Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Patent number: 8909240
    Abstract: In systems and methods for managing call admission, a channel request comprising a first service level priority is received from a first wireless device at an access node. Channels of the access node associated with a second service level priority greater than or equal to the first service level priority are selected. A loading of the selected channels is determined, and the loading of the selected channels is compared to a loading criteria. When the determined loading meets the loading criteria, a preemption attempt is performed of a channel associated with a third service level priority less than the first service level priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Muhammad Naim, Chunmei Liu, Aik Chindapol, Yu Zhou
  • Patent number: 8908605
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for coordinating codec assignment and radio configuration in wireless communication sessions. 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 radio configuration in a wireless coverage zone of the base station. The base station could use a distribution of types of cover codes in use to monitor radio configuration, and then assign a codec and coding rate for new calls based on the distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Siddharth S. Oroskar
  • Patent number: 8909259
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing paging-channel resources, and in particular, dynamically adjusting the page-concatenation level based on PCO in a sector, are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves (a) at an access network configured to page mobile stations via a paging channel of a sector in the access network, determining a paging channel occupancy (PCO) level for the sector; (b) using the determined PCO level as a basis for selecting a page-concatenation level to be used to page mobile stations in the sector, wherein the page-concatenation level is selected from a plurality of available page-concatenation levels; and (c) applying concatenation to pages to mobile stations in the sector according to the selected page-concatenation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sachin R Vargantwar, Siddharth S Oroskar, Deveshkumar N. Rai, Debasish Sarkar
  • Patent number: 8908515
    Abstract: A packet is marked to indicate congestion in the wireless communication network when the packet does not indicate congestion in the wireless communication network, the utilization of RF resources meets a utilization criteria, and a network congestion metric meets the congestion criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Vivanco, Aik Chindapol
  • Patent number: 8908598
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems may help to adjust switch-level page settings based on both the performance of the wireless communication device (WCD) that is being paged, and the sector in which the WCD is likely to be located. An exemplary method involves a switch determining that a WCD should be paged and responsive to determining that the WCD should be paged: (a) determining a coverage-area performance indicator for a last-known coverage area of the WCD; (b) determining a WCD performance indicator for the WCD; (c) using both (i) the WCD performance indicator and (ii) the coverage-area performance indicator as a basis for adjusting at least one paging-scheme setting affecting attempts to page the WCD; and (d) paging the WCD according to the at least one adjusted paging-scheme setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Siddharth S. Oroskar
  • Patent number: 8902812
    Abstract: A system is described for providing backhaul over an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). The backhaul may be backhaul for EV-DO and/or EV-DO Rev. A communications. The system for includes at least one cell site. At least two base transceiver stations are located at the cell site. The base transceiver stations receive radio signals from respective mobile stations. A first one of the base transceiver stations provides a first backhaul signal, and a second one of the base transceiver stations provides a second backhaul signal. The cell site multiplexes these backhaul signals together onto an Ethernet passive optical network. In one embodiment, these signals are provided on different pseudowire connections within a single wavelength lambda on the passive optical network. In another embodiment, the signals are provided on different lambdas of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Harold W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8903356
    Abstract: In a shared communication service plan in which multiple subscribers operate under a common billing account, a method and system is provided for more equitably allocating service costs among the subscribers in the group, by allocating overage costs based on the extent to which each subscriber used base services available to the group. For instance, if the group plan includes a designated number of base minutes of service per month and defines a per-minute overage cost for minutes used beyond the base number, the method and system may allocate to a given subscriber a portion of the group's overage cost, with the portion being determined based on the portion of the group's base minutes used by the subscriber. Advantageously, an invoice may then be generated setting forth the equitable allocation among the subscribers in the group, thus allowing the group to more readily determine how much each subscriber should pay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jesse M. Kates, Balaji S. Thenthiruperai, Jeffrey A. Mau, Narin Jaroensubphayanont
  • Patent number: 8897840
    Abstract: A plurality of frequencies are generated at a wireless device and a frequency which a user perceives as the loudest frequency is determined. A first frequency range is selected comprising a first minimum frequency and a first maximum frequency. A ringtone is processed to shift the second frequency range to within the first frequency range, wherein an average frequency of the processed ringtone is the determined loudest frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Caleb Hyde, Clark Halferty, Rajveen Narendran, Andrew Wurtenberger
  • Patent number: 8898249
    Abstract: A user, identified by a network access identifier (NAI) or other user identifier, uses a communication device, identified by a hostname or other device identifier. An Internet Protocol (IP) address is obtained for the communication device, e.g., when the user logs in for access to a packet-switched network. An association between the IP address and the hostname is registered in a domain name server. An association between the user identifier and the hostname is registered in an RWHOIS server. An application may query the RWHOIS server to determine the hostname of the communication device being used by the user and then query the domain name server to determine the IP address of the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Jeremy R. Breau
  • Patent number: 8893053
    Abstract: A method to help restrict operation of a mobile device in a situation where a user of the device may be distracted, such as when the user is driving a motor vehicle. The device presents the user with a test and reveals the solution to the test, and the user must then enter into the device the revealed solution within a predefined period of time. If the user enters the revealed solution within the predefined period of time, then a fair assumption is that the user is not distracted. On the other hand, if the user does not enter the revealed solution within the predefined period of time, then a fair assumption is that the user is distracted (e.g., is driving), in which case the device will responsively change an operational characteristic of the device so as to restrict the user's interaction with and operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Caleb S. Hyde, Clark D. Halferty, Andrew M. Wurtenberger
  • Patent number: 8892724
    Abstract: An address assignment device may support assigning either a public address or a private address to a client device. In order to increase the number of client devices that can share a public address via network address translation, the client device may be assigned a public address when the client device's expected port utilization is at or above a port utilization threshold. However, the client device may be assigned a private address when the client device's expected port utilization is below the port utilization threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, John E. Belser
  • Patent number: 8892104
    Abstract: A RAN may receive a call request to establish a call involving a WCD. The RAN may serve WCDs of a first type and WCDs of a second type. WCDs of the first type may communicate with the RAN using a first air-interface or a second air-interface, and WCDs of the second type may communicate using the second air-interface. If the WCD is of the first type, the RAN may select wireless coverage areas from a first candidate set of wireless coverage areas. If the WCD is of the second type, the RAN may select wireless coverage areas from a second candidate set of wireless coverage areas. The RAN may assign, to the WCD, traffic channels from each wireless coverage area selected for supporting the call. The selected wireless coverage areas may be defined by the RAN and may operate in accordance with the second air-interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Siddharth S. Oroskar
  • Patent number: 8886923
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for secure Mobile-IP traffic traversing network address translation (NAT). A virtual-private-network (VPN) tunnel extending between the mobile node and the home agent is established, wherein the home agent comprises a VPN function. Establishing the VPN tunnel comprises (i) the mobile node communicating with the home agent at a public address of the home agent via a private network, a NAT device, and a public network and (ii) the home agent assigning the mobile node a first public address. The mobile node is registered with the home agent. Registering the mobile node comprises (i) the mobile node communicating via the VPN tunnel with the home agent at the public address of the home agent and (ii) establishing the first public address as a home address for the mobile node for, for example, purposes of Mobile-IP communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Breau, Ray R. Doerr, Dan Durig, Robert C. Lamb, Arun Santharam
  • Patent number: 8880115
    Abstract: While a first and second entity are engaging in a communication session on a wireless link, the first entity may be sending a series of power control commands (PCCs) directed to the second entity at a first transmission rate. Additionally, the first entity may monitor an actual and expected transmission-power adjustment of the second entity. Based on this monitored actual and expected transmission-power adjustment, the first entity may decide to alter the PCC transmission scheme for the second entity. For instance, if the monitored actual and expected transmission-power adjustment differs by a threshold extent, the power-controlling entity may decide to increase the PCC transmission rate for the power-controlled entity and/or increase the transmission-power adjustment instructed by PCCs directed to the second entity. In response, the first entity may begin sending the series of PCCs directed to the second entity according to the altered PCC transmission scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sachin R. Vargantwar, Manoj Shetty
  • Patent number: 8879605
    Abstract: A mobile station receives system time information from a source base transceiver station (BTS) in a spread spectrum communication system. The mobile station estimates a distance between the mobile station and the source BTS. The mobile station calculates a propagation delay based on the estimated distance. The mobile station develops a propagation-delay-adjusted time reference based on the system time information and the calculated propagation delay. The mobile station uses the propagation-delay-adjusted time reference to search for a target pseudonoise (PN) offset corresponding to a target BTS in the spread spectrum communication system. The mobile station may be closer to the target BTS than the source BTS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Maulik K. Shah, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Maneesh Gauba
  • Patent number: 8880612
    Abstract: A proxy for SMS-based wireless instant messaging (IM) is located on a network server. The proxy provides an on-line IM presence for a mobile device user and facilitates multiple cross-platform IM services without requiring protocol specific functionality locally installed on the mobile device. According to an embodiment, the proxy is configured with information about the user such as userID and login information. In operation, the proxy may log into a plurality of IM systems and provide an indication of the user's presence. Upon receiving IM messages directed to the user, the proxy may 1) automatically reply; 2) forward a converted message to the user's current presence; 3) forward a converted message to the user's on-line message repository; and/or 4) store the message for future delivery. The proxy may also provide presence information of contacts for the mobile device user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Balaji S. Thenthiruperai, Brian B. Landers, Kevin E. Hunter
  • Patent number: 8880007
    Abstract: In systems and methods of reducing latency in a wireless communication system, a first signal of a first radio access technology and a second signal of a second radio access technology are received at a first antenna and a second antenna of a wireless device. From a first circulator the first signal received at the first antenna and the second antenna are received and combined to generate a combined first signal. In addition, from a second circulator the second signal received at the first antenna and the second antenna are received and combined to generate a combined second signal. While receiving the first signal of the first radio access technology, a call request is received over the second signal of the second radio access technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Nagi A. Mansour, Kafi I. Hassan, Nawara Omary
  • Patent number: 8880082
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for extending MIMO service in a wireless communications system. The system comprises a base station, a remote system, and a host system communicatively coupled to the base station and the remote system. The base station is configured to generate, from a baseband signal, a downlink signal comprising a plurality of downlink signal streams, including at least a first downlink signal stream and a second downlink signal stream. Accordingly, the base station may include a first and a second antenna that are configured to transmit the first and second downlink signal streams, respectively. The remote system provides wireless service in a remote coverage area. Further, the remote system is configured to transmit a downlink signal as a plurality of downlink signal streams. The host system is communicatively coupled to the base station and to the remote system and configured to relay the downlink signal streams from the base station to the remote system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Durga Satapathy, Ivy Kelly, Walter Rausch
  • Patent number: 8878889
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) that is configured to originate and receive push-to-talk (PTT) calls may be identified by a standard identifier in standard PTT calls and may be identified by an emergency identifier in emergency PTT calls. The WCD may be configured to recognize an emergency trigger and, in response to the emergency trigger, originate an outgoing emergency PTT call, using the emergency identifier. If, while engaged in a standard PTT call, the WCD receives an incoming emergency PTT call that includes the WCD's emergency identifier, the emergency PTT call may preempt the standard PTT call. For example, the WCD may convey audio from the emergency PTT call to a speaker or other audio output interface, instead of audio from the standard PTT call. The WCD may also release the standard PTT call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bradford R. Kaupp, Paul Reckell
  • Patent number: 8879506
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to help minimize tuneaway time of a user equipment device (UE), by dynamically scheduling when the UE should tune away to scan for coverage of a particular wireless communication system, such as a time division duplex (TDD) system for instance. The UE may receive downlink transmissions from a TDD system and determining a downlink transmission schedule of the TDD system based on when those downlink transmissions occurred. Further, the UE may then use the determined downlink transmission schedule as a basis to schedule tuneaway of the UE from a serving system to scan for coverage of the TDD system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jasinder P. Singh, Maulik K. Shah, Deveshkumar N. Rai, Sachin R. Vargantwar