for instance, a power level for each of the plurality of channels and a modulation frequency. Based on the power level and the modulation frequency, the radio link converter may responsively generate an analog signal having a plurality of analog channels that defines the bearer data in the digital signal. The radio link converter may then output the analog signal to an antenna for transmission to a wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: John Pope
  • Patent number: 7369988
    Abstract: A method and system for voice enabled text entry. The method includes receiving a first user-entry with a communications device and creating a transient grammar set as a result of receiving the first user-entry, where the transient grammar set is based on the first user-entry. The method further includes providing an indication that the transient grammar set is created, the indication being provided using the communications device. The method still further includes receiving a second user-entry with the communications device and responsively selecting a text string from the transient grammar set, where the text string corresponds with the second user-entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Balaji S. Thenthiruperai, Clyde C. Heppner
  • Patent number: 7366516
    Abstract: A method is provided of targeting short message service (SMS) message for delivery to a mobile station. When an SMS center (SMSC) in a cellular network receives an SMS message and is to send it to a mobile station, the SMS center determines the location of the mobile station either directly or indirectly via a location register. The SMS center correlates that location with a particular base transceiver station serving that location. The SMS center then causes the SMS message to be delivered to the mobile station via that particular base transceiver station. The SMS center thus can avoid sending SMS messages to all base transceiver stations in a given area, thereby conserving network resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dae-Sik Oh, Thomas Steele, Kristin Hayne, Leo Anderson
  • Patent number: 7363059
    Abstract: A wireless terminal may present a graphical representation of telephone keys serially along at least one edge of the display screen. A user may indicate selection of one of the telephone keys. The wireless terminal may detect the selection of the one of the telephone keys and generate a signal corresponding to the one of the telephone keys selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Michael T. Lundy
  • Patent number: 7360210
    Abstract: A method and system for dynamically varying intermediation functions in a communication path between a content server and a client station. An intermediation system within the communication path receives an HTTP message and detects an intermediation-variance instruction within the message. In response, the intermediation system varies a default set of intermediation logic, such as by removing, changing or adding one or more intermediation triggers and/or intermediation actions. In turn, the intermediation system applies the variant intermediation logic in response to the HTTP message and/or in response to subsequent HTTP messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Vacanti, Martin Geddes, Todd M. Conley, David J. Anderson, Neil E. Lowrey
  • Patent number: 7356001
    Abstract: A private wireless network is able to provide wireless telecommunication services to subscriber mobile stations that also subscribe to a public wireless network. The private wireless network includes a private base transceiver station (BTS), a private mobile switching center (MSC), and a gateway service control point (SCP). The private BTS provides a private network wireless coverage area within which the mobile station can communicate with the base transceiver station over an air interface. The gateway SCP has a private network database containing private network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A private network data record includes a private network service profile and a private network locator address. The public wireless network has a home location register (HLR) with a public network database containing public network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A public network data record includes a public network service profile and a public network locator address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bryce A. Jones, Jason Delker, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7353001
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing beam selection in a mobile station. The mobile station determines that, using a currently selected beam, the mobile station would have to transmit at too high of a power level in order to maintain a balance between a forward link path and a reverse link path. The mobile station computes a transmit power on the currently selected beam and compares the computed transmit power to a predefined threshold value. If the computed transmit power exceeds the predefined threshold value, the mobile station may switch to another beam. Otherwise, the mobile station will stay with the current beam, regardless of whether the current beam has the highest receive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: John Cheong Wai Ngan
  • Patent number: 7349412
    Abstract: A method and system for distributing voice communication services via wireless local area networks. An entity sells, loans, gives or otherwise distributes wireless access points, each of which is pre-configured with virtual private network (VPN) security settings to establish a VPN tunnel over a packet network with a VPN terminator on a remote telephony services network. A recipient may thus install the wireless access point on a local area network (LAN), to allow users of voice-capable wireless devices to engage in voice calls via the wireless access point, VPN tunnel and telephony services network. The distributor of the access point, or another entity, may then charge users for placing and receiving voice calls through this system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bryce A. Jones, Jason R. A. Delker, John M. Everson
  • Patent number: 7336963
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering location information through a voice messaging system is provided. A mobile subscriber may be directed to a voice messaging system if a party is unavailable or chooses not to accept the call. The mobile subscriber may indicate to the voice messaging system that he would like to have his location information be made available to the party. The voice messaging system may contact a location system to obtain the location of the mobile subscriber based on the location of the mobile subscriber's terminal. The party may retrieve the mobile subscriber's location information from the voice messaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Terry G. Rayburn, Robert H. Miller, Michael P. McMullen
  • Patent number: 7336961
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distributed antenna system (DAS) is provided with functionality for determining the location of a mobile station within the DAS. The DAS may be of the type that includes a plurality of antennas located within a multi-floor building, each antenna radiating to define a respective coverage area in which the mobile station can communicate. The antennas are communicatively linked with a controller, and the controller communicates over an air interface with a radio access network so as to provide connectivity between the antennas and the radio access network. In operation, the system may determine that a given one of the antennas has received a strongest signal from the mobile station, and may transmit an indication of the geographic coverage area of the given antenna into the radio access network, as a representation of the location of the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: John Cheong-Wai Ngan
  • Patent number: 7330728
    Abstract: A method and system for locating a mobile-subscriber terminal (MST) roaming in a serving network is provided. A location based service provider (LBSP) that is outside of the serving network receives from the serving system an MST-initiated request for providing location based services (LBSs) and an identifier of a first location system (LS1) that is associated with the serving network. Responsive to the MST-initiated request, the LBSP sends to a second location system (LS2) (i) a request for mobile positioning information (MPI) for the MST, and (ii) the identifier. Using the identifier, the LS2 addresses and sends the request for MPI to the LS1. Responsively, the LS1 sends to the LS2 the MPI. The LS2 then send the MPI to the LBSP, which in turn sends to the MST a reply to the MST-initiated request for LBSs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Keith Moll, Brent Burpee, Jesse Grindeland, Scott Wilson
  • Patent number: 7328027
    Abstract: The load of a coverage area in a wireless wide area network can be used as a basis to determine which vocoder to use in establishing a call between a wireless device in that coverage area and a wireless device in a different coverage area. If the load of the coverage area is above a threshold, then a higher-compression vocoder may be used during the call for communications between the wireless device and an access point serving the wireless device in that coverage area. However, if the load of the coverage area is below the threshold, then a lower-compression vocoder may be used during the call for communications between the wireless device and the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Manish Mangal
  • Patent number: 7328021
    Abstract: A network entity, such as a base station, a mobile switching center, or a packet data serving node, may be communicatively coupled to at least two transmission paths, at least one of which is a wireless link. The network entity may receive signals from wireless terminals and output the signals to a first transmission path, i.e., a wireless link, or to a second transmission path, i.e., a wired link or another wireless link. The network entity may output the signals to the first transmission path or the second transmission path based on whether or not the measure of spectral interference for the wireless link meets predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Durga Satapathy
  • Patent number: 7315738
    Abstract: A mobile station is identified by a plurality of directory numbers. One or more of the directory numbers are associated with distinct identifier codes that identify a directory number or “personality” in transmissions over the air interface, e.g., for call origination from the mobile station and/or call termination to the mobile station. When the mobile station receives an identifier code when it receives a call, the mobile station provides a distinct user-discernible indication that is specific for that identifier code. From this distinct user-discernible indication, the use may determine which directory number is being called. When originating a call, the mobile station may transmit an identifier code to indicate which directory number to use as the calling party number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, John M. Everson, Bryce A. Jones
  • Patent number: 7313398
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for a soft-hard handoff within a wireless telecommunications network are provided. The network may include a mobile station using a first carrier frequency for communication with a base transceiver station (BTS). The BTS may send a carrier frequency list to the mobile station that includes one or more carrier frequencies. The mobile station may include a carrier frequency searcher (CFS) that searches across the carrier frequencies to find a pilot signal having a strength greater than a threshold value. The mobile station may perform a soft-hard handoff by tuning itself to a second carrier frequency associated with the pilot signal. Subsequent communications involving the mobile station may use the second carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Emad Ramahi
  • Patent number: 7313107
    Abstract: A method and system for multicasting messages to wireless terminals. A multicast radio-packet link is established between a packet gateway and a base station system respectively for each cell sector served by the packet gateway. Each multicast link has an active state when any wireless terminals in the corresponding cell sector are in a multicast state prepared to receive multicast messages, and an inactive state when no wireless terminals in the corresponding cell sector are in the multicast state. When the packet gateway receives a multicast message, it sends the message over each active multicast link but not over any inactive multicast link. Thus, a single copy of the multicast message can conveniently be sent just to each of the cell sectors that is currently serving at least one wireless terminal that is in a multicast state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Manish Mangal
  • Patent number: 7313525
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying saving and utilizing bookmarks in a voice-command platform. The system of the invention provides a user of the voice command platform with a list of bookmark names that are appropriate for the application. Once a user selects a bookmark, the platform may determine that a voice command is a bookmark command, such as a request to save a given voice command navigation point in a centralized list of bookmarks for the user, or to recall a navigation point from the user's centralized list, and the platform may respond to the bookmark command accordingly. The system improves accuracy in the use of bookmarks by proposing bookmark names for a given navigation point that avoid confusion with established grammars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Packingham, Elizabeth Roche, Balaji S. Thenthiruperai
  • Patent number: D567206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Daley, Yat-Sang Hung