Patents Assigned to VERIZON
  • Patent number: 9374317
    Abstract: One or more devices, including one or more virtual elements associated with a virtual transmission system that emulates one or more physical devices of a physical transmission system, may receive provisioning information for a client device; provision the client device to prepare the client device to receive or transmit a data flow via the one or more virtual elements based on the provisioning information; receive the data flow; and transmit the data flow from the client device or to the client device via the one or more virtual elements based on provisioning the client device. The data flow may be transmitted or received via the one or more virtual elements to circumvent one or more gateways of the physical transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H Tan, Deepak Kakadia, Arda Aksu
  • Patent number: 9373140
    Abstract: A network device is configured to receive purchase information and receive, from a social networking server, information regarding a friend of the user. The network device is further configured to receive additional purchase information associated with the friend. The network device is further configured to generate, based on a result of comparing the purchase information and the additional purchase information, a recommendation, and send the recommendation to a user device associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Yulin Bao
  • Patent number: 9372935
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving data representative of a content instance over a network from an access device associated with a user, storing the data representative of the content instance, providing the user with an interface configured to allow the user to define at least one access rule corresponding to the content instance, the at least one access rule based on at least one user profile and at least one access device profile, receiving a communication from another access device over the network, and performing a predefined action related to the content instance in response to the communication and in accordance with the at least one access rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Brian Roberts, Don Relyea, Shadman Zafar
  • Patent number: 9374613
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a source media content processing device located at a customer premises 1) detects a user request to flick a media content instance from the source device to a destination media content processing device located at the customer premises and communicatively connected to the source device by way of a local area network (“LAN”), 2) in response to the detecting, hosts the media content instance at a resource address for access by way of the LAN and transmits the resource address to the destination device by way of the LAN, 3) receives, from the destination device by way of the LAN, a request to access the media content instance at the resource address, 4) and streams, to the destination device by way of the LAN in response to the request, data representative of the media content instance. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Balamuralidhar Maddali, T. Sahaya George, Madankanth Lanka, Abhishek Malhotra, Thalha Y. Refaye
  • Patent number: 9372905
    Abstract: A system may determine metadata information associated with data included in a data structure. The system may identify a category, associated with the data, based on the metadata information. The system may present, for display, a user interface that allows a user to build a graphical query based on the category. The graphical query may include a user-defined visual representation of a data structure query associated with the data. The system may receive information associated with the graphical query based on presenting the user interface. The information associated with the graphical query may be received based on input provided via the user interface, and may include information associated with the category. The system may provide the information associated with the graphical query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Surya Rebbapragada, Arockia R. Jeyaraj, Thuy X. Nguyen, Srinivas S. Halembar, Yogesh Sawant, Ibrahim Itani
  • Patent number: 9374461
    Abstract: A set-top box (STB) obtains a listing of businesses responsive to a request for a business directory search from a customer. The STB receives, from a customer, a selection of a business from the listing of businesses to call. The STB performs one of: initiating, at the STB, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call to a phone number associated with the business and connecting the VoIP call to a mobile device, or other VoIP device, associated with the customer via a VoIP network, or initiating, at the STB, establishment of a call between a phone number associated with the business and a mobile device associated with the customer via a telephone network. The STB sends data associated with the request for the business directory search to a billing server for billing the customer for the request for the business directory search received at the STB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: David Lobo, Sherrill A. Moss, Apurva Pathak, Mary T. Thomas, Carson C. Burrus, Rachna R. Sheth, Sundar Rajan Padmanabhan, Xiaodong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9374333
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content discovery system 1) receiving a message addressed to a personalized destination within a media content consumption service, the message having originated outside of the media content consumption service, 2) posting information associated with the message to the personalized destination within the media content consumption service for access by a user from within the media content consumption service, 3) receiving a request provided by the user from within the media content consumption service to access the information posted to the personalized destination, and 4) providing, within the media content consumption service in response to the request, a personalized user interface that presents the posted information. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON AND REDBOX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Brian F. Roberts, Joseph F. Ambeault, Shawn M. Strickland
  • Patent number: 9374342
    Abstract: A device may verify whether pinholes in a perimeter protection device are open and may determine pinhole opening and closing delays. The method for determining the pinhole opening delay may include sending a stream of packets for passing through the pinhole in the network perimeter protection device. The packets in the stream may be sent at known time intervals. The method may include receiving one or more of the packets in the stream, wherein the received packets passed through the pinhole. The pinhole opening delay may be based on an indication of the position of the first one of the packets received in the stream and the known time intervals. The pinhole closing delay may be based on the number of packets having passed through the pinhole, after sending a session termination message, and the known time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Gaston S. Ormazabal, Henning G. Schulzrinne, Eilon Yardeni, Kundan Singh
  • Patent number: 9374290
    Abstract: A system and method for providing Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) performance testing is disclosed. The system may comprise an input configured to receive configuration information for performance testing of a network element. The system may also comprise an output configured to transmit traffic generation information based on the configuration information to a traffic generator to generate continuous streams of bidirectional TCP traffic to the network element and to output results of performance testing based on analysis of network element response. The system may also comprise a processor configured to analyze network element response to the continuous streams of bidirectional TCP traffic, wherein the results of performance testing are based on analysis of network element response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Daniel H. Davis, Travis J. Chelgren, James P. Koskulitz
  • Patent number: 9374289
    Abstract: A system comprising: one or more server devices to: set a first network threshold level for determining network congestion in a network; set rate limiting criteria for determining when one or more subscribers will be rate limited; detect an increase in network congestion at a base station above the first network threshold level; identify one or more subscribers meeting one or more of the rate limiting criteria; rate limit network traffic associated with the one or more subscribers; detect a decrease in network congestion at the base station below a second network threshold level; and remove the rate limiting of the network traffic associated with the one or more subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Lalit R. Kotecha, John F. Macias, Patricia R. Chang, David Chiang
  • Patent number: 9374698
    Abstract: An individual uses a communication device to provide information identifying the type of emergency that the individual is experiencing. In response to receiving an emergency alert, an inquiry as to whether the received emergency alert relates to a medical emergency or to a non-medical emergency is generated and provided to the user. Upon receiving a response indicating that the emergency alert relates to a medical emergency, a medical history of the individual is automatically retrieved and a geographical location of the user is determined. A medical emergency service that is suitable for determining a type of medical assistance required by the individual is automatically identified based on the received confirmation and the retrieved medical history. A bi-directional communication with a communication device of the identified medical emergency service is established to upload to a data storage element of the communication device the medical history and geographical location of the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Walid K. M. Ahmed, Michael Adamo
  • Patent number: 9370037
    Abstract: A first device associated with an evolved packet core network receives a first update request from a second device associated with the evolved packet core network. The first update request is associated with a communication session previously provided between the first device and the second device, and the first update request is generated based on a voice/video request. The first device generates an update answer in response to the first update request, where the update answer includes a code requesting that the communication session be restored between the first device and the second device. The first device receives, based on the code, a second update request from the second device, where the second update request includes session information associated with the communication session. The first device restores, based on the session information, the communication session between the first device and the second device to create a restored communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Niranjan B. Avula, Imtiyaz Shaikh, Priscilla Lau, Ho Yin Cheuk, Robert M. Ephraim
  • Patent number: 9369763
    Abstract: In an exemplary method, a media service personalization system determines a first frequency response pattern based on frequency responses to a plurality of alternating current signal frequencies output to at least one external electrode of a remote control device, correlates the first frequency response pattern to a first personalized mode of operation, and directs a media service access device to operate in accordance with the first personalized mode of operation. In certain examples, the media service personalization system directs a frequency response determination facility of the remote control device to output the plurality of alternating current signal frequencies to the at least one external electrode of the remote control device and measure the frequency responses to the plurality of alternating current signal frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventor: Chidananda Khatua
  • Patent number: 9369756
    Abstract: A device receives a request for a digital video recorder (DVR) to record digital contents. The device identifies the digital contents using metadata included in the request, such as a channel and a time associated with the digital contents, to access additional metadata from an electronic program guide (EPG), such as an identifier. The device uses the additional metadata from the EPG to determine whether the digital contents are available via video on demand (VOD). For example, the device may compare the identifier and/or other metadata for the digital contents to metadata associated with VOD content, such as a VOD catalog. The device may selectively prevent the DVR from recording the digital contents if the digital contents are available via VOD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Deepak Natarajan, Aravind Vaidhyanathan, Vijayan Radhakrishnan, JanardhanReddy Tripuram, Venkatesan M. Sriraman, Sivasubramanian Parthasarathy, Kavitha PanneerSelvam
  • Patent number: 9369833
    Abstract: A first mobile device may receive, via a text messaging application, first location information from a second mobile device. The first location information may indicate a first geographic location of the second mobile device. The first mobile device may receive, via the text messaging application, second location information from the second mobile device. The second location information may indicate a second geographic location of the second mobile device. The first mobile device may generate, based on the first location information and the second location information, a graphical representation. The graphical representation may represent a movement of the second mobile device from the first geographic location to the second geographic location. The first mobile device may provide the graphical representation for display via a display associated with the first mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Mahendra Tharshanan, Amir Mayblum, Jerry M. Kupsh, Ian Lynn, Kim M. Gutierrez, Eric Burns, Ratna Desai, Kyle Hoyt
  • Patent number: 9369588
    Abstract: One or more devices may be configured to store jurisdiction information that associates each of a plurality of base stations with at least one jurisdiction. The one or more devices may establish a session, between a first base station and a user device, that uses a frequency. The one or more device may record handover information based on the first base station handing over the session to a second base station. The handover information may indicate an amount of data used while the session is hosted by the first base station. The one or more devices may determine a particular jurisdiction associated with the first base station based on the jurisdiction information. The one or more devices may cause a particular rights holder to be compensated for use of the frequency based on the amount of data used while the session is hosted by the first base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Max A. Solondz, Arda Aksu
  • Patent number: 9369569
    Abstract: A device receives information associated with a voice-over-long term evolution (VoLTE) call from multiple network devices that handle the VoLTE call and that are provided in an evolved packet system (EPS). The device identifies particular parameters from the information associated with the VoLTE call, and combines the particular parameters into an end-to-end call record for the VoLTE call. The device outputs or stores the end-to-end call record for the VoLTE call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Maria G. Lam, Parry Cornell Booker, Imtiaz Shaikh
  • Patent number: 9369964
    Abstract: A mobile device may manage the battery of the mobile device by controlling radio power usage. In one implementation, a mobile device may determine a target power usage associated with a radio of the mobile device, the radio implementing a radio link with a base station associated with a cellular wireless network. The mobile device may also determine an actual power usage associated with the radio of the mobile device and compare the actual power usage to the target power usage. The mobile device may communicate with the base station, and based on the comparison of the actual power usage to the target power usage, to cause the base station to reduce a bit rate associated with the radio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Jignesh Shantilal Panchal, Raafat Edward Kamel, Lalit R. Kotecha
  • Patent number: 9369780
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a media content management system receiving a media content stream, independently processing the media content stream in accordance with a multi-stage feature detection heuristic and in accordance with a signature matching heuristic, and classifying, based on the independent processing, a media content block included in the media content stream as including an advertisement break. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Si Ying Diana Hu, Eduardo Jimenez, Joaquin A. Delgado
  • Patent number: 9360854
    Abstract: A first device is configured to receive, from a second device, an indication of a presence of a third device inside of a vehicle, where the first device is located inside of the vehicle. The first device is further configured to receive data associated with the vehicle, determine a vehicle condition, of the vehicle, based on the data associated with the vehicle, and deactivate a function associated with the third device based on the vehicle condition. The first device may prevent the third device from performing the deactivated function when an instruction to perform the deactivated function is received by the third device via manual input. The first device may permit the third device to perform the deactivated function when the instruction to perform the deactivated function is received by the third device via a hands-free device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Lalit R. Kotecha, Matthew W. Nelson, Sagiv Draznin