Patents Examined by Erika Gary
  • Patent number: 8019367
    Abstract: A method and system allow a mobile subscriber to block reception of mobile terminated (MT) Short Message System (SMS) messages yet still have the ability to send outgoing mobile originated SMS messages. The method and system include determining whether a MT SMS feature setting is enabled or disabled at an SMS layer of a protocol stack of the mobile device and transmitting a mobile device registration message to a mobile network service center as SMS capable or incapable, depending on the MT SMS feature setting. The mobile device may be registered as SMS incapable by setting certain fields within information elements of registration messages. If a MT SMS message is received and the MT SMS feature setting is disabled, then the SMS layer may increment a blocked message counter and transmit a failure message to the service center. The service center may be included in a base station of the mobile network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Vyacheslav Lemberg
  • Patent number: 8019334
    Abstract: An approach is provided for context recovery. A radio link failure condition of a wireless link employed by a mobile unit is detected. An identifier of the mobile unit is received. A determination is whether the mobile unit can re-use connection parameters that were established prior to the failure condition. The mobile unit is instructed to re-use the connection parameters based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jarkko T. Koskela, Benoist P. Sebire
  • Patent number: 8019363
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. The invented system includes an apparatus that facilitates conversation with individuals not included in the user's buddy group, non-buddies. The system includes at least one additional routing code reserved for conversing with non-buddies. The first time during a user session that the system receives a message originating from or destined for a non-buddy, before routing the message, the non-buddy's personal identifier is associated with one of the reserved routing codes. The mobile user can then reply to the message using the same automated ‘reply’ function available for replies to buddies. The non-buddy routing code assignment is only for the duration of a user session. When the mobile user signs off from the system, the routing code becomes available for reassignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventors: B. Alex Robinson, Charles A. Carey, Michael Longe, Joe Parr
  • Patent number: 8014823
    Abstract: An intermediate element for a communications system is described that has at least one communications module (131) and at least one contact mechanism (134) that is independent in form in relation to the components (12) to be contacted with the contact mechanism (134). In addition, a communications system (10) as well as a method for producing a communications link between an electronic device (11) and a support element (12) is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Binder, Robert Spadinger
  • Patent number: 8014831
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is capable of communicating with a battery authorization server. Determining an authorization status of a smart battery currently powering the mobile communication device involves an initial authorization process and a subsequent authorization process. The initial authorization process is conducted between the mobile communication device and the smart battery. If the initial authorization process is successful, it is followed by a subsequent authorization process between the mobile communication device and the battery authorization server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Brown, Ian Robertson, Lyall Winger, Herbert A. Little
  • Patent number: 8014342
    Abstract: By adapting its search procedures, a user equipment in a mobile communication system can shorten the time needed to find a cell or public land mobile network. If a first cell in a first radio access technology has been found, the equipment can exclude one or more frequencies from a search for cells in a second radio access technology. Thus, time and power are not wasted searching for cells in the second radio access technology that cannot be found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Tomas Ekstedt, Johan Hokfelt, Jacob Lindquist, Jan Wichert
  • Patent number: 8010109
    Abstract: A method for determining if a call, corresponding to a mobile terminal located in a cell of a base station of a wireless telecommunication network is permitted to be routed through the base station. The method includes receiving a command representative of a level of acceptance of calls permitted to be routed through the base station, obtaining a class of service associated with the call, and deciding if the call is permitted to be routed through the base station according to the class of service of the call and the level of acceptance of calls permitted to be routed through the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas Voyer, Herve Bonneville
  • Patent number: 8009638
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing access delay associated with multiple access attempt exchanges in a communications network is provided. A system of the present invention may include a mobile station and a base station system for sending and receiving signals; an air interface link for carrying the signals; and a set of timing modules for governing the transmission of the signals, whereby the set of timing modules controls activation periods of the battery's current flow to the transmit clock according to a predetermined time interval. Control of activation periods minimizes delay during access attempts and conserves power resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom Chin, John Randall Pilkington
  • Patent number: 8005506
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a display located on a front side of the terminal and an input device located on a rear side of the terminal and having a rotatable wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoo-Sung Choi, Ju-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8005485
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for providing a discount to a device. A zone improvement plan code, associated with the device, is obtained. A demographic indicator, associated with the zone improvement plan code, is retrieved. The discount is retrieved from memory, with the discount based on the demographic indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert J. Starr, Samuel N. Zellner
  • Patent number: 8000723
    Abstract: A system is described that utilizes the measured characteristics of a cell site or a plurality of cell sites (100, 102, 104) and the cellular identification to selectively provide a wireless device (118) with location aiding from a cellular network server (120). The system may include a basestation (106, 108, 110) located within the cell site, a cellular measurement unit located in the wireless device (118), and a database (214) containing positional assistance information corresponding to the characteristic information. The system may also include a processing unit in signal communication with the basestation and the database (214) and a positional determination unit in the wireless device (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashutosh Pande, Lionel Jacques Garin
  • Patent number: 8000238
    Abstract: An apparatus for communicating data is provided that includes a cell site element associated with a base transceiver station and operable to receive a plurality of packets associated with a communications flow, the packets including a plurality of subrates. The cell site element is further operable to detect a congestion condition via a measurement of a level in a receive jitter buffer. When the congestion condition exists, individual subrates can be dropped from subsequent backhaul packets until congestion subsides. In more particular embodiments, the cell site element can be informed that congestion exists, whereby a congestion level is assigned to a collection of the subrates. In addition, the cell site element prioritizes the subrates and removes individual samples from one or more of the packets; high priority calls and critical radio control information are not affected during the congestion condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank G. Bordonaro, John P. Fussell, Bernie P. Pearce, Paul A. Schmidt, Uwe Sellentin
  • Patent number: 8000684
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mechanism to help improve message waiting notification. In accordance with the mechanism, when a RAN transmits an MWI to a mobile station after unsuccessful call setup paging of the mobile station, the RAN will transmit the MWI at a higher power level than the RAN used for transmitting the call setup paging. Using a higher transmission power specifically for the MWI should help the MWI reach the mobile station, particularly in a scenario where a reason for call setup paging failure was noise on the air interface. Consequently, the disclosed mechanism should help improve user experience by increasing the likelihood that mobile stations will receive and process MWIs soon after the associated voice mail messages are left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Ashish Bhan, Maulik K. Shah, Jason P. Sigg, Jasinder P. Singh, Anil Singh
  • Patent number: 7991388
    Abstract: A method and system for authenticating an account holder is disclosed herein. The method and system allows for real-time authentication with multiple procedures to prevent fraud and spoofing of the authentication process. The method and system involves the user photographing himself or herself for facial recognition verification, determination of location by cell phone tower verification, and a PIN preferably sent by SMS text message directly the account holder's mobile phone. The method and system may be used for verifying that a gambler is within a gambling jurisdiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: CommerceTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Becker, Alex Shah
  • Patent number: 7991390
    Abstract: A wireless communication terminal and program updating method are provided. The method downloads a binary file from a host computer to update a program. The method includes determining, if the wireless communication terminal is booted, whether the wireless communication terminal is in a binary file download mode or if the wireless communication terminal has been rebooted by generation of an undesired event; and if so, setting a start position for downloading the binary file according to the number of occurrences of the undesired event. Thereafter, even when downloading is interrupted by an undesired event, downloading is performed from a position at which it was interrupted, not from the start position of the file, so that the time required for downloading the file can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ki-Yong Nam
  • Patent number: 7983688
    Abstract: A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. The method includes transmitting from a remote unit to a base station remote unit channel data. The remote unit channel is generated at the remote unit and includes data about a first portion of communication channels on which the call can be executed. The method also includes applying a channel selection method to the remote unit channel data and to base station channel data so as to select a communication channel from among the first portion of communication channels. The base station channel data is generated at the base station and includes data about a second portion of the communication channels. The method further includes executing a call on the selected communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwire Legacy LLC
    Inventors: David B. Gibbons, Eamonn Gormley, Liang A. Hong, Elliott Hoole, Kamyar Moinzadeh
  • Patent number: 7979092
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for controlling an image in a mobile communication terminal. The apparatus includes a display for displaying an enlarged image; and a controller for, when an input for enlarging an image is detected, enlarging the image in a position in which the input for enlarging the image is detected, and displaying the enlarged image on the display. The apparatus controls the size of the image displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal, allowing convenient access to data displayed on the display and the selection of menus on the enlarged image and convenience in selecting menus from a small display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Eung-Seo Shin, Sung-Kyu Yoon
  • Patent number: 7970442
    Abstract: A chain-shaped foldable cellphone capable of expanding functions and changing shape during usage comprises a mainframe module, a display module, more than one dual-spindle connecting block and an expansible module or an extensive module, wherein the extensive module is a complementary connector of the expansible module, and the neighboring ends of the two modules can be connected mutually while the distant ends thereof can be connected to one of the spindles of one dual-spindle connecting block respectively; by using the pivotal connection of the dual-spindle connecting block, the mainframe module is pivotally connected to the display module, and a plurality of extensive module and expansible module of various functions can be further pivotally connected to construct a chain-shaped foldable cellphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Akina Chiang
  • Patent number: 7970394
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining coverage of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes traveling to multiple locations around access points of the wireless network, and for a plurality of client applications, measuring a performance parameter between a test client device and nodes of the wireless network, at a plurality of the multiple locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tropos Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrus Behroozi, Roman M. Arutyunov
  • Patent number: 7970379
    Abstract: A method for providing broadcast content is disclosed. The method maintains a system to deliver regionally broadcasted content to an electronic device located outside a region of the regionally broadcasted content, provides an application for the electronic device that allows the electronic device to request a streaming media signal representing the regionally broadcasted content even if the electronic device is located outside of the region, and communicates the streaming media signal to the electronic device responsive to a user request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes