Patents Examined by Cong Tran
  • Patent number: 8958779
    Abstract: A system for targeted delivery of advertising including the steps of: (a) receiving a navigation request from a mobile communication facility; (b) receiving an indicator input comprising (i) a geographical location in which the user is situated and (ii) queries or accesses to content associated with a plurality of other mobile communication facilities within the geographical location; (c) receiving a business rule; (d) receiving rendering capability data corresponding to a rendering capability of the mobile communication facility; (e) dynamically creating an advertisement based at least in part on the navigation request, the indicator input, the business rule, and the rendering capability data; and (f) transmitting the advertisement to the mobile communication facility for display thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Millennial Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorey Ramer, Adam Soroca, Dennis Doughty, Neal J. Karasic
  • Patent number: 8958830
    Abstract: A method and system for providing location based presence status and enhancing location privacy management in a mobile, instant messaging or social networking environment. A user specifies or saves their favorite locations (e.g. home, work, school, or particular business or point of interest locations), and specifies or selects names and/or categories to be shared for each user-specified location. In addition, the system provides multiple sharing levels for sharing multiple types of location contextual information. When user's current location corresponds to user-specified locations, location based presence status is provided to specified contacts according to the sharing level settings, and provides user the option to share location contextual information without sharing location coordinates of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: mPanion, Inc.
    Inventor: Neeraj Chawla
  • Patent number: 8948797
    Abstract: Registering a client computing device for online communication sessions. A registration server receives a message that has a push token that is unique to the client computing device and a phone number of the client computing device from an SMS (Short Message Service) transit device, which received an SMS message having the push token from the client computing device and determined the phone number of the client computing device from that SMS message. The registration server associates the push token and the phone number and stores it in a registration data store, which is used for inviting users for online communication sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Mathias, Justin Santamaria, Justin Wood, Joe Abuan, Jeremy Brown, Patrick Gates, Matthew Klahn, Andrew H. Vyrros, Braden Thomas, Drew Yao
  • Patent number: 8948729
    Abstract: A method for configuring a device includes receiving a first configuration profile comprising a first configuration and a first certificate and a second certificate, verifying the first configuration profile with the first certificate, receiving a user input indicating to accept the first configuration profile, configuring the device according to the first configuration, receiving a second configuration profile comprising a second configuration, verifying the second configuration profile with the second certificate and updating the device according to the second configuration, wherein the user is unaware of the updating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: Mitchell D. Adler, Curtis C. Galloway, Christophe Allie, Conrad Sauerwald, Dallas Blake De Atley, Dieter Siegmund, Matthew Reda, Michael Lambertus Hubertus Brouwer, Roberto G. YĆ©pez, Stan Jirman, Nitin Ganatra
  • Patent number: 8942677
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for enabling the management of a transit user account of a transit system with a mobile device. Embodiments of a transit system utilizing such transit user accounts are also disclosed. Embodiments for enabling a mobile device to manage a transit user account can include receiving an identification code of a fare media and receiving contact information of the mobile device. The transit user account, which can be used in transactions of the transit system associated with the fare media, can be created using user information and a passcode. Additionally, the mobile device can be authenticated by sending at least one message to the mobile device and receiving at least one message from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Philip B. Dixon, Timothy Cook, Pradip Mistry, Janet Koenig, David L. deKozan
  • Patent number: 8942671
    Abstract: An exemplary computing system may receive a first request from a first voice-communication device to establish a secure-voice-communication session with a second voice-communication device. The computing system may also receive a second request from the second voice-communication device to establish the secure-voice-communication session with the first voice-communication device. The computing system may establish the secure-voice-communication session between the first and second voice-communication devices. Corresponding methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Corporate Resources Group LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Haynes, Steven R. Rados
  • Patent number: 8942662
    Abstract: A miniaturized, ruggedized, field-deployable Portable Exposure Assessment System (PEAS) is used to remotely monitor workers and provide real-time warning of exposure to musculoskeletal injury conditions via alarm and smart-phone transmission. The PEAS unit wirelessly acquires exposure data from sensors; conducts initial data analysis; triggers proximal and remote alarms; sends out text messages with abnormal data, GPS locations, and time stamps to a safety office; and saves data for more extensive assessment. Sensor technology is used in this field-deployable system to simultaneously measure and collect the body loads and awkward postures imposed by package handling as well as driving-related, low-frequency vibration exposures. Wireless technology is used to set up wireless communication links between the sensors and a data logger and between the data logger and a smart phone with GPS, date/time stamp and text messaging capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Christopher S. Pan, Shengke Zeng, Bryan Wimer
  • Patent number: 8942741
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described wherein an initiating device sends a communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device. In response, the initiating device receives a communication indicating that the initiating device can provide a text message instead of establishing the voice call session. In some cases, the communication may refuse the request voice call session, while in other cases the communication may simply indicate that the recipient device supports text messaging as an alternative to voice mail. As a result of the received communication, the initiating device outputs a text input prompt. After receiving text input in response to the prompt, the initiating device sends a text message containing the received text input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Gilson
  • Patent number: 8934918
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and systems for maximizing bandwidth utilization. Once a mobile device has attempted to communicate data through an LTE-based wireless communications network, a carrier bandwidth of a carrier is determined. A standard cell structure is then selected based on the carrier bandwidth such that the standard cell structure is capable of operating at a larger bandwidth than the carrier bandwidth. One or more resource blocks are identified that are not needed to communicate data to and from the mobile device. These resource blocks are zero padded. An identification of these unused resource blocks is communicated to the master information block, which broadcasts this information to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Muhammad Ahsan Naim, Shahzada Basharat Rasool, Yu Zhou, Daniel Alberto Vivanco
  • Patent number: 8929914
    Abstract: Propagation delay offsets of wireless signals are compensated. Compensation is accomplished through determination of an effective wireless signal propagation delay that accounts for signal path delay and propagation delay over the air. Such determination is based at least in part on statistical analysis of accurate location estimates of reference positions throughout a coverage sector or cell, and location estimates of the reference positions generated through time-of-flight (TOF) measurements of wireless signals. Determination of propagation or signal path delay offset also is attained iteratively based at least in part on reference location estimates and TOF location estimates. High-accuracy location estimates such as those obtained through global navigation satellite systems are employed as reference location estimates. Position of probes or wireless beacons, deployed throughout a sector or cell, also are employed as reference locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Richard W. Davis
  • Patent number: 8929896
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for geolocation-based load balancing in a cloud computing environment hosting a mobile service. In some examples, a method may include calculating a probability of movement of a user device from a first cell to a second cell, and calculating an amount of cached data to copy from a second cache server corresponding to the second cell to a first cache server corresponding to the first cell based at least in part on the calculated probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: Shuichi Kurabayashi, Naofumi Yoshida, Kosuke Takano
  • Patent number: 8923858
    Abstract: A method includes, in a mobile communication terminal, receiving signals in a frequency band. One or more lists of entries are generated based on the received signals, each entry specifying a respective frequency channel suspected of containing a carrier of a respective Radio Access Technology (RAT). At least some of the entries are scanned in accordance with a scanning order that alternates from a first RAT to a second RAT before scanning all the entries of the first RAT. For each scanned entry, detection is made whether the respective frequency channel actually contains the carrier of the respective RAT. The detection of the carriers in the frequency band is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Yona Perets, David Ben-Eli, Shay Gershoni
  • Patent number: 8923864
    Abstract: A method and system is provided that supports minimizing handover times of netsurfing smartphones controlled by home Internet Access Devices (IADs) to shared IADs and optimizing earnings from these shared devices. The shared services are provisionable right at the handovers. Any shared IAD can implement an automatic auction of its service capacity controlled by a clearing system. The shared IADx automatically generates lucrative clicks on services of location based Internet-apps issued by Ayz passing through shared IADx's reach. Several such provisioning systems may run concurrently, thus enabling high flexibility as to instant and local/regional system restructuring, e.g. on behalf of pricing strategy adaptations and/or version control. The application of the invention needs no change of the networks between which the above described pre-HO support of their HOs/MHOs shall be performed, i.e. it may work on top of all networks between which HOs or MHOs may be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sigram Schindler Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Sigram Schindler
  • Patent number: 8923804
    Abstract: A notification device for a cellular telephone provides remote notification to a user of activity or events occurring on a paired cellular telephone. In an exemplary embodiment, the notification device includes a communications link operable to couple the notification device to a cellular telephone, an alert mechanism operable to provide at least one alert to a user of the notification device, a controller in communication with the communications link and alert mechanism, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing configurable parameters of the notification device. The controller is programmed to receive configuration parameters from the cellular telephone and to receive an alert signal from the telephone and activate an alert in response to the received signal. The activated alert may be a sound alert, a light alert, an alphanumeric alert, a vibration alert, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Trellie, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude N. Aldridge, II, Jason C. Reid
  • Patent number: 8918095
    Abstract: A communication system includes a development sector for registering a plurality of wireless devices, a business sector for controlling utilization of an application program and for receiving application data, a service sector for deploying the application program and for providing the application data to the business sector in accordance with communication with at least one wireless device of the plurality; and a mobile sector comprising the plurality of wireless devices, each device for receiving the application program deployed by the service sector, executing the application program in response to the business sector, and communicating with the service sector to support provision of the application data to the business sector. The wireless device, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or palm top computer may include an auxiliary device such as a bar code scanner, a magnetic stripe card reader, or a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Apriva, LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Coppinger, Michael S. Klingen, Rinaldo A. Spinella
  • Patent number: 8914072
    Abstract: Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Smuga, Darren A. Apfel, Jason S. Schneekloth, Ryan M. Haning, Michael J. Kruzeniski, Michael K. Henderlight, Brian M. Wilson, Paula Guntaur, Chad A. Voss
  • Patent number: 8909301
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to methods, systems and handheld electronic communications devices for selecting and displaying a caller ID image from an image database configured to respond to user input and selectively display images on a display. The image database stores at least one tag identifier data corresponding to each image. An address book database stores at least one individual identifier and at least one corresponding address. A caller ID image corresponding to at least one caller ID is selected from the images and displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Neil Patrick Adams
  • Patent number: 8909190
    Abstract: A portable (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Dale Carson
  • Patent number: 8903437
    Abstract: Efficient routing of a message over a data network. A first communication device sends a message to a telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator determines the communication protocol of the first communication device and the communication protocol of a second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator converts the message to a data format compatible with the second communication device, wherein the message is converted to one of at least three different communication protocols. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator then forwards the message for receipt by the second communication device. The telemetry gateway or short message arbitrator can convert and forward the message without completing a store and forward process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Numerex Corp.
    Inventors: Bryan Keith Tarleton, Michael J. Criscolo, Edward I. Comer, William George Simitses
  • Patent number: 8903447
    Abstract: A technique of operating a wireless communication system includes determining respective geometries of multiple subscriber stations, which include a first subscriber station and a second subscriber station, with respect to a serving base station. Respective channel sounding bandwidths for sounding the channel between the multiple subscriber stations and the serving base station are then scheduled, based on the respective geometries. The respective channel sounding bandwidths include a first channel sounding bandwidth (associated with the first subscriber station) and a second channel sounding bandwidth (associated with the second subscriber station). The first channel sounding bandwidth is greater than or equal to the second channel sounding bandwidth and the first subscriber station has a lower geometry than the second subscriber station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: James W. McCoy, Ning Chen