Patents Assigned to United States Cellular Corporation
  • Patent number: 8274985
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling cellular access to data services from a mobile device such as a cellular telephone or PDA. The wireless network monitors IP traffic to and from the mobile device. Attempts to access an data service are checked to determine whether the requested access is authorized. Access to the data service is granted subject to the authorization. Access to the mobile device from external sources is also restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Narayanan Haran, Michael Irizarry, Narothum Saxena
  • Patent number: 8249604
    Abstract: A femto cell is provided that automatically routes new communication sessions among the connected mobile and landline handsets based upon local detection of mobile registration with the femto cell, which helps to reduce the backhaul bandwidth requirements and offload backend network processing load. When the mobile handset successfully registers with the femto cell, a User Detection Module at the femto cell routes new calls destined for the mobile telephone number to one or more traditional landline handsets. The femto cell also provides a ring tone to the connected landline handsets for making the outgoing calls. Since the mobile handset remains available for conducting additional communication sessions, the user is able to talk on the landline handset while conducting a simultaneous data session using the mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Jaideep Abichandani, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 8195196
    Abstract: A system and method are described for providing proximity-based Internet server access in mobile network environments such as cellular environments to reduce latency and enhance customer satisfaction. In an embodiment of the invention, a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) caches location information regarding the mobile device. When the mobile device later attempts to resolve the domain name of a distributed service, the domain name service (DNS) server, via a policy manager, queries the MPC for the location of the user. The policy manager of the DNS server may then choose a server based on a number of criteria, including, for example, the geographical proximity of the user to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Narayanan Haran, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 8145210
    Abstract: A system and method are described whereby an enhanced handoff scheme provides for monitoring of mobile device conditions and network conditions associated with a current access network attachment, as well as with a plurality of access networks on a preferred access network list, to proactively initiate a handoff operation, thereby preserving the QoS constraints necessary for seamless delivery of IP multimedia services. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of access networks is connected to an IMS core network, whereby a policy function receives quality of service constraints associated with the launched application from the mobile device and orders a list of preferred access networks accordingly. Preferably, the policy function selects an appropriate access gateway associated with a target access network based at least in part on the mobile device conditions reported by the mobile device and the access network conditions monitored by the policy function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thalanany, Michael Irizarry, Narothum Saxena
  • Publication number: 20120044069
    Abstract: The described system and method enable user health monitoring and alerting by providing an arm-mounted sensor wirelessly linked to a wrist-mounted transponder, although the wrist-mounted transponder may be omitted in favor of a user-carried cellular device. In either embodiment of the invention, a remote server is included to receive user health data and alerts, and to log received data and, when necessary, to alert health service providers. Health service providers may include physicians and emergency services providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry, Ravideep Bhatia
  • Patent number: 8112532
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide a system and method for tearing down and reclaiming an IP address from a multi-IP stack device based on configurable timer parameters that provide a network operator with independent control over each protocol-specific IP network layer session. Dedicated idle and session timers for each IP network layer session are implemented at the network layer of various network nodes in order to independently tear down IPv4 and IPv6 network sessions while maintaining the underlying link layer connection. In embodiments, the IP protocol-specific idle and session timers are processed by the Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) or the Home Agent (HA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Mankesh S. Ahluwalia, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry, George Pitsoulakis
  • Patent number: 8086237
    Abstract: A method of constructing a neighbor list for a plurality of sectors in a cellular communication environment sorts reference neighbor pairs in the network by number of occurrences based on data derived from one or more PSMM transmissions, analyzes pairs in the sorted list and determines for each pair whether a percentage of occurrence exceeds a first threshold and whether a measure of direct transition statistics exceeds a second threshold. If the percentage of occurrence exceeds a first threshold and the measure of direct transition statistics exceeds a second threshold, then if the reference's neighbor list and reciprocal neighbor list have fewer than a predetermined number of neighbors, the process adds neighbors to the reference's NL and reciprocal NL in order of occurrence percentage to create a final neighbor list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Mario Vela, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 8027680
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include providing access by a user device of a network service including: sending an initiation signal to a SIP proxy server, initiating an application on the user device, sending QoS parameters for the user device and the application to a policy function server, sending a resource allocation request to a first access gateway, providing the network service in accordance with the QoS parameters, if the first access gateway can no longer provide the network service in accordance with the QoS parameters, determining a second access gateway that can provide the network service according to the QoS parameters, providing the network service to the user device via a link between the first and second access gateways, providing the network service to the user device via the second access gateway when communication between the user device and the second access gateway has been established; and closing the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Thalanany, Michael Irizarry, Narothum Saxena
  • Patent number: 7975053
    Abstract: The present invention provides the benefits of negotiated network resources to session-unaware applications. When a session-unaware application runs on a mobile device, the device, knowing that the application is session-unaware, negotiates appropriate network-policy parameters for the application. The application remains unaware, but it receives the benefits of the network-policy parameter negotiation. The network-policy parameter negotiation is carried on between the mobile device and a “network policy mediator” in the network. Together, they reserve the appropriate network resources and secure the appropriate guarantees. In some embodiments, a software “shim” runs in the network-protocol stack on the mobile device. By intercepting network-access attempts sent by the session-unaware application, the shim knows to begin the network-policy parameter negotiation. In some embodiments, the mobile device downloads information about session-unaware applications from the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: John Harlan Poplett, Claudio Giovanni Taglienti, Michael Irizarry, Narothum Saxena
  • Patent number: 7973512
    Abstract: A mobile telephone charger capable of reproducing a promotional audio tune is provided comprising a housing, a power input connector attached to the housing for receiving an electrical power input, a power output connector attached to the housing for charging a mobile telephone responsive to the electrical power input, a power detector module for generating an enabling signal in response to detecting the electrical power input, an audio chip module responsive to the enabling signal for generating a predetermined audio signal, the predetermined audio signal corresponding to audio data stored in a computer readable medium disposed in the mobile telephone charger, and an audio transducer for generating an audio output in response to the predetermined audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Sean William Sage, Patricio Nicolas Paucar, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 7949110
    Abstract: A system and method are described whereby an IP telemetry gateway is hosted by an MVNO in order to relay the telemetry information between remote devices located in an IP network and telemetry servers operated by legacy telemetry customers. In an embodiment, the IP network is a CDMA2000 1X wireless network. Once the IP network identifies a device as part of the telemetry network, it assigns such device a static private IP address. A VPN connection is used to extend the private network of remote devices to the IP telemetry gateway. The IP telemetry gateway maps each remote device's legacy address to its corresponding IP address in order to communicate with the legacy servers and the wireless network via circuit switched and packet data connections respectively. Preferably, the remote devices maintain an always on data connection to allow the telemetry servers to address the remote devices at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Jaideep Abichandani, Michael Irizarry, Narothum Saxena
  • Patent number: 7885636
    Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention outline two solutions to the problems described above regarding simple IP data access for pre-paid subscribers. The first solutions includes a method for providing pre-paid simple IP data service to a subscriber in a network, including: sending an access request from a point of attachment in an access network capable of providing an IP network access to a home network remote authentication server which deploys a Pre-Paid Client (PPC) and receiving in the point of attachment an access request response from the home network remote authentication server. The second solution includes a method for providing pre-paid simple IP data service to a subscriber in a network, including: sending an access request from a Mobile Station (MS) which deploys a Pre-Paid Client (PPC) to a home network remote authentication server and receiving in the MS an access request response from the home network remote authentication server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Claudio Taglienti, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 7886349
    Abstract: The described embodiments include a system for controlling communications between a first network and a second network including a plurality of in-line security devices, the in-line security devices being configured to manage communication between the first network and the second network, and including a state server connected to the plurality of in-line security devices, the state server being configured to receive state information about the state of the connections established by a first one of the in-line security devices and to communicate the state information to at least a second one of said in-line security devices. In one embodiment, the in-line security devices are firewalls. In another embodiment, state server communicates the state information received from the first one of the firewall devices and communicates the state information to every other one of the plurality of firewall devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Claudio Taglienti, Michael Irizarry, Narothum Saxena
  • Publication number: 20100325285
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are used to provide a system and method for tearing down and reclaiming an IP address from a multi-IP stack device based on configurable timer parameters that provide a network operator with independent control over each protocol-specific IP network layer session. Dedicated idle and session timers for each IP network layer session are implemented at the network layer of various network nodes in order to independently tear down IPv4 and IPv6 network sessions while maintaining the underlying link layer connection. In embodiments, the IP protocol-specific idle and session timers are processed by the Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) or the Home Agent (HA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Mankesh S. Ahluwalia, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry, George Pitsoulakis
  • Publication number: 20100311416
    Abstract: A femto cell is provided that automatically routes new communication sessions among the connected mobile and landline handsets based upon local detection of mobile registration with the femto cell, which helps to reduce the backhaul bandwidth requirements and offload backend network processing load. When the mobile handset successfully registers with the femto cell, a User Detection Module at the femto cell routes new calls destined for the mobile telephone number to one or more traditional landline handsets. The femto cell also provides a ring tone to the connected landline handsets for making the outgoing calls. Since the mobile handset remains available for conducting additional communication sessions, the user is able to talk on the landline handset while conducting a simultaneous data session using the mobile phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Jaideep Abichandani, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 7787888
    Abstract: A system and method are described for providing and using an inter-working location gateway (IWLG) that allows a trusted/non-trusted user plane mobile node to successfully utilize user location services while data roaming. In an embodiment, once the mobile node establishes a data connection while roaming, the mobile node uses IP connectivity to exchange messages, e.g., IS-801 messages, with an IWLG located in the home network. Via the messaging, the mobile node provides certain parameters which the IWLG uses to determine which network the mobile node is roaming. The IWLG interfaces with the appropriate network elements in the visited network to determine the location of the mobile node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Narayanan Haran, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Publication number: 20100167724
    Abstract: A home wireless network is provided that communicates an improved Preferred Roaming List (PRL) that includes service type and service priority indicators for a plurality of wireless service combinations and corresponding roaming networks. Preferably, the service type indicator is a numerical indicator that encodes a combination of multiple wireless services offered by each roaming partner network. In case when more than one roaming network provides the requested wireless service, the service priority indicator provides a priority of selection of roaming networks for a given requested service in accordance with a plurality of parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Narayanan Haran, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 7701870
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems for monitoring network usage according to predetermined rules and calculating user charges based on the network usage. The described technique includes receiving a data packet, extracting parameters from the data packet and determining whether the extracted parameters match at least one rule in a rules engine. Charges for the data packet are calculated based on the matched rules. The data packet is forwarded on to its destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Ravideep Bhatia, Claudio Taglienti, Andy Sofronas, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Publication number: 20100066306
    Abstract: A mobile telephone charger capable of reproducing a promotional audio tune is provided comprising a housing, a power input connector attached to the housing for receiving an electrical power input, a power output connector attached to the housing for charging a mobile telephone responsive to the electrical power input, a power detector module for generating an enabling signal in response to detecting the electrical power input, an audio chip module responsive to the enabling signal for generating a predetermined audio signal, the predetermined audio signal corresponding to audio data stored in a computer readable medium disposed in the mobile telephone charger, and an audio transducer for generating an audio output in response to the predetermined audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Sean William Sage, Patricio Nicolas Paucar, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry
  • Patent number: 7620383
    Abstract: The invention increases billing options for a wireless service provider by allowing the provider to make billing decisions based upon what a client or mobile station application does both on and off the network. This type of billing, based on context, generates a billing record of events whether or not a particular client accesses the wireless network or not. The invention also provides transmission quality data allowing the wireless network provider to improve user experience in a wireless network. The invention captures the context, including content, quantity, and/or quality of data processed by a mobile station using a client-based application rather than a network-based application. The client-based application causes the mobile station to transmit a billing record corresponding to the captured context to a user monitoring server. The user monitoring server processes the billing record for determining billing and for generating engineering reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation
    Inventors: Claudio Taglienti, Narothum Saxena, Michael Irizarry