Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Patent number: 8139585
    Abstract: A method and system for providing users with the ability to control the configuration of data session initiated to connect terminals connected to the public-switched telecommunications network (“PSTN”) to services available on data networks. A legacy terminal may initiate a Voice-Over IP connection to a remote terminal by dialing the destination identifier of the remote terminal and a session code. The session code corresponds with one of several session profiles or sets of data session parameters defining characteristics of the data session. A media gateway controller detects the session code and retrieves the corresponding session profile to initiate the data session using the selected session profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Manish Mangal
  • Patent number: 8140101
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamic adjustment of forward-link traffic-channel power levels based on forward-link RF conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, a base station provides service on a carrier in a wireless coverage area. The base station computes an Ec/Ior value for the carrier. Based at least in part on the computed Ec/Ior value, the base station adjusts at least one of an initial traffic-channel power level, a minimum traffic-channel power level, and a maximum traffic-channel power level for the carrier. As an example, if Ec/Ior is above a certain threshold, the base station may increase all three of the power levels, so as to improve service quality and coverage of its traffic channels, among other advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Wurtenberger, Ryan S. Talley
  • Patent number: 8140107
    Abstract: In methods and systems for adjusting forward link transmit power of wireless coverage areas, forward link signal strength is observed to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and/or an observed frame error rate (FER) for the received signal. A determination is made whether to request a forward link power adjustment. If the determination is that a forward link power adjustment is required, a request may be made into a radio access network (RAN) to adjust power. The RAN may select a subset of wireless coverage areas in which to adjust power. If further power adjustment is required, a further request may be made into the RAN, and the RAN may select a different subset of wireless coverage areas in which to adjust power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Deveshkumar Rai, Manoj Shetty, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Siddharth S. Oroskar, Debasish Sarkar
  • Patent number: 8140069
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for defining the mean opinion score (MOS) as a function of frame error rate (FER) and pilot signal strength. In an embodiment of the invention, an entity receives MOS scores that have been obtained using subjective tests for certain calls made within the network. Next, the entity receives FER and pilot signal strength samples that have been obtained for the calls for which MOS scores have been subjectively obtained. Finally, the entity calculates an equation for the MOS as a function of FER and pilot signal strength using a non-linear regression analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Abhishek Lall, Ashish Bhan, Sachin Vargantwar, Robert Stedman, Mark Yarkosky
  • Patent number: 8135403
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for providing a pilot-beacon on behalf of one or more base stations, such as one or more femtocells. A pilot-beacon transmitter, separate from the base stations, determines the locations of coverage areas of the base stations and then dynamically configures a pilot-beacon radiation pattern to encompass (approximately) the determined coverage areas. That way, a mobile station may detect the pilot beacon and initiate scanning of coverage provided by the base stations. Optimally, the method can be used to provide a pilot beacon for femtocells, thereby avoiding the need for the femtocells to include pilot beacon transmission functions and thus possibly decreasing the cost of the femtocells. The pilot-beacon transmitter or another entity may also be configured to receive and forward GPS signals to the base stations, possibly offsetting GPS timing based on measured delays for communication with the base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dae-Sik Oh, Michael C. DeLaet, Robert C. Pippert
  • Patent number: 8134959
    Abstract: A method for control cycle management in a wireless communication system. In accordance with the method, a radio access network (RAN) reserves at least one portion of a control channel cycle on an air interface forward link to carry a set of information, and determines a remaining capacity of the control channel cycle beyond the reserved portion or portions. The RAN the selects as much of the neighbor list as will fit in the remaining capacity and transmits the selected portion of the neighbor list in the control channel cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Maulik Shah, Jasinder Pal Singh, Anil Harishankar Singh, Jason Peter Sigg, Ashish Bhan
  • Patent number: 8135402
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for sending and/or acknowledging an access probe in a radio access network. In one aspect, a method for transmitting an access probe to a radio access network, wherein time slots available to receive communications from the radio access network are defined in control-channel periods, wherein each control-channel period comprises one or more control-channel cycles, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Manoj Shetty, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Bhagwan Khanka
  • Patent number: 8130937
    Abstract: A speech recognition engine monitors live call center calls between live callers and live operators and detects that certain key words are spoken. The detected key words can then be used as a basis to identify issues that are raised in the call, so as to facilitate (i) generation of statistical reports regarding call center call issues and (ii) real-time assistance of the call center operator, such as directing the call center operator to ask certain questions or take certain other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Balaji S. Thenthiruperai, Jesse Kates, Kristen Miller
  • Patent number: 8125919
    Abstract: A method and system for selectively releasing air interface traffic channels in a wireless coverage area, based on a delta between the signal quality of a traffic channel assigned to a wireless communication device and the aggregate signal quality of all the traffic channels assigned to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bhagwan Khanka, Anoop K. Goyal, Shilpa Kowdley Srinivas, Hemanth Balaji Pawar
  • Patent number: 8125967
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for prioritized EV-DO paging based on type of packet flow. In an embodiment, an access node provides service to a plurality of access terminals in a wireless coverage area. The access node receives data addressed to a particular access terminal, where the data is associated with a packet flow such as a VoIP call. The access node determines that the access terminal does not have a traffic channel, and responsively generates a page for transmission to the access terminal, where the page is associated with the packet flow. The access node determines whether the packet flow is latency-sensitive or rather is latency-tolerant. If the packet flow is latency-sensitive, the access node responsively prioritizes the page over one or more pages respectively associated with one or more latency-tolerant packet flows, where the prioritizing is with respect to order of transmission in the wireless coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Talley, Andrew M. Wurtenberger
  • Patent number: 8127227
    Abstract: A computer-operated method for dynamically laying out content in a document, so as to thereby establish a resulting document. A computer first virtually lays out primary content portions in a virtual document space within computer memory. The computer then lays out secondary content portions in spatial correlation with associated primary content portions, to the extent space permits. And the computer then lays out tertiary content portions in spatial correlation with areas of the document, such as groups of primary content portions, to the extent space permits, while giving layout preference to tertiary content portions that have higher priority than already-placed secondary content portions. The invention can be used to dynamically generate invoices for telecommunication subscribers or in other scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jesse M. Kates, Jennifer A. Fridy
  • Patent number: 8126497
    Abstract: A wireless communication link (a forward link or a reverse link) between a base station and a mobile station may be power-controlled to reduce a difference between an observed error rate in communications received over the link and a target error rate. The target error rate may be dependent upon the radio frequency (RF) conditions at the mobile station, which may be determined by measuring a signal strength of a pilot signal transmitted by the base station. Thus, a pilot signal strength at the mobile station may be determined, a target error rate may be selected based on the pilot signal strength, and the target error rate may be used to control a transmit power level of the wireless communication link. A mobile station may power-control a forward link and/or a base station may power-control a reverse link using a target error rate selected in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Sachin R. Vargantwar, Bhagwan Khanka, Jasinder P. Singh
  • Patent number: 8126129
    Abstract: An audio conferencing method is disclosed in which the geographic location of the participants is used as a basis to adaptively mix audio signals. In particular, if two or more participants are at the same location, the audio signals are mixed such that the participants at the same location do not receive audio signals originating from their telephones. Rather, they only receive audio signals from other participants who are not at their location. An override feature is also described by which a participant can opt-out and receive audio signals from participants at its location. The determination of location continues periodically during the conference. The methods are particularly suitable where multiple participants are using wireless telephones and hence are mobile. The location information can be obtained from a position determination entity of a wireless service provider network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Russell Spaid McGuire
  • Patent number: 8121092
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) for a macro-network-to-LCIB handoff of an active mobile station. In one embodiment, a handoff request is received from a mobile station, the handoff request indicating that the mobile station is requesting that a first pseudorandom number (PN) offset be added to an active set for the mobile station, the active set comprising one or more macro-network sectors. It is determined that the first PN offset is associated with an LCIB pilot beacon, and a candidate set of LCIBs is responsively identified, the candidate set consisting of substantially all of the LCIBs that are located in the one or more macro-network sectors in the active set. It is determined whether the mobile station is an authorized mobile station of exactly one LCIB in the candidate set and, if so, the mobile station is directed to handoff to that LCIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Talley, Bryan T. Barbee, Timothy W. Sill, Benjamin E. Bittfield
  • Patent number: 8121295
    Abstract: To manage playout of digital media by a media player, a wireless communication device (WCD) will include partitioned data storage including discrete partitions having distributor-modules corresponding with various media distributors, and including a digital rights management (DRM) controller. When the media player seeks to play media, it will request a DRM key from the WCD. The DRM controller may then identify the appropriate distributor-module and request the key from the distributor-module. If the distributor-module possesses the key, it will return it for transmission to the media player. Otherwise, the distributor-module may engage in secure communication with a provisioning system to obtain the DRM key and may then return the key. Upon receipt of the key, the media player may then play the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: John M. Everson, Jarrod A. Nichols, James W. Norris, Jason R. Delker, Kevin K. Zhu
  • Patent number: 8121596
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed that may help a mobile station to conserve power by reducing the number of active sectors being scanned in certain scenarios. An exemplary method involves a mobile station (a) initially operating in a first scanning mode, wherein operation in the first scanning mode comprises the mobile station scanning all sectors in an active set comprising a plurality of sectors; (b) determining signal strength of each sector in the active set; (c) selecting, from the active set, one or more transparent sectors having the lowest signal strengths relative to the other sectors in the active set; and (d) operating in a second scanning mode, wherein operation in the second scanning mode comprises the mobile station scanning a subset of the sectors in the active set, wherein the subset excludes the one or more transparent sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Manoj Shetty, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Bhagwan Khanka
  • Patent number: 8116727
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining and presenting a current likelihood of a mobile station successfully engaging in a communication session. In an embodiment, the mobile station (or a network entity) records call data that is indicative of successful and unsuccessful attempts by the mobile station to engage in communication sessions over a period of time. The mobile station (or the network entity) determines, based at least in part on the recorded call data, a current likelihood of the mobile station successfully engaging in a communication session. The mobile station presents a forecast indication to a user of the mobile station, the forecast indication reflecting the determined current likelihood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jesse Kates, Kristen Miller, Balaji S. Thenthiruperai
  • Publication number: 20120034914
    Abstract: A method and system for conferencing a landline telephone into a cellular telephone call is disclosed. In response to a landline telephone going off-hook, a cellular telephone corresponding to the landline telephone is identified. When a determination is made that the corresponding cellular telephone is currently engaged in a call, the landline telephone is conferenced into the cellular call. If the cellular telephone is subsequently disengaged from the call, the original cellular call has been effectively transferred to the landline telephone. The inventive method and system may be linked to a cellular-landline conference call service. For example, a user may subscribe to such a service so that the user may automatically transfer a call from the user's cellular telephone to the user's home or office landline telephone when that landline telephone is taken off-hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
    Inventors: Tong Zhou, Jiongkuan Hou
  • Patent number: 8112083
    Abstract: A method for handling registration requests in a cellular wireless communication system. The method includes determining that an air interface in the cellular wireless communication system has at least a threshold level of load. The method further includes, in response to the determination that the system has at lease a threshold level of load, reducing a frequency at which mobile stations register with the cellular wireless communication system via the air interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jason Sigg, Hector M. Ribas
  • Patent number: 8112482
    Abstract: A secure e-mail messaging system is positioned to receive an original e-mail message from a sender before the message is delivered to a recipient. To secure HTML mail, the system inserts a resource tag such as a Web bug and/or an HTML frame tag in the message, and it removes and stores a portion of the original e-mail message. The system then sends the modified e-mail message to the recipient. A reader of the message, who may or may not be the original recipient, opens the e-mail message with an e-mail client, which sends a resource request in response to the resource tag. The system receives the resource request and determines whether the reader is authorized to read the original e-mail message. If the reader is authorized to read the e-mail message, then it sends the removed portion to the authorized reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Martin Geddes