Patents Examined by Erika A Washington
  • Patent number: 9672549
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing customer service help. The system first receives, from a user device, contact information associated with the user device, wherein the contact information is received via a customer service terminal having a user interface configured to wirelessly receive data from the user device when the user device is within a distance of the customer service terminal. In response to receiving the contact information, the system then identifies a customer service representative associated with the customer service terminal. The system then sends the contact information to a remote device associated with the customer service representative. The customer service representative can then initiate a customer service communication between the user device and the remote device in order to provide customer service help to the user associated with the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Vernick
  • Patent number: 9668158
    Abstract: A method of operating a mobile radio communication terminal, in which execution of at least one step of the method is controlled according to a device parameter which is assigned to the mobile radio communication terminal and which has exactly one of two possible device parameter values which indicate whether the mobile radio communication terminal is permanently stationary or not permanently stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Gemalto M2M GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Wehmeier, Volker Breuer
  • Patent number: 9667808
    Abstract: Techniques for contextual mobile data access are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a mobile device with a local gateway utility. The local gateway utility may be operative to receive a network request on a device, determine that the network request corresponds to a context-specific data plan for the device, the context-specific data plan authorizing performance of the network request through a zero-rated proxy server, and perform the network request for the application using the zero-rated proxy server as an intermediary. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Roi Tiger, Erbil Karaman
  • Patent number: 9668099
    Abstract: An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and method to determine a user equipment (UE) location in a wireless network using signals from a wireless local-area network are disclosed. A wireless communication network entity may be configured to send WLAN assistance data to a UE. The WLAN assistance data may include a list of one or more WLAN access points (APs). The wireless communication network entity may receive location information from the UE. The location information may be based on measurements of signals from one or more of the WLAN APs. The wireless communication network entity may determine an estimate of the location of the UE based on the location information and stored information at the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network entity may determine the estimate of the location of the UE based on the measurements of the signals of the WLAN APs and a geographic position of the WLAN APs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alexei Davydov, Jong-Kae Fwu, Gregory Morozov
  • Patent number: 9661586
    Abstract: Disclosed are a power control method and device for D2D transmission. The method includes determining an upper limit value of interference power corresponding to a terminal. The upper limit value of the interference power is the maximum interference value which is allowed by a base station and generated by D2D transmission to cellular transmission. The base station sending the upper limit value of the interference power to the terminal the terminal determines the upper limit value of D2D transmission power by using the upper limit value of the interference power. The terminal determines the upper limit value of the D2D transmission power, and determines the D2D transmission power, the D2D transmission power of the terminal device can be controlled, transmitting power of the D2D transmission is controlled to make the interference generated by same to the cellular transmission to a controlled range, and the interference of a D2D signal to a cellular signal is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CHINA ACADEMY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qiubin Gao, Rui Zhao, Wenhong Chen, Ying Peng
  • Patent number: 9661461
    Abstract: A method for searching an electronic device and an electronic device are provided. The method includes following steps. A request packet that is broadcasted by another electronic device according to a wireless communication protocol is received. It is determined whether the electronic device matches a target device indicated by the request packet according to target identification information in the request packet. If the electronic device does not match the target device indicated by the request packet, another request packet is generated and broadcasted according to the wireless communication protocol. If the electronic device matches the target device, indication for indicating location information of the electronic device is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Jung-Chu Hsu
  • Patent number: 9648450
    Abstract: Assistance techniques that give customers more knowledge and more freedom to seek out employees or other help providers. In an example method, a mobile device of a customer sends a request for assistance to a host computer, receives a location of help provider from the host computer, and displays the location on a map. The customer may then seek out the help provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory S. Egan, Gregory Sirmans, Matthew Kamp
  • Patent number: 9648578
    Abstract: One disclosure of the present specification provides a method for user equipment deactivating an idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) capability for a proximity service. The method for deactivating the ISR capability comprises the steps of: the user equipment activating ISR as a result of performing a routing area update (RAU) process or a tracking area update (TAU) process; the user equipment determining whether to deactivate the ISR for the proximity service; and the user equipment locally deactivating the activated ISR depending on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunsook Kim, Jaehyun Kim, Laeyoung Kim, Taehyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 9641979
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for forwarding location dependent messages from a first user's mobile device over a wireless communication network to a second user's mobile device, via a central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LOEB ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Loeb, Edward J. McCabe
  • Patent number: 9642082
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of a base station transmitting a coverage compensation request signal to determine switching to an idle state. The method comprising: transmitting, by the first base station, an idle switching request message for requesting switching to the idle state to a second base station in a compensation group to which the first base station belongs; transmitting a Coverage Compensation Request Message to a compensation base station pre-linked to the first base station in the compensation group; receiving a Coverage Compensation Response Message and an idle state switching response message from the compensation base station and the second base station, respectively; determining whether the first base station and the second base station in the compensation group are to switch to the idle state based on the received Coverage Compensation Request Message and the idle state switching response message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Daewook Byun, Insun Lee, Jian Xu, Kyungmin Park
  • Patent number: 9628976
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method by a terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes transmitting first information including a public land mobile network identifier (PLMN ID) for a sponsored service, to a first server operated by a service provider, receiving, in response to the first information, second information including a token related to the sponsored service from the first server, transmitting third information requesting the sponsored service based on the token to a second server operated by a network operator corresponding to the PLMN ID, and receiving authentication information from the second server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangsoo Jeong, Songyean Cho
  • Patent number: 9628953
    Abstract: An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and method to determine a user equipment (UE) location in a wireless network using signals from a wireless local-area network are disclosed. A wireless communication network entity may be configured to send WLAN assistance data to a UE. The WLAN assistance data may include a list of one or more WLAN access points (APs). The wireless communication network entity may receive location information from the UE. The location information may be based on measurements of signals from one or more of the WLAN APs. The wireless communication network entity may determine an estimate of the location of the UE based on the location information and stored information at the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network entity may determine the estimate of the location of the UE based on the measurements of the signals of the WLAN APs and a geographic position of the WLAN APs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alexei Davydov, Jong-Kae Fwu, Gregory Morozov
  • Patent number: 9609507
    Abstract: A method of supporting enhanced SIM replacement procedure is proposed. A UE detects that a first identification module running a first application is inserted. The first identification module belongs to a PLMN, and an enhanced service is provided by an operator of the PLMN via a second application. The UE sends a notification to the operator for obtaining a second identification module. The UE detects that the second identification module running the second application is inserted. The UE sends a second notification to the operator for activating the second identification module such that the UE is able to use the enhanced service provided by the operator. The device-assisted solution for SIM replacement complies with existing security/authentication model, has no standard charge, and complies with existing SIM replacement model and offers a simpler and more automatic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Chun Huang-Fu, I-Kang Fu
  • Patent number: 9609503
    Abstract: Provided is a method of generating a Device-to-Device Synchronization Signal (D2DSS) by a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method includes determining a service attribute for identifying whether the terminal is serviced by at least one base station; and generating a D2DSS for identifying whether the terminal is serviced by the base station, based on the determination result. In addition, provided is a method of configuring D2D synchronization by a terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method includes receiving a signal from at least one base station or another device; determining whether a synchronization signal is detected from the received signal; and when the synchronization signal is detected, configuring synchronization with the another device based on the timing reference of the detected synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Sangmin Ro, Yongjun Kwak, Jinyoung Oh, Seunghoon Choi
  • Patent number: 9602169
    Abstract: A communication apparatus includes first communication means having a first communication function for wirelessly communicating with a partner apparatus, and second communication means having an electric power supply function for wirelessly supplying electric power to the partner apparatus and a second communication function for wirelessly communicating with the partner apparatus. The second communication function is for transmitting specific data sequence to the partner apparatus in response to reception of specific data from the partner apparatus, and the electric power supply function is for supplying electric power to the partner apparatus in a case of receiving from the partner apparatus, with the first communication means, a signal indicating that the partner apparatus has received the data sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetada Nago
  • Patent number: 9602650
    Abstract: A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9596572
    Abstract: A system and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices is provided. The system obtains device data from a plurality of mobile devices within a similar area, gathered using, e.g., a GPS system. According to the speed that the mobile devices are travelling and the location of the similar area, traffic events can be identified and other mobile devices notified to provide dynamic updates as traffic situations change. Follow up notifications can be provided to update the user regarding the progress of traffic congestion, detours can be suggested, and various alerts provided. The mobile device may be connected to or part of a vehicle and leverage the notification system to provide different types of alerts and to notify users using various mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Christopher R. Wormald, Arcangelo Loberto, Raymond Reddy
  • Patent number: 9591117
    Abstract: Provided is a computer implemented method and system for delivering text messages, emails, and messages from a messenger application to a user while the user is engaged in an activity, such as driving, exercising, or working. Typically, the emails and other messages are announced to the user and read aloud without any user input. In Drive Mode, while the user is driving, a clean interface is shown to the user, and the user can hear announcements and messages/emails aloud without looking at the screen of the phone, and use gestures to operate the phone. After a determination is made that a new text message and/or email has arrived, the user is informed aloud of the text message/email/messenger message and in most instances, and if the user takes no further action, the body and/or subject of the text message/email/messenger message is read aloud to the user. All messages can be placed in a single queue, and read to the user in order of receipt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Garin Toren
  • Patent number: 9585011
    Abstract: Anonymizing location information of a mobile device by an anonymization provider. The anonymizing provider receives, from the mobile device, location information identifying the location of the mobile device and an anonymity requirement. The anonymization provider selects an obfuscation value indicating an extent of location obfuscation that satisfies the received anonymity requirement. The extent of location obfuscation determines location boundaries within which a generated obfuscated location will reside. The anonymization provider generates an obfuscated location for the mobile device and sends the obfuscated location to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Saritha Arunkumar, Stephen D. Pipes, Mudhakar Srivatsa
  • Patent number: 9584973
    Abstract: An integrated positioning apparatus acquires a first estimated position obtained by a first positioning scheme and a first weight for the first estimated position. The integrated positioning apparatus acquires a second estimated position obtained by a second positioning scheme and a second weight for the second estimated position. The integrated positioning apparatus corrects the first and second weights based on reference position information corresponding to position environment of a user. The integrated positioning apparatus integrates the first and second estimated positions to produce a third estimated position by using the corrected first and second weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Manho Park