Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Patent number: 9591465
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate automatic distribution of communications. In particular, a server may maintain data that indicates at least one registered subject-matter interest respectively for each of a plurality of users. Further, the server may receive a communication from a source user. The source user may be served by a particular base station. In response to receiving the communication, the server may identify one or more target users based on each target user (i) having at least one registered subject-matter interest that matches at least one subject-matter interest of the source user and (ii) being served either by the same particular base station that serves the source user or by a base station adjacent to the particular base station that serves the source user. The server may forward the communication to each identified target user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Joao C. Teixeira De Magalhaes, Vivek Vijayan, Oliver Chu, Xiaodi Yu, Jose Ernesto Almas de Jesus, Jr., Sarunya Aroonsirichoke, Veena Chilukala, Kayla Fowler
  • Patent number: 9591624
    Abstract: A system and method of scheduling communication in a wireless communication network are provided. An access node can receive an uplink scheduling request. The access node can communicate with a wireless device over a first and second frequency band. The access node can determine an interference indicator associated with the wireless device. The access node can determine a first scheduling scheme for the first frequency band and a second scheduling scheme for the second frequency band based on the uplink request and the interference indicator. The first scheduling scheme can comprise a first uplink portion and the second scheduling scheme can comprise a second uplink portion. The first uplink portion does not overlap the second uplink portion. The wireless device can be instructed to communicate uplink data to the access node during the first uplink portion and uplink data to the access node during the section uplink portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Muhammad Naim, Aik Chindapol
  • Patent number: 9585099
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to help conserve battery life of a user equipment device (UE). In particular, the UE may make a determination that a remaining battery life is threshold low. In response to making the determination, the UE may engage in a scanning-limiting process that involves (i) the UE identifying on the list each carrier frequency higher than the serving carrier frequency and (ii) based on the identifying, the UE excluding each identified higher carrier frequency from the list, so that, in response to detecting a trigger to scan carrier frequencies in search of target coverage for possible handover, the UE scans each carrier frequency on the list that is lower than the serving carrier frequency but forgoes scanning each identified higher carrier frequency. Further, once the UE detects the trigger, the UE may responsively scan carrier frequencies in accordance with the scanning-limiting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Nitesh Manchanda, Sreekar Marupaduga, Vanil Parihar, Siddharth S. Oroskar
  • Patent number: 9585149
    Abstract: When a base station is serving a UE on a first RF carrier, the base station encounters a trigger to add to the UE's air interface connection a second RF carrier. The base station then decides based at least in part on a measure of RF performance of communication between the base station and the UE on the first RF carrier, whether the second RF carrier that the base station will add to the UE's air interface connection should be a TDD carrier or rather an FDD carrier. And the base station then reconfigures the UE's air interface connection to add a second RF carrier in accordance with the decision. The base station then serves the UE concurrently on the first RF carrier and the second RF carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sungki Park, Saied Kazeminejad
  • Patent number: 9585072
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems to facilitate handover of a UE away from a primary carrier of a base station, despite a primary carrier having a channel quality that is at or above a channel quality threshold of the primary carrier. In particular, a wireless communication system may serve the UE with carrier aggregation service using (i) a first carrier as a primary carrier for the UE and (ii) a second carrier as a secondary carrier for the UE. During the serving, while a channel quality of the primary carrier is at or above a first threshold quality, the system may make a determination that a channel quality of the secondary carrier is below a second threshold quality. In response to at least making the determination, the system may carry out a handover of the UE from the primary carrier of the first base station to another carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Chunmei Liu, Hemanth B. Pawar, Krishna Sitaram, Shilpa K. Srinivas
  • Patent number: 9578584
    Abstract: A method for controlling tune-away of a UE from its serving base station during handover, where the UE is configured to tune away from its serving base station at scheduled tune-away times, is disclosed herein. The method includes, between a first scheduled tune-away time and a next, second scheduled tune-away time, (a) determining that the UE has threshold weak signal strength from the serving base station, and (b) responsive to determining that the UE has threshold weak signal strength from the serving base station, determining a remaining battery energy level of the UE. The method further includes, based at least in part on the determined remaining battery energy level of the UE, causing the UE to tune away from the serving base station before the second scheduled tune-away time to scan for target coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Siddharth S. Oroskar, Jasinder P. Singh, Nitesh Manchanda, Rajil Malhotra
  • Patent number: 9578539
    Abstract: In systems and methods of transmitting a data packet to a wireless device over a wireless communication link, a signal level is received of a wireless communication link between a wireless device and an access node. A data packet is divided into a first segment and a second segment according to the received signal level, and the first segment and the second segment are transmitted to the wireless device over the wireless communication link according to the signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sungki Park, Saied Kazeminejad
  • Patent number: 9578640
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding apparatus to make use of hybrid-ARQ repetition factors as a way to differentiate service quality to various mobile terminals. Depending on a mobile terminal's subscription service class, such as the mobile terminal's PLMN, the mobile terminal may be made to use a particular hybrid-ARQ repetition factor. For instance, a mobile terminal of a high service class may be made to use a low hybrid-ARQ repetition factor, which may help the mobile terminal experience less downlink transmission delay and thus a higher downlink data rate. Whereas, a mobile terminal of a low service class may be made to use a high hybrid-ARQ repetition factor, which may cause the mobile terminal to experience more downlink transmission delay and thus a lower downlink data rate, and may further free up downlink transmission resources to facilitate better service for other mobile terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jasinder P. Singh, Maulik K. Shah, Siddharth S. Oroskar, Anoop K. Goyal
  • Patent number: 9571587
    Abstract: A communication session is established between a wireless device and a first access node, where the wireless device is located in a first coverage area of the first access node and located in a second coverage area of a second access node. A communication schedule is determined for the first access node and the second access node to communicate with the wireless device. The communication schedule can comprise a first portion and a second portion. Communication is performed between the first access node and the wireless device during the first portion, and between the second access node and the wireless device during the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Pei Hou, Muhammad Naim, David McGrath
  • Patent number: 9572198
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for inter-technology diversity. A transmitting device may concurrently transmit a communication unit, such as a data packet, on two or more different air interfaces to a receiving device. The receiving device may concurrently receive the two or more transmissions on two or more corresponding air interfaces, and may then apply forward error correction to the two or more received communication unit in order to recover an error-free version of the communication unit. The transmitting device could be a multi-modal base station (or other access element) of a wireless communication system, and the receiving device could be a multi-modal access terminal (AT) or other user equipment (UE). Additionally or alternatively, the transmitting device could be an AT or UE, and the receiving device could be a base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Maulik Shah, Jason Sigg, Jasinder Singh, Kurt M. Landuyt
  • Patent number: 9572149
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system in which a PDSCH segment assigned to a UE in a particular TTI not only carries data to the UE but also carries an assignment to the UE of a PDSCH in a subsequent TTI for carrying additional data to the UE in that subsequent TTI. Such an arrangement can help make good use of possibly otherwise unused PDSCH capacity and can help to manage PDCCH capacity in the subsequent TTI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Muhammad A. Naim
  • Patent number: 9572085
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a femtocell to provide local access to a remote data store. The method includes a femtocell receiving a registration request and a device identifier from a wireless communication device. Responsive to receiving the request, the femtocell may provide the wireless communication device with wireless service and may use the device identifier to cause a network share to be created on a local network to which the femtocell is coupled. The network share may then provide a second device on the local network with access to a remote data store associated with the wireless communication device. After detecting an absence or de-registration of the wireless communication device, the femtocell may remove the network share.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Warren Cope
  • Patent number: 9572074
    Abstract: A mobile station will sort wireless coverage sectors in order of distance of the sectors from the mobile station, and the mobile station will then scan for pilot signals from the sectors in the sorted order. The invention can be applied advantageously to provide an order of scanning remaining set sectors in a mobile station operating according to a code division multiple access protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Manoj Shetty, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Siddharth S. Oroskar, Ashvini G. Canjeevaram, DeveshKumar Rai
  • Patent number: 9572064
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scheduling transmissions from an access node. A location may be determined for a plurality of small cells within an access node signal area. Based on the determined locations, a scheduling algorithm may be selected for the access node, where the scheduling algorithm may comprise one of a low proportional fairness scheduling algorithm, a medium proportional fairness scheduling algorithm, and a high proportional fairness scheduling algorithm. Data may then be transmitted from the access node to a plurality of wireless devices based on the selected scheduling algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Hemanth Pawar, Shilpa Kowdley, Krishna Sitaram, Daniel Vivanco
  • Patent number: 9572167
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for assigning resources to a wireless communication device that experienced a call drop. A RAN may receive an origination request from a mobile station and make a first determination that within a predetermined amount of time prior to receiving the origination request the mobile station experienced a call drop. Responsive to making the first determination, the RAN may make a second determination that the RAN should allocate a first extent of resources to the mobile station rather than allocating a second extent of resources to the mobile station. The first extent of resources may be less than the second extent of resources. Responsive to making the second determination, the RAN may allocate the first extent of resources to the mobile station in response to the origination request rather than allocating the second extent of resources to the mobile station in response to the origination request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Siddharth S. Oroskar, John W. Prock, Maulik K. Shah, Jasinder P. Singh
  • Patent number: 9565676
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a mobility-limited user equipment device (UE) are disclosed. While a first base station serves a UE in a first coverage area on a first carrier, either the first base station or the UE makes a first determination that the UE is substantially stationary. Responsive to at least making the first determination, the first base station causes the UE to receive service on a second carrier concurrently with the first base station continuing to serve the UE in the first coverage area on the first carrier. By way of example, the first base station may provide the second carrier in the first coverage area, or a second base station may provide the second carrier in a second coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Pratik Kothari, Parashar Thanki, Hemanth B. Pawar, Krishna Sitaram
  • Patent number: 9565231
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing multiple voice service modes to a wireless device using data packet transmission through a wireless network. Application requirements including a signal level threshold for a wireless device may be determined. Signal level information for the wireless device may be received and transmitted among various network nodes. The received signal level may be compared with the signal level threshold for the wireless device. The wireless device and the access node may communicate wirelessly to provide voice services to the wireless device application. Data transmission may be converted between a first mode and a second mode depending upon a relative position of the received signal level with respect to the signal level threshold. The second mode of data transmission may be used where the first mode of data transmission cannot because the second mode may consume less network resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Muhammad Ahsan Naim, Yu Zhou
  • Patent number: 9560545
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing communications of an access node and a relay node. Data may be communicated between an access node and a plurality of wireless devices over a first frequency band. Data may also be communicated between the access node and a relay node over the first frequency band, where the relay node may communicate with wireless devices over a second frequency band. It may be determined that a utilization of the second frequency band meets a criteria. Data may then be communicated between the access node and at least one of the plurality of wireless device over the second frequency band based on the determination that the utilization of the second frequency band meets the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Muhammad Ahsan Naim
  • Patent number: 9560660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system of managing an allocation of resources in a wireless communication system. According to the disclosure, a base station may receive or otherwise determine an indication of radio frequency (RF) conditions being perceived by a given user equipment device (UE). Based on that indication, the base station may make a decision of whether to use a first resource limitation or a second resource limitation for data transmissions to the given UE, where the second resource limitation generally allows for a lesser extent of resources to be allocated than the first resource limitation in weaker RF conditions. For instance, the base station may decide to use a bit-rate limitation for threshold strong RF conditions and a resource-block limitation for threshold weak RF conditions. Thereafter, the base station may allocate resources for a data transmission to the given UE in accordance with the decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Siddarth S. Oroskar, Jasinder P. Singh, Maulik K. Shah
  • Patent number: 9560649
    Abstract: A system and method of allocating communication resources to a wireless device in a wireless communication network are provided. A first subframe configuration can be assigned to a first carrier of a frequency band of an access node. A second subframe configuration different from the first subframe configuration can be assigned to a second carrier of the frequency band. The access node can receive a resource request associated with an application running on the wireless device. An application requirement of the application running on the wireless device can be determined. The wireless device can be instructed to establish communication with the access node over one of the first carrier and the second carrier during a communication session based on the determined application requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Aik Chindapol, Muhammad Naim