Patents Examined by Fred Casca
  • Patent number: 10055764
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic short messaging and advertising method where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Some embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic sales method. The invention may also be applied for normal short messaging. The electronic short messaging method for collect calling may send transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or the telephony network. The method may include sending a first transmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the first transmission defines one or more active alternatives including at least one of initiating a collect call and deleting the first transmission. The method may also include calculating costs associated with at least one of the first transmission and the one or more active alternatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
    Inventor: Mikko Kalervo Vaananen
  • Patent number: 10003974
    Abstract: Representative embodiments set forth techniques for enabling a mobile device to be a member of various trust circles. According to some embodiments, an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) included in the mobile device can be configured to store, for each trust circle of which the eUICC is a member, at least one digital certificate associated with a Certificate Authority (CA) that serves as a root of the trust circle. In this manner, the at least one digital certificate for each trust circle enables the eUICC to participate as a member of the trust circle. According to some embodiments, the eUICC can be pre-configured to include digital certificates that establish membership to trust circles that the mobile device may encounter during operation. Moreover, the eUICC can also be updated to modify the different trust circles, which can further enable the functionality of the mobile device to evolve throughout its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Xiangying Yang
  • Patent number: 10003918
    Abstract: A method for determining a geographic location of a mobile electronic device and providing a local emergency services number to the mobile electronic device based on the determined geographic location, including receiving a request to place an emergency services call; determining, in response to receiving the request to place the emergency services call, a current cellular geolocation of the mobile electronic device; accessing a cellular geolocation/local emergency services number table; determining a local emergency number for the current cellular geolocation, using the current cellular geolocation and at least some information stored in the cellular geolocation/local emergency number table; and placing the requested emergency services call, using the determined local emergency number for the current cellular geolocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Worldwide Live Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Tudor, Dani R. Sleiman
  • Patent number: 9998947
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for intelligent handling of voice calls from mobile voice client devices. In some embodiments, the network device detects that a load, corresponding to a plurality of client devices associated with an access point, exceeds a particular threshold value. In some embodiments, the network device detects that a call quality for a current ongoing call, corresponding to a first client device associated with an access point, is below a first threshold value. In response, the network device selects a particular client device, of the plurality of client devices associated with the access point, for disassociation with the access point. The network device then causes the particular client device to disassociate with the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ARUBA NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Gopal Agarwal, Ramesh Ardeli, Venkatesh Joshi, Vamsi Kodavanty, Hari Kurmala, Edward Vajravelu
  • Patent number: 9992732
    Abstract: The invention relates to operating a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device for communication with a cellular radio network. A transmission is made from the MTC device to the cellular radio network to register the MTC device with the cellular radio network. The transmission includes a message from the MTC device to the cellular radio network, identifying the MTC device as an MTC device to the cellular radio network. Also, the MTC device has an associated HPLMN. An instruction is received at the MTC device from the network not to make a transmission from the MTC device for accessing the network. The instruction specifies a criteria for the MTC device's HPLMN or preferred list of networks. The MTC Device compares the criteria with the HPLMN associated with the MTC device and avoids making a transmission to access the network for a period of time based on the result comparing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: VODAFONE IP LICENSING LIMITED
    Inventors: Nick Russell, Christopher David Pudney, Gavin Wong, Peter Robert Dawes, Robert Banks
  • Patent number: 9992663
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first mobility management node for handling updated subscriber data associated with a UE. The UE is currently unreachable by the first mobility management node. The first mobility management node receives, from a subscriber database, updated subscriber data associated with the UE. At least part of the updated subscriber data is modified. The first mobility management node determines that transmission of the updated subscriber data to a gateway node should be postponed until the UE has become reachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Roland Gustafsson, Gunnar Rydnell
  • Patent number: 9986104
    Abstract: A device may determine a subscriber identifier associated with a subscriber device. The device may obtain a service indicator based on the subscriber identifier. The service indicator may identify a network service to which a subscriber, associated with the subscriber identifier, is subscribed. The device may obtain a charging data function (CDF) identifier based on the service indicator. The CDF identifier may identify a destination CDF for charging messages associated with the network service. The device may establish a communication session associated with the subscriber device and the network service. The device may transmit one or more charging messages, associated with the communication session, to the destination CDF identified by the CDF identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Nanjundan, Arvind Aggarwal, Earlin George
  • Patent number: 9980273
    Abstract: Provided is a method by which a terminal performs a measurement in a cloud wireless communication system comprising one or more baseband units (BBUs), and one or more remote radio units (RRUs) connected to the specific BBU among the BBUs so as to directly provide services to the terminal through one or more cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyeyoung Choi, Jaehoon Chung, Eunjong Lee, Heejeong Cho, Genebeck Hahn
  • Patent number: 9980093
    Abstract: A mobile terminal device includes a display unit, an operation unit, a position detection unit, a communication unit, and a controller. The operation unit is operated by a user. The position detection unit detects a position of the mobile terminal device. The communication unit makes communication with another mobile terminal device. The controller decides whether the another mobile terminal device is approaching the mobile terminal device on a basis of a position of the another mobile terminal device received by the communication unit, and the position of the mobile terminal device detected by the position detection unit, and darkens a part or whole of a screen of the display unit, upon deciding that the another mobile terminal device is approaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadaaki Akimoto
  • Patent number: 9980246
    Abstract: Acquiring three-dimensional location information, and using acquired three-dimension location information to locate users and enhance their experience in relation to location-based services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: NextNav, LLC
    Inventors: Ganesh Pattabiraman, Deepak Joseph
  • Patent number: 9967916
    Abstract: A method for operating cellular connectivity in a wearable device includes configuring a sensor device to measure physical activity of a user and to output measurement data representing the measured physical activity; establishing, by using a cellular radio device included in the wearable device, cellular connectivity with an access node of a cellular communication system; and adjusting utilization of cellular uplink resources allocated to the cellular radio device according to a rate at which the measurement data from the sensor device becomes available for uplink transmission in the wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventors: Jari Miettinen, Marko Tilvis, Juha Sorvala, Harri Määttä, Vesna Somero
  • Patent number: 9961664
    Abstract: A device may receive, from a base station, a wireless signal. The device may determine, based on the wireless signal, at least one of a signal quality value associated with the wireless signal or information indicative of a location of the base station relative to the device. The device may output a positioning notification, indicative of a manner in which the device is to be positioned, based on at least one of the signal quality value or the information indicative of the location of the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Chandwani, Frank Jager, Ratul Kumar Guha
  • Patent number: 9955396
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide for systems and methods to enable mobile devices to connect to the Internet while in a moving vehicle that includes one or more internal cabin access points (CAPs) and one or more external vehicle access point (VAPs), but are not so limited. A disclosed system operates to enable passengers to use one or more mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. to connect to the Internet via access points (APs) positioned along the path of travel of a moving vehicle. A disclosed method operates to seamlessly maintain network connectivity for wireless device users of a vehicle network moving from one service station AP to another service station AP along a path of travel of a moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Sean Heinz
  • Patent number: 9955358
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided for building a reference database used to estimate a position of a wireless local area network (WLAN) enabled device. Samples are obtained for WLAN access points, the samples for each WLAN access point being based on WLAN signals transmitted by the WLAN access point and received by one or more scanning devices. Software of a WLAN positioning system executing on one or more computing devices estimates a position of each WLAN access point based on the samples of the WLAN access point. The software also estimates a geographical area covered by the samples of each WLAN access point and determines a quality metric of each WLAN access point based on the estimated geographical area covered by the samples of the WLAN access point. The software then builds the reference database based on the estimated position and quality metric of each WLAN access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Kaveh Pahlavan, Nicolas Brachet
  • Patent number: 9949230
    Abstract: Determining a location quality based on base station identification is disclosed. The location quality can be based on an error attributed to a location determined based on historical data related to an identified base station. Application of supplemental data to the historical base station data can improve location quality by reducing the error. Supplemental data can comprise Voronoi data, geographic data, historical UE density data, historical UE timing advance data, or combinations thereof. Voronoi data can be associated with an area less than a service area of the base station. Geographic data can indicate areas where UEs are not likely to be located. UE density data can indicate probably UE locations. Timing advance data can indicate annular regions where a UE should be located. As such, the supplemental data can constrain a location determined for a UE and correspondingly can reduce error associated with the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon Kent Meredith, William Cottrill, Rick Tipton
  • Patent number: 9942748
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a service provisioning system and method, a mobile edge application server and support node. The system includes: at least one mobile edge application server (MEAS) and at least one mobile edge application server support function (MEAS-SF), where the MEAS is deployed at an access network side; and the MEAS-SF is deployed at a core network side, connected to one or more MEAS. In the service provisioning system provided in the embodiment, services that are provided by an SP are deployed in the MEAS. When the MEAS can provide the user equipment with a service requested in a service request, the MEAS directly and locally generates service data corresponding to the service request. Therefore, the user equipment directly obtains required service data from an RAN side, which avoids data congestion between an RAN and a CN and saves network resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiming Zhu, Weihua Liu, Mingrong Cao
  • Patent number: 9930478
    Abstract: A system includes a first mobile device configured to provide information concerning a physical location of the first mobile device and a second mobile device configured to receive the information concerning the physical location of the first mobile device. A contacts database is provided for the first mobile device based on input of a user of the first mobile device such that communication is allowed with the second mobile device based on the contacts database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seven Networks, LLC
    Inventors: Trevor Fiatal, Jason Guesman
  • Patent number: 9924562
    Abstract: Architecture that allows a user to control the way a connection is made to a destination. A destination can be tagged with an attribute that defines how the connection to that destination should be routed. For example, a phone address book allows the user not only to enter the usual call recipient information such as name and telephone number, but also to add an attribute in the form of a network identifier associated with a network that should be used when connecting to the destination. Where multiple networks are associated with the destination, the phone subsystem, recognizing that the destination now has multiple network IDs for connecting the call, can prompt the user to select the desired network pathway. The user can also tag the destination with a protocol that should be employed. Thus, not only will the phone be connected according to the network, but according to the protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Robert Lee Engelhart, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9924357
    Abstract: A method for providing mobile communication provider information and a device for performing the same are disclosed. A terminal having an eUICC receives data, in which mobile communication provider information is capsulized and included, and stores the received data in the eUICC. Therefore, the mobile communication provider information can be transferred by applying the highest security scheme, and duplication of the eUICC due to the exposure of an authentication key by external hacking attacks can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: KT Corporation
    Inventors: Hyung Jin Lee, Kwan Lae Kim, Joo Young Kim, Chul Hyun Park, Jin Hyoung Lee, Youn Pil Jeung
  • Patent number: 9906957
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer-readable storage medium for managing access to an application on a mobile computing device. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a user to return to the application and return to a previous screen of the application on the mobile computing device, and determining, using a processor, whether the previous screen of the application was in a secured area of the application. If it was in the secured area, then an authentication protocol is triggered prior to allowing the user to return to the previous screen in the secured area of the application on the mobile computing device. In another embodiment, geolocation dependent information is provided to a user via an application on a mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USSA)
    Inventors: Jeremy Fisher, Joshua Goforth, James Chrisopher Watson, Richard Davey