Patents by Inventor Amer A. Hassan

Amer A. Hassan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170238331
    Abstract: Multiplexed unequal error protection for wireless networks is disclosed. A device may determine reliability associated with a first subcarrier of a channel including the first subcarrier and at least one second subcarrier. The reliability of the first subcarrier may be determined based on the position of the first subcarrier relative to each at least one second subcarrier. High priority data may be assigned to the first subcarrier for transmission if the first subcarrier is determined to have a higher reliability than the at least one second subcarrier. For example, the channel may be an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) channel and higher reliability may be associated with a first subcarrier that is in a middle position of the plurality of subcarriers within the OFDM channel. In another example, higher reliability may be associated with a first OFDM subcarrier that is adjacent to an unused OFDM channel bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Hassan, Aaron Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20170237851
    Abstract: Network telephony monitoring systems are provided herein. In one example, a monitoring service is configured to present an interface for a network telephony monitoring system to receive link metrics for media legs of a packet voice call that extends from an originating network over a plurality of transport networks, with each of the media legs spanning between border control nodes of the plurality of transport networks. A leg quality processor is configured to process the link metrics to differentiate quality degradation of the packet voice call among one or more of the media legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Amer Hassan, Gunter Leeb, Mitchelle Fernandes Gonsalves, Pascal Menezes
  • Patent number: 9723541
    Abstract: Techniques for priority access to a priority access channel are described. In at least some embodiments, a portion of the radio spectrum is divided into general access (GA) channels and priority access (PA) channels. Levels of access to the different channels are controlled based upon priority levels of devices attempting to access the channels. For instance, embodiments employ a channel database that tracks available GA channels and PA channels, and notifies various devices of the available channels. The channel database may also track keys for PA channels that enable authentication of devices for priority access to PA channels. In at least some embodiments, tracking available GA channels and PA channels enables underutilized radio channels to be identified for various uses, such as for wireless broadband communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Paul William Alexander Mitchell, Todd Haugen, Paul W. Garnett
  • Publication number: 20170215102
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed that provide a network that may determine the presence of it caused by an interfering system transmitting within the same frequency bands, or frequency bands closely adjacent to frequency bands, that the network is using, and initiate action to improve network performance in the presence of the interference. The presence of the interference may be determined by detecting that interference at a threshold level exists in the network, and determining that the detected interference is “aggressive” interference, i.e., caused by intentional transmissions from the interfering system in frequency bands in which the network is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Hassan, Paul Mitchell, Aaron Cunningham, Mitesh Desai
  • Patent number: 9717006
    Abstract: Techniques for device quarantine in a wireless network are described. According to various implementations, a device (e.g., a mobile client device) that requests a connection to a wireless network is placed in a quarantine state in the wireless network. Attributes of the device are determined and connection parameters are specified based on the attributes. In at least some embodiments, the device can be released from the quarantine state subject to the connection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Haugen, Amer A. Hassan, Pascal F. Menezes
  • Publication number: 20170201895
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus in a wireless network that allow devices, such as client devices and access points (APs), having software defined radios (SDRs) to change operating behavior depending on network RF environment conditions are disclosed. The devices may be instructed to operate according to differently defined behavior profiles that may be chosen based on RF environment conditions. The profiles may be stored in a database. A particular profile may be obtained from the database for one or more devices based on an interference level within an RF environment of the devices. The profiles may be implemented to change device operating behavior so that interference is reduced or minimized in higher levels of interference. The profiles may also be implemented to change device behavior so that interference is reduced in lower levels of interference while also freeing up resources for more efficient use in network during lower levels of interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer Hassan, Paul Mitchell, Aaron Cunningham, Mitesh Desai
  • Patent number: 9705637
    Abstract: Techniques for guard band utilization for wireless data communication are described. In at least some embodiments, guard bands can be leveraged to transmit wireless broadband data and/or other forms of wireless data. According to one or more embodiments, signal activity in a wireless channel that is adjacent to a guard band is monitored, e.g., while the guard band is being utilized for wireless data communication. In at least some implementations, if the signal activity exceeds a signal activity threshold, usage of the guard band channel can be adjusted to mitigate interference with signal activity in an adjacent channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Paul W. Garnett, Paul William Alexander Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9699735
    Abstract: Techniques for sub-channel detection for wireless data communication are described. In at least some implementations, techniques can utilize subsets of available wireless channels for inter-device data communication. For instance, in at least some embodiments, a wireless connection between a client device and a wireless device can be established according to a pre-specified subset of sub-channels. Further, in at least some embodiments, a wireless device can be configured to transmit and/or receive data using a specific subset of sub-channels, while a client device can be configured to scan a larger set of sub-channels to search for data communication from the wireless device. The client device can detect transmitted signal from the wireless device at the subset of sub-channels, and can utilize the set of sub-channels for data communication between the wireless device and the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Billy R. Anders, Jr., Dennis E. Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20170181014
    Abstract: Techniques for indication of wireless signal quality are described. According to various implementations, attributes of a wireless signal are detected and processed to ascertain a quality of the wireless signal. Based on an ascertained signal quality, indicia of the signal quality can be exposed. For instance, an indication of wireless signal quality is communicated to an application and/or service that manages communication of media data. According to one or more embodiments, an application/service may perform one or more actions based on the indication of signal quality, such as a procedure to improve signal quality, a procedure to optimize wireless performance, and so forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Andrei Jefremov
  • Publication number: 20170180202
    Abstract: Techniques for session-based device configuration are described. According to one or more implementations, various settings of a wireless device are configured to optimize device performance while participating in a communication session via a wireless network. The settings, for instance, are configured dynamically and on a per-session basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Pascal F. Menezes, Amer A. Hassan, Gunter Leeb, Todd Haugen
  • Patent number: 9681367
    Abstract: The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can obtain information about a location of a device. The example can access a white space database to obtain radio white space frequencies relative to the location. This example can also perform active scanning of at least some of the radio white space frequencies at the location and not perform active scanning on allocated frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Paul W. Garnett, Paul W. A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9674839
    Abstract: The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can measure a potential radio white space frequency. The example can also communicate results of the measuring for other devices and receive other results from the other devices relating to the potential radio white space frequency. The method can further determine whether the potential radio white space frequency is actually an available radio white space frequency based upon the results and the other results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Daniel A. Reed, Paul W. Garnett, Billy Anders
  • Publication number: 20170142586
    Abstract: Security techniques and security mechanisms for wireless networks that transmit content such as advertisements. According to exemplary techniques, control messages comprising unrequested content (e.g., advertisement data) may be transmitted in response to a request from a client device, while in other exemplary techniques the control messages may be transmitted without any request from a client device. In some exemplary implementations, security mechanisms such as public key cryptography algorithms may be used to secure transmissions, in some of these techniques which implement public key cryptography, a user may he required to retrieve a public key from to a source other than the wireless access point transmitting encrypted advertisements (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Hui Shen, Amer A. Hassan, Yi Lu, Thomas W. Kuehnel, Andrew T. Baron, Deyun Wu
  • Publication number: 20170134196
    Abstract: A computing device operating according to a frequency division multiplexed protocol in which communication occurs over a signal formed from a plurality of sub-channels selected from anywhere in a frequency spectrum. A computing device may select sub-channels cognitively by using information about sub-channels previously deemed suitable or unsuitable by that computing device or other computing devices. A described technique for determining sub-channel suitability includes analyzing radio frequency energy in the sub-channel to detect signals generated by another computing device or high noise levels. Information may also be used to cognitively select sub-channels to be analyzed, such as by first selecting for analysis previously-used sub-channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Christian Huitema
  • Publication number: 20170127282
    Abstract: A wireless computing device operating as a controller of a peer-to-peer group configured to generate unique master keys for each device joining the group. The wireless computing device may use the unique master keys to selectively remove remote devices from the group such that the remote device cannot later rejoin the group. Other remote devices, each possessing a master key that remains valid, can disconnect from the group and later reconnect to the group without express user action. To support such behavior, the wireless device may provide a user interface through which a user may manage connected remote devices by providing commands to selectively disconnect or remove remote devices from the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Mitesh K. Desai, Yatharth Gupta, Henrique Filgueiras
  • Patent number: 9641273
    Abstract: A computing device operating according to a frequency division multiplexed protocol in which communication occurs over a signal formed from a plurality of sub-channels selected from anywhere in a frequency spectrum. A computing device may select sub-channels cognitively by using information about sub-channels previously deemed suitable or unsuitable by that computing device or other computing devices. A described technique for determining sub-channel suitability includes analyzing radio frequency energy in the sub-channel to detect signals generated by another computing device or high noise levels. Information may also be used to cognitively select sub-channels to be analyzed, such as by first selecting for analysis previously-used sub-channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Christian Huitema
  • Publication number: 20170115696
    Abstract: A dock for interacting with a computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context, which may be determined form the dock by reading a value from a tag on the dock. The computing device may use low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to the dock. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation, and, in response to reading a value of the tag, the computing device may launch an application, pair with devices in the vicinity of the dock, or take other actions that configure the computing device. A universal dock, usable with computing devices of a plurality of form factors, may be implemented by providing an array of tags and, in some cases, a non-contact power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Yatharth Gupta, Ravi T. Rao, Billy R. Anders, JR.
  • Patent number: 9629004
    Abstract: Techniques for indication of wireless signal quality are described. According to various implementations, attributes of a wireless signal are detected and processed to ascertain a quality of the wireless signal. Based on an ascertained signal quality, indicia of the signal quality can be exposed. For instance, an indication of wireless signal quality is communicated to an application and/or service that manages communication of media data. According to one or more embodiments, an application/service may perform one or more actions based on the indication of signal quality, such as a procedure to improve signal quality, a procedure to optimize wireless performance, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Amer A. Hassan, Andrei Jefremov
  • Patent number: 9614724
    Abstract: Techniques for session-based device configuration are described. According to one or more implementations, various settings of a wireless device are configured to optimize device performance while participating in a communication session via a wireless network. The settings, for instance, are configured dynamically and on a per-session basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Pascal F. Menezes, Amer A. Hassan, Gunter Leeb, Todd Haugen
  • Patent number: 9609064
    Abstract: Techniques for propagating communication awareness for communication sessions are described. In at least some embodiments, a communication session refers to an exchange of communication media between different communication endpoints. According to various embodiments, communication awareness of a communication session is propagated among various autonomous networks involved in routing the communication session. Communication awareness, for instance, is propagated out-of-band from a data stream that carries the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal A. Narkar, Pascal F. Menezes, Gunter Leeb, William N. Hanlon, Amer A. Hassan, William George Verthein