Patents Assigned to Sprint Spectrum L.P.
  • Patent number: 7577426
    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: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, John M. Everson, Bryce A. Jones
  • Patent number: 7574212
    Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The multi-mode mobile station may become engaged in one or more communication sessions via a first wireless network. Session information regarding these one or more communication sessions is stored in a storage system. In response to a handoff request, a control system evaluates the session information to determine which of the communication sessions, if any, can be continued via the second wireless network, in accordance with a policy. The user may be notified of any sessions that can not be continued via the second wireless network and/or continued at a reduced level of performance. If the user opts to complete the handoff, continuable sessions are continued via the second wireless network and non-continuable sessions are dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Manish Mangal
  • Patent number: 7573867
    Abstract: A method and system for maintaining a radio link during absence of packet-based real-time media communication, such as RTP packet flow for instance. A wireless device determines that there has been an absence of packet-based real-time media flow for a threshold period of time and responsively sends a keepalive signal into the network to prevent its radio link from timing out. Further, the device may then periodically continue to send keepalive signals into the network to continue maintaining its radio link. By maintaining the radio link, the wireless device can then engage in further packet-based real-time media communication or associated packet-based signaling without the need to re-acquire a radio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: David Welch
  • Patent number: 7574230
    Abstract: A method of communicating with a mobile station. The method includes receiving forward link signals from a central base station at a remote base station and transmitting the forward link signals from the remote base station to the mobile station. The method also includes receiving reverse link signals from the mobile station at the remote base station and transmitting the reverse link signals from the remote base station to the central base station. The method further includes cooperatively adjusting a transmission power level for communication between the mobile station and the remote base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dae-Sik Oh, Mark L. Yarkosky, Kristin A. Hayne
  • Patent number: 7573837
    Abstract: A method for establishing multicast PoC communication is disclosed. To establish multicast PoC communication, a multicast-join process will be coupled with a PoC session setup process, and the PoC server will function as a multicast content server, to multicast PoC communications to the PoC session participants. For example, when a party initiates a PoC session, the PoC server may acquire a multicast flow-ID from a multicast session manager, and the PoC server may convey that multicast flow-ID to each participant within the PoC session setup signaling. Upon receipt of the multicast flow-ID, each participant may then engage in signaling with the multicast session manager, to join the associated multicast group. And the multicast session manager may direct the PoC server to begin multicasting the associated flow to the group members, which the PoC server will do once it begins receiving PoC bearer data from one of the PoC session participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Mangal, Iris Zeng, Craig C. Rhoades, Mark A. Lipford, Wesam Alanqar
  • Patent number: 7570630
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for causing a telephone device to selectively originate a call as a circuit-switched call or a packet-switched call, depending on the telephone number dialed by a user of the telephone device. By way of example, the telephone device can determine that the dialed telephone number is an international telephone number and can responsively originate the call as a packet-switched call, or the telephone device can determine that the dialed telephone number is not an international telephone number and can responsively originate the call as a circuit-switched call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Phillips, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 7567810
    Abstract: The method and system provides for sending data in response to a request from a device, wherein the data sent is based on the location and capabilities of the requesting device. In exemplary embodiments, an entity, such as a network server, can receive a request from the device, determine a location and one or more capabilities of the device, acquire context-based information based on the location and capabilities of the device, and send that information to the requesting device. The network server or other entity might also maintain a set of data that correlates data-references, which might point to respective data, with location and device capability information. The network server or other entity might then, in response to a request for context-based information, query the set of data to uncover at least one data-reference that the set of data correlates with the location and one or more capabilities of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Jerry A. Overton
  • Patent number: 7568002
    Abstract: A method and system for embellishing web content during transmission of the content between a content server and a client station. An intermediation system receives web content that is being transmitted via an HTTP communication path from the content server to the client station. The system then adds into the content at least one explanatory object and then sends the content with the explanatory object along the HTTP communication path to the client station. The explanatory object could take various forms. For instance, it could be an explanation of what will happen when a user clicks on a particular hyperlink in the web content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Vacanti, Todd M. Conley, Martin Geddes, David J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7567529
    Abstract: A method and system for managing communications over an air interface of a wireless network. A base station may measure a level of interference over the air interface. Based on the level of interference, the base station may adjust a data rate and a transmit power of signals transmitted over the air interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Mark Yarkosky
  • Patent number: 7567804
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing wireless IP connectivity, in which a wireless communication device (WCD) obtains a routable IP address during its registration with a radio access network, rather than first registering with the RAN and then subsequently requesting and acquiring packet-data connectivity. Preferably, when the WCD sends a radio access registration request that triggers a registration notification to a home location register (HLR), the HLR or an associated entity will assign an IP address for use by the WCD and will deliver the assigned IP address in a registration notification response message to the RAN. The RAN will then deliver the assigned IP address to the WCD over the air in a radio access registration response message. The WCD may then use the assigned IP address to engage in packet data communications, such as to set up a VoIP session with another IP node, for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Manish Mangal
  • Patent number: 7568202
    Abstract: A mobile information device may execute a Java MIDlet or a non-MIDlet application. The mobile information device may further include an object-oriented application program interface that allows one or more object-oriented object classes to allow input and output data to be communicated between Java MIDlets in different MIDlet Suites and between non-MIDlet applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Papineau, Jon Bostrom, Dana Myers
  • Patent number: 7565434
    Abstract: A method of canceling setup of a real-time media conference session between an originating station and a terminating station via a conference server in a scenario where the conference server receives an invitation message from the originating station to set up a conference session with the terminating station and the conference server receives a cancellation message from the originating station before setup of a conference leg between the conference server and the terminating station is complete. In such a scenario, the conference server would complete setup of the conference leg between the conference server and the terminating station. Then, the conference server may send a teardown message to the terminating station. The teardown message tears down the conference leg between the conference server and the terminating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Pawan Chaturvedi, Tong Zhou
  • Patent number: 7565106
    Abstract: A wireless signal repeater will function to boost the strength of signals being communicated wirelessly between a base station and a mobile station. At the same time, however, the wireless signal repeater will read control channel messages transmitted by the base station and will obtain from the messages an indication of outside temperature and an indication of local time. The repeater will then display the outside temperature and local time information for viewing by a user. Advantageously, the repeater will thus become a more functional object in the eyes of the average lay-person, rather than functioning merely to boost wireless signal levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dae-Sik Oh, Mark Yarkosky, Kristin Hayne
  • Patent number: 7555028
    Abstract: A method and system for defining additional spread spectrum channels within a coverage area already served by an existing wireless network. A first spread spectrum channel may be defined by a first range of frequencies. A second spread spectrum channel may be defined by a second range of frequencies. A portion of the first range of frequencies may overlap with a portion of the second range of frequencies. The overlap may be such that the first spread spectrum channel and the second spread spectrum channel may carry signals that minimally interfere with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dae-Sik Oh, Mark Yarkosky
  • Patent number: 7551915
    Abstract: A mobile node that is in communication with a correspondent node via a home agent initiates a process for establishing a route optimized mode of communication between the mobile node and the correspondent node. The mobile node sends a first initiating message to the home agent for delivery to the correspondent node and sends a second initiating message directly to the correspondent node. The mobile node secures the first initiating message by including an initiating-message authentication code that can be validated by the home agent or by an authentication server. The correspondent node responds by sending a first responsive message to the home agent for delivery to the mobile node and by sending a second responsive message directly to the mobile node. The home agent secures the first responsive message by adding a responsive-message authentication code that can be validated by the mobile node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Serge M. Manning, Charles Brent Hirschman, Mark A. Lipford
  • Patent number: 7551586
    Abstract: A method and system for using data rate as a basis to allow or deny handoff from an IS-856 (e.g., EV-DO) communication system to an IS-2000 (e.g., 1xRTT) communication system. A base station detects that a hybrid terminal has received a threshold low forward link IS-856 data rate for a threshold time period, and the base station will responsively evaluate the IS-2000 system to determine if the IS-2000 system has sufficient resources to provide at least as good a data rate as the IS-856 threshold data rate. If the base station thereby determines that the IS-2000 system is a good alternative, then the base station will allow a handoff to occur when the terminal seeks to handoff to IS-2000. On the other hand, if the base station thereby determines that the IS-2000 system is not a good alternative, then the base station will not allow the handoff to IS-2000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Meng Y. Yew, Hector M. Ribas, Jason P. Sigg, Abhijit V. Apte, Nandish M. Chalishazar
  • Patent number: 7552058
    Abstract: Convenient and automatic methods are disclosed for reporting a violation of a do-not-call list. The only action required by the callee is to enter a predetermined touch tone pattern on their telephone key pad when they receive the call (e.g. pressing 999), and then hanging up. Network node(s) on the telephone network receive the touch tones and interpret the touch tone pattern as an indication of a violation of the do-not-call list. The network node stores the phone number of the caller, the callee number and the time of the call. The network node automatically generates and sends a notice of violation to the agency administering the do-not-call registry. In alternative embodiments, two network nodes may be involved in automatically generating and transmitting the notice of violation. The nodes may be nodes in a Signaling System 7 network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Boaquan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7551920
    Abstract: A mobile station monitors received signal strength from a base transceiver station, either directly or by monitoring or some other measure of received signal quality, such as the ratio Ec/Io in a CDMA network. When the signal strength drops below a threshold, the mobile station is programmed to automatically send a feature code to the wireless network to activate unconditional call forwarding to a previously programmed directory number. When the mobile station re-enters the service network, i.e., the signal strength improves to an acceptable level or goes above the threshold, the mobile station automatically sends a feature code to turn off the unconditional call forwarding. Thereafter, incoming phone calls are directed to the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: John C. W. Ngan
  • Patent number: 7548981
    Abstract: A system and method are described for providing biometric authentication to mobile nodes, such as mobile nodes seeking a mobile Internet protocol (mobile IP) connection to a network. The mobile node sends a registration request that includes biometric data. If the biometric data is authenticated, the mobile node is provided with a network address, such as an IP address, to use in network communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Paul W. Taylor, Nathan A. Fink, Brian L. Senogles
  • Patent number: 7546120
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for managing transmission of media to a plurality of subscribers. As a general matter, a media management system determines that a more than a threshold number of subscribers scheduled to receive a given media transmission are located within a common zone (e.g., common wireless coverage area, common geographically-defined area, etc.), and the system responsively (i) divides the subscribers in the common zone into two or more groups and (ii) transmits the media to the groups sequentially. Preferably, the system waits a period of time between transmission to each group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Randy S. Ulvenes