Patents by Inventor Baoquan Zhang

Baoquan Zhang 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).

  • Patent number: 7260403
    Abstract: A system and method for carrying out a dynamic-routing service is provided. The system includes a service control point (“SCP”) that is operable to provide routing instructions for the plurality of subscriber terminals. And each of the plurality of subscriber terminals has a subscriber address and an associated call history. In carrying out a dynamic-routing service, the SCP receives a request for routing instructions for terminating a voice call to a call-subscriber address of the plurality of subscriber addresses. Responsively, the SCP selects from the plurality of subscriber addresses a delivery address for terminating the voice call to based on the call histories associated with the plurality of subscriber addresses. After selecting the delivery address, the SCP develops routing instructions for terminating the voice call to the delivery address, and then provides the routing instructions for terminating the voice call to the delivery address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Baoquan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7197322
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for facilitating location-based services. In an exemplary arrangement, when a mobile station is engaged in a data session with a server, the mobile station may be made to initiate a voice call to a designated number. As a result, a switch or other such entity may send a signaling message (such as an Origination Request message) to a central controller, thereby providing the central controller with an indication of the mobile station's current location. The central controller may then make that location information available to the server. In turn, the server may use the location to perform a location based service, such as providing location-based information to the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Terry Rayburn, James Hallock, Von K. McConnell, Baoquan Zhang, Donald F. Douglas
  • Patent number: 7174009
    Abstract: In a service control point (SCP) having logic normally dictating that a call destined to a called party should be routed instead to a service node for handling, a method includes making a determination that the service node has become unavailable. The method thereafter includes receiving, into the SCP, a signal from a switch, the signal indicating that the switch has received a request to set up a call to the called party. In view of the determination that the service node has become unavailable, the method then includes the SCP instructing the switch to treat the first call in a manner other than routing the call to the service node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Baoquan Zhang, Karen H. Miller, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7142657
    Abstract: In a telecommunications network having switching points (such as SSPs and/or MSCs) controlled by a control point (such as an SCP), the switching points are provisioned to send messages to the control point when they encounter trigger conditions during processing of a call to a called station that has a forward-to number. When the control point receives the messages, it determines whether a loop condition exists, i.e., whether the call has already been forwarded from the forward-to number. If the control point determines that a loop condition exists, the control point instructs the switching point so as not to forward the call to the forward-to number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Charles E. Woodson, Baoquan Zhang, Thomas M. Sladek
  • Patent number: 7133513
    Abstract: A method and system for providing transcribed voice content in a human-readable format during an on-going teleconference is provided. In the method, a first terminal engages in an on-going teleconference with a second terminal. During the on-going teleconference, the second terminal is operable to communicate voice content. Sometime during the on-going teleconference, the first terminal may invoke a transcription service for transcribing the voice content into a human-readable notation. After being invoked, the transcription service transcribes the voice content into the human-readable notation and forwards it to the first terminal. After receiving the human-readable notation, the first terminal is operable to display the human-readable notation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Baoquan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7116972
    Abstract: Methods and a system are provided for allowing a subscriber to control the call handling at a customer premises equipment. A calling party can place a call from anywhere in a carrier network to a subscriber at a customer premises equipment. The carrier network prompts the subscriber with call information and a list of call processing choices. The subscriber can select one of the choices and the call is handled properly by the system. The methods and system allow the subscriber to interact with the carrier network in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Baoquan A. Zhang, Von McConnell
  • Patent number: 7072653
    Abstract: A method and system for controlled provisioning of a desired set of service logic for a subscriber of group of subscribers. In response to a designated stimulus, such as a time-event, a location-event or a threshold-event, a network entity modifies the subscriber profile maintained by a serving system, so as to include in the profile one or more desired parameters. One such modification may be the inclusion in the profile of a trigger that directs the serving system to query a designated network entity for call handling instructions. The designated network entity may then provide a special set of services for the subscriber or group. Further, a mechanism is provided to help ensure that once such a service overlay is imposed, it remains imposed if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Specrtrum L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sladek, Baoquan Zhang, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7058036
    Abstract: A wireless instant messaging system is disclosed. A mobile station (MS), such as a cellular telephone for instance, may be registered with an instant messaging (IM) server as being available to receive instant messages via an IM proxy. A user at an IM client terminal may then send an instant message destined for a user at the MS. The IM server may direct the message to a service node (SN), which may convert the message into an industry standard SMS message and send the SMS message to the MS. At the MS, a user may read the SMS message and engage a callback feature, which will establish a dial-up voice connection between the MS and the SN. The user at the MS may then speak an instant message response, and the SN may record the response as a compressed audio file. The SN may then send the compressed audio file as an attachment to an instant message back to the user at the IM client terminal. The IM client terminal may then play the spoken response message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Terry T. Yu, Robert W. Hammond, Von K. McConnell, Baoquan Zhang
  • Patent number: 6978132
    Abstract: A method and system for controlled provisioning of a desired set of service logic for a subscriber of group of subscribers. In response to a designated stimulus, such as a time-event, a location-event or a threshold-event, a network entity modifies the subscriber profile maintained by a serving system, so as to include in the profile one or more desired parameters. One such modification may be the inclusion in the profile of a trigger that directs the serving system to query a designated network entity for call handling instructions. The designated network entity may then provide a special set of services for the subscriber or group. Further, a mechanism is provided to help ensure that once such a service overlay is imposed, it remains imposed if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sladek, Baoquan Zhang, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 6970719
    Abstract: A private wireless network is able to provide wireless telecommunication services to subscriber mobile stations that also subscribe to a public wireless network. The private wireless network includes a private base transceiver station (BTS), a private mobile switching center (MSC), and a gateway service control point (SCP). The private BTS provides a private network wireless coverage area within which the mobile station can communicate with the base transceiver station over an air interface. The gateway SCP has a private network database containing private network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A private network data record includes a private network service profile and a private network locator address. The public wireless network has a home location register (HLR) with a public network database containing public network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A public network data record includes a public network service profile and a public network locator address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Mark Yarkosky, Baoquan Zhang, Thomas M. Sladek, Kenneth C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6965666
    Abstract: A system and method for sending an e-mail message from a subscriber entity in a telecommunications network are described. One exemplary method includes receiving a call request from a first subscriber entity to establish a call between the first subscriber entity and a second subscriber entity. The call request includes a management code and a destination identifier such as a MIN or a PSTN number associated with the second subscriber entity. The method further includes converting the destination identifier to one or more e-mail addresses associated with the second subscriber entity. Further, the method includes receiving a message from the first subscriber entity and sending the message to one or more e-mail addresses associated with the second subscriber entity. In one embodiment, the method further includes converting a voice message to a text message and sending the text message to one or more e-mail addresses associated with the second subscriber entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Baoquan A. Zhang
  • Patent number: 6816735
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for facilitating location-based services. In the arrangement described, when a mobile station is engaged in a data session with a server, the mobile station may be made to initiate a voice call to a designated number. As a result, a switch or other such entity may send a signaling message (such as an Origination Request message) to a central controller, thereby providing the central controller with an indication of the mobile station's current location. The central controller may then make that location information available to the server. In turn, the server may use the location to perform a location based service, such as providing location-based information to the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Terry Rayburn, James Hallock, Von K. McConnell, Baoquan Zhang, Donald F. Douglas
  • Patent number: 6741695
    Abstract: An interface engine that is communicatively connected to a packet-switched network and to a legacy circuit-switched network uses a call processing protocol, such as the session initiation protocol (SIP), for packet-switched network communications and uses a legacy signaling protocol, such as IS-41, for legacy circuit-switched communications. In response to a registration request initiated by a subscriber device on the packet-switched network, the interface engine obtains a service profile for the subscriber from a call processing system, such as a home location register (HLR), of the legacy circuit-switched network. Service parameters derived from the service profile and stored in a service database may be used to apply services on the packet-switched network for the subscriber device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum, L.P.
    Inventors: Von McConnell, Wen Xue, Baoquan Zhang, Jesse Money
  • Publication number: 20040062376
    Abstract: In a telecommunications network having switching points (such as SSPs and/or MSCs) controlled by a control point (such as an SCP), the switching points are provisioned to send messages to the control point when they encounter trigger conditions during processing of a call to a called station that has a forward-to number. When the control point receives the messages, it determines whether a loop condition exists, i.e., whether the call has already been forwarded from the forward-to number. If the control point determines that a loop condition exists, the control point instructs the switching point so as not to forward the call to the forward-to number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Charles E. Woodson, Baoquan Zhang, Thomas M. Sladek
  • Patent number: 6622016
    Abstract: A method and system for controlled provisioning of a desired set of service logic for a subscriber of group of subscribers. In response to a designated stimulus, such as a time-event, a location-event or a threshold-event, a network entity modifies the subscriber profile maintained by a serving system, so as to include in the profile one or more desired parameters. One such modification may be the inclusion in the profile of a trigger that directs the serving system to query a designated network entity for call handling instructions. The designated network entity may then provide a special set of services for the subscriber or group. Further, a mechanism is provided to help ensure that once such a service overlay is imposed, it remains imposed if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sladek, Baoquan Zhang, Von K. McConnell
  • Publication number: 20020194331
    Abstract: A mobile station that is fully engaged such that it cannot be connected to an incoming call without being disconnected from an existing call receives an incoming call notification. The incoming call notification may, for example, take the form of a short message system (SMS) message or a packet protocol message, such as a session initiation protocol (SIP) message. The incoming call notification may identify the calling party and may explain how to take the incoming call. If the user accepts the incoming call, the mobile station is disconnected from existing calls and connected to the incoming call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald E. Lewis, Charles Woodson, Baoquan Zhang, Arun Santharam, Daren R. Furness, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 6373930
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring telecommunications traffic is disclosed. When a switch receives a call request, the switch sends a query message to a service controller. The service controller identifies the call request as a request to place a special service call and therefore returns to the switch a special service code, which causes the switch to route the call via a special looparound circuit to a destination. A signaling path associated with the looparound circuit passes through a designated network entity, which can therefore monitor the start and end of the call. An SCP or other network entity can then take appropriate action in response to the status of the call. The invention is particularly useful in facilitating robust account balance service such as prepaid calling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Thomas M. Sladek, Baoquan Zhang, Kenneth C. Jackson