Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Method and system for signaling a wait time before discontinuing transmission of a reverse link signal
    Patent number: 9088512
    Abstract: A mobile station involved in a call receives a forward link signal from a radio access network (RAN) and transmits a reverse link signal to the RAN. If the mobile station detects a reception failure of the forward link signal, such as the receipt of an errored frame, the mobile station transmits a wait time to the RAN. The wait time specifies how long the reception failure can continue before the mobile station will discontinue transmitting the reverse link signal. In response, the RAN may increase the transmit power level at which the RAN transmits the forward link signal, such that a maximum transmit power level is reached during the wait time. The wait time could be based on a user preference and/or user behavior with respect to abandoning calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Deveshkumar N. Rai, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Maulik K. Shah, Jasinder P. Singh
  • Method and system for facilitating handoff of a UE to an earlier serving wireless network
    Patent number: 9088925
    Abstract: A method and system to facilitate handoff of user equipment (UE) back to the same wireless network that was earlier serving the UE. When the UE is being served by a first wireless network and is going to be handed off to a second wireless network, the second wireless network may receive and store an identifier of the first wireless network. In turn, when the UE is going to hand off from the second wireless network (e.g., due to low signal strength or preference for another air interface protocol), the second wireless network may then transmit the identifier of the first wireless network to the UE, to cause the UE hand off back to the first wireless network rather than to some other network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Bonnie Chen
  • Selection of wireless coverage areas and media codecs
    Patent number: 9088972
    Abstract: A request to establish a call involving a wireless communication device WCD served by a radio access network (RAN) may be received. The WCD may receive signals from the RAN via a plurality of wireless coverage areas at respective signal strengths. The plurality of wireless coverage areas may be defined by the RAN. A media codec to use for the call may be determined. Based on the media codec, a set of n wireless coverage areas through which the WCD and the RAN communicate during the call may be selected. The value of n may be between 1 and a predetermined maximum number, and the set of n wireless coverage areas may be selected from the plurality of wireless coverage areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Siddharth S. Oroskar
  • Paging back-off timer
    Patent number: 9088959
    Abstract: The delivery of paging messages to an access node are delayed based on an estimated paging message load currently being handled by the access node. When a mobility node receives a request that requires a wireless device to be paged, the mobility node refers to an estimate of the current paging load on an access node. This estimate can be based on the number of paging messages that have been sent to the access node that have not elicited a response and have not expired. If the estimated load is less than a threshold amount (e.g., 80%), then the paging message can be sent to the access node without further delay. If the estimated load is greater than the threshold amount, then an amount of time to wait before sending the paging message to the access node is selected or calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Krishna Sitaram, Daniel Vivanco
  • Methods and systems for causing a mobile station to originate a subsequent call via a coverage area other than that used for a first call
    Patent number: 9088937
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided causing a mobile station to, after experiencing a dropped call, originate a subsequent call via a coverage area different than that used for the first call. In an embodiment, a mobile station detects that, when it was engaged in the first call at a first location via a first wireless coverage area, the mobile station experienced the first call being dropped. When the mobile station subsequently attempts to originate a second call, the mobile station determines that its current location is within a threshold distance of the first location, and responsively attempts to originate the second call via a second wireless coverage area different from the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Manoj Shetty, Sachin Vargantwar, Bhagwan Khanka, Deveshkumar Rai
  • Management of access probe transmission from a wireless communication device
    Patent number: 9088934
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and corresponding apparatus for management of access probe transmission from a wireless communication device (WCD) to a radio access network (RAN). The WCD determines that a particular coverage area is not the strongest coverage area detected by the WCD, and the WCD responsively transmits an access probe to the RAN in that particular coverage area. For instance, the WCD may define a sequence of access probe transmissions including at least one transmission to just a coverage area that the WCD deems to not be the strongest and further including at least one transmission to just a coverage area that the WCD deems to be the strongest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Siddharth S. Oroskar, Ryan P. Dreiling
  • Downlink interference mitigation based on uplink transmission configuration of other coverage area
    Patent number: 9084279
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to help mitigate interference from an adjacent coverage area. A user equipment device (UE) determines a time division duplex (TDD) frame arrangement of a neighboring base station and reports the determined TDD frame arrangement to a serving base station. The serving base station uses the reported TDD frame arrangement of the neighboring base station as a basis to avoid scheduling downlink transmission of bearer traffic to the UE at times when the TDD frame arrangement of the neighboring base station defines uplink transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jasinder P. Singh, Siddharth S. Oroskar, Maulik K. Shah, Anoop K. Goyal
  • Obtaining and presenting of a plurality of images from a plurality of image sources in response to telephone device communication
    Patent number: 9083790
    Abstract: When a user operates a telephone device to engage in a communication with another user, the user's telephone device responsively obtains from a from a plurality of image-sources a plurality of images associated with the other user and presents the obtained images on a user interface. The telephone device may obtain one or more of the images from a social network account of the other user, and the telephone device may obtain one or more of the images from an image library stored by the telephone device. Further, the telephone device may stitch together the obtained images as a collage, slide show, or the like, and present the stitched-together images during setup of the communication and/or or during the communication itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: David Owens
  • Wireless device communication
    Patent number: 9084167
    Abstract: An indication is received from a wireless device in communication with a first communication system using a first radio access technology that the wireless device has detected a second communication system using a second access technology. Network information of the first communication system is provided and stored at the wireless device when performing a first handover of the wireless device from the first communication system to the second communication system. The network information is provided to the first communication system to perform a second handover from the second communication system to the first communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sungki Park, Saied Kazeminejad
  • Managing codec consistency across a communication session
    Patent number: 9084166
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for maintaining codec consistency across a communication session. When a communication session is set up for an access terminal (AT) operating in a wireless communication system, a network device, such a base station, can determine a coding rate to assign the AT for its air interface in a manner that accounts for network capacity variations spatially and/or temporally across the session. If the requested communication session is determined to be with a landline device, then a higher coding rate may be used than might otherwise be selected. If the requested session is with another AT, then a coding rate that best accommodates the air interfaces of both ATs may be used. If the AT is predicted to handoff to multiple sectors during the session, then a coding rate that best accommodates the air interfaces of all the predicted handoff sectors may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sachin R. Vargantwar, Siddharth S. Oroskar
  • Dynamic provision of hybrid-ARQ repetition factor based on subscription service class
    Patent number: 9071431
    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: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jasinder P. Singh, Maulik K. Shah, Siddharth S. Oroskar, Anoop K. Goyal
  • Carrier selection based on probable mobility of packet flow
    Patent number: 9072009
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for carrier selection based on probable mobility of packet flow. A request is received from an access terminal. The request comprises a packet-flow-type indication, and indicates that the access terminal is requesting a packet flow. If the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a high degree of mobility, the first access terminal is instructed to conduct the packet flow on one of a first set of one or more carriers. If the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a low degree of mobility, the access terminal is instructed to conduct the packet flow on one of a second set of one or more carriers. No carriers are elements of both the first set and the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Wurtenberger, Rajveen Narendran, Joseph I. Schield, Bret D. Vondemkamp
  • Modifying a data flow mechanism variable in a communication network
    Patent number: 9071984
    Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring communications in a communication network are provided. A rate of overhead messages received from a wireless device is monitored and compared to a predetermined threshold. When the rate of the overhead messages received exceeds the predetermined threshold, a type of application operating on the wireless device is identified. A congestion control mechanism mode is determined when the rate of overhead messages received exceeds the predetermined threshold. A variable of a data flow mechanism is modified based on the type of application operating on the wireless device and the congestion mechanism mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Daniel Vivanco
  • Systems and methods for enforcing vendor-based restrictions on wireless service
    Patent number: 9072026
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for enforcing vendor-based restrictions on wireless service. One embodiment takes the form of a method that is carried out by at least one radio access network (RAN) entity and that includes receiving an access request from a mobile station via a base station, and responsively making a vendor identification to identify a vendor of the base station. The method further includes denying the access request based at least in part on the vendor identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jasinder P. Singh, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Maulik K. Shah, Deveshkumar N. Rai
  • Demand based communication format switching
    Patent number: 9071652
    Abstract: Application requirements of at least two applications of a wireless device in communication with a wireless communication network are determined, an access node list comprising available mobile communication formats and network load information from each access node in communication with the wireless device is received, and a mobile communication format from among the available mobile communication formats for each of the at least two applications is determined. A communication schedule based on the application requirements of the at least two applications, the determined mobile communication formats, and the network load information is generated, and data is communicated between the wireless device and the access node according to the communication schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Vivanco, Aik Chindapol
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring antenna deterioration
    Patent number: 9072002
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for monitoring antenna deterioration. When a signal is transmitted by a base station antenna at a tower-top of a cellular base station, a measurement antenna positioned at the tower-top receives the signal. The signal is measured to determine the signal power and the actual gain of the base station antenna is determined by comparing the determined signal power to the input power of the signal before it was transmitted by the base station antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Maneesh Gauba, Steven R. Bales, Sreekar Marupaduga, Andrew M. Wurtenberger
  • System and method for scalable bandwidth allocation in a wireless wide area network
    Patent number: 9066214
    Abstract: An access point for a wireless wide area network can allocate two or more fundamental channels among wireless devices. In various implementations, the fundamental traffic channels may be for use with incompatible versions of the same air interface protocol (e.g., the 1xRTT and EV-DO versions of code division multiple access (“CDMA)). The access point may additionally have a reserved bandwidth that it can dynamically allocate to wireless devices to supplement the bandwidth allocated to them on the fundamental channels. For example, when sending or receiving large bursts of data, the access point can allocate additional bandwidth to the wireless devices, and after transmission of the large bursts of data, the access point can release the additionally allocated bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Yarkosky, Chris Seagren
  • Method and apparatus for managing sequential processing of messages
    Patent number: 9065844
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to help manage sequential processing of messages. When a layer of a protocol stack in a computing device encounters a need to transmit two or more messages in a particular sequence, the layer generates and pass to a next layer of the stack a composite message defining the two or more messages together, rather than sending the messages one by one to the next layer. With this process, the combination of the two or more messages may thus pass between and/or through layers of the stack, and a layer of the stack receiving the combination may then extract the messages individually from the combination and output the extracted messages in sequence as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Abdolreza Asghari, Ehtesham Khan, Michael Tsai, James D. Kirby
  • Method and apparatus for rejecting untrusted network
    Patent number: 9060028
    Abstract: A method of accessing a communication system and a communication device for performing the same are disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by the communication device to a node of the communication system through a communication link between the communication device and the node, a registration request to register with the communication system, transmitting, by the communication device to the node, a request to disconnect the communication link, when receiving from the communication system a registration response in response to the registration request before receiving an authentication request from the communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Khaled Azem, Kumi Easwarachandran
  • Reducing wireless communication signaling overhead
    Patent number: 9060293
    Abstract: In systems and methods of reducing wireless communication signaling overhead, it is determined that communication resource request traffic from a plurality of wireless devices in communication with an access node to communicate with a communication network meets a first threshold. One of the plurality of wireless devices is selected to operate as a router wireless device based on a power storage level and an assigned modulation and coding scheme of each of the plurality of wireless devices. At least one of the unselected wireless devices is instructed to communicate with the communication network via the selected router wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Vivanco, Yu Zhou, Shahzada Rasool, Muhammad Naim