Patents by Inventor Brandon Christopher Annan

Brandon Christopher Annan 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: 10009450
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer-readable media, and wireless device that automatically determines whether an application requires a virtual input mechanism are provided. The wireless device includes a virtual machine and database. The virtual machine executes the application and parses code associated with the application to determine whether a virtual input mechanism is necessary. The database stores metadata that indicates whether the type of input needed for the application is touch or key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Christopher Annan, Raymond Emilio Reeves, Ryan Alan Wick, John Marvin Jones, III
  • Patent number: 9363391
    Abstract: A wireless communication device operates between a WiFi link and an LTE link. The device receives a request indicating a user identifier and determines if the user identifier has sufficient usage credit. If there is sufficient usage credit, the device exchanges WiFi signals and LTE signals including user communications. The device decrements the usage credit and transfers usage credit consumption over the LTE link. After decrementing the usage credit, the device determines if the user identifier has sufficient usage credit, and if the user identifier does not, the device transfers a credit request and receives an additional usage credit for the user identifier over the LTE link. The device exchanges additional WiFI signals and LTE signals including additional user communications. The device decrements the additional usage credit and transfers additional usage credit consumption over the LTE link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Brandon Christopher Annan, Jason R. Delker, Cesar Perez, Thomas W. Keel
  • Patent number: 9146651
    Abstract: A method, system, and media are provided for a combination of Java MIDlets, or applications, implementing a “View Port” concept, which allows the user interface of a mobile device to be leveraged for multiple tasks. The View Port provides access to multiple applications when previously interaction with only one application could be carried out at any one time. A View Port scheme also removes the need for two versions of a MIDlet, as a streamlined version of the application is no longer needed. This implementation allows legacy applications to function within the framework as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan Alan Wick, John Marvin Jones, III, Dhananjay Indurkar, Jarrod Allen Nichols, Brandon Christopher Annan, Raymond Emilio Reeves
  • Patent number: 8959321
    Abstract: Media, methods, and computer systems are provided for performing a quick restart of applications in a virtual machine of the computer system. The virtual machine is configured with a critical object array that identifies the critical applications. In response to a quick restart request, the garbage collector operates in a quick restart mode to remove all objects for each application that is not in critical object array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Christopher Annan, Robert Burcham
  • Patent number: 8887129
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer-readable media, and wireless device that automatically determines whether an application requires a virtual input mechanism are provided. The wireless device includes a virtual machine and database. The virtual machine executes the application and parses code associated with the application to determine whether a virtual input mechanism is necessary. The database stores metadata that indicates whether the type of input needed for the application is touch or key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Christopher Annan, Raymond Emilio Reeves, Ryan Alan Wick, John Marvin Jones, III
  • Publication number: 20140106705
    Abstract: A wireless communication device operates between a WiFi link and an LTE link. The device receives a request indicating a user identifier and determines if the user identifier has sufficient usage credit. If there is sufficient usage credit, the device exchanges WiFi signals and LTE signals including user communications. The device decrements the usage credit and transfers usage credit consumption over the LTE link. After decrementing the usage credit, the device determines if the user identifier has sufficient usage credit, and if the user identifier does not, the device transfers a credit request and receives an additional usage credit for the user identifier over the LTE link. The device exchanges additional WiFI signals and LTE signals including additional user communications. The device decrements the additional usage credit and transfers additional usage credit consumption over the LTE link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Brandon Christopher Annan, Jason R. Delker, Cesar Perez, Thomas W. Keel
  • Patent number: 8644255
    Abstract: A method of operating a communication system is disclosed which includes, in a wireless communication device, transferring a wireless beacon signal and responsively receiving a wireless access request from a user device, determining if a user identifier received with the wireless access request has usage credits in a data structure, exchanging wireless signals with the user device and with a wireless communication network based on the usage credits to provide a wireless communication service to the user device, and decrementing the usage credits for the user identifier in the data structure. The method also includes wirelessly transferring usage credit updates for receipt in a master data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Brandon Christopher Annan, Jason R. Delker, Cesar Perez, Thomas W. Keel
  • Patent number: 8640040
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input. An illustrative method includes presenting a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input on a first screen and transitioning to a second screen. The predetermined region is persistently viewable during and after the transition between the first and second screens. Incident to receiving touch input to the predetermined region, a listing of a set of statuses of events is presented on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Mathew Jay Van Orden, Brandon Christopher Annan
  • Patent number: 8627231
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for efficiently locating a desired item within an ordered list of items, such as a list of contacts, pictures, or football teams. An illustrative method includes presenting a selectable option on a mobile device's display, presenting a positional indicator on the display when the selectable option has been selected that indicates to the user its position within the ordered list of items, and if the selectable option is moved, dynamically indicating the positional indicator's position among the list of items. The selection of the selectable option may be made by any object, such as a finger or stylus. Further, releasing the selection of the selectable option, such as removing the object used from the display, allows for a display of an item in the ordered list of items that corresponds to the position of the positional indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Mathew Jay Van Orden, Brandon Christopher Annan
  • Patent number: 8522001
    Abstract: Media, methods, and computer systems are provided for performing a quick restart of applications in a virtual machine of the computer system. The virtual machine is configured with a critical object array that identifies the critical applications. In response to a quick restart request, the garbage collector operates in a quick restart mode to remove all objects for each application that is not in critical object array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Christopher Annan, Robert Burcham
  • Patent number: 8473843
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for inputting data into a mobile communications device having a touchscreen. An illustrative method includes receiving a user-entered character string and automatically replacing the user-entered character string with a suggested character string. The suggested character string is marked with a visual indication of the replacement and the visual indication is maintained even if the suggested character string is a correctly spelled word. An input region associated with the visual indication is provided such that a set of alternative character strings as suggested replacements may be provided incident to receiving touch input to the input region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Mathew Jay Van Orden, Brandon Christopher Annan
  • Patent number: 8266419
    Abstract: Media, methods, and computer systems are provided for performing a quick restart of applications in a virtual machine of the computer system. The virtual machine is configured with a critical object array that identifies the critical applications. In response to a quick restart request, the garbage collector operates in a quick restart mode to remove all objects for each application that is not in critical object array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Christopher Annan, Robert Burcham
  • Publication number: 20110125991
    Abstract: Media, methods, and computer systems are provided for performing a quick restart of applications in a virtual machine of the computer system. The virtual machine is configured with a critical object array that identifies the critical applications. In response to a quick restart request, the garbage collector operates in a quick restart mode to remove all objects for each application that is not in critical object array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: BRANDON CHRISTOPHER ANNAN, ROBERT BURCHAM
  • Publication number: 20090249232
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for inputting data into a mobile communications device having a touchscreen. An illustrative method includes receiving a user-entered character string and automatically replacing the user-entered character string with a suggested character string. The suggested character string is marked with a visual indication of the replacement and the visual indication is maintained even if the suggested character string is a correctly spelled word. An input region associated with the visual indication is provided such that a set of alternative character strings as suggested replacements may be provided incident to receiving touch input to the input region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Mathew Jay Van Orden, Brandon Christopher Annan
  • Publication number: 20090249240
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for presenting on a user interface of a mobile communications device a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input. An illustrative method includes presenting a persistently visible predetermined region capable of receiving touch input on a first screen and transitioning to a second screen. The predetermined region is persistently viewable during and after the transition between the first and second screens. Incident to receiving touch input to the predetermined region, a listing of a set of statuses of events is presented on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: MICHAEL T. LUNDY, MATHEW JAY VAN ORDEN, BRANDON CHRISTOPHER ANNAN
  • Publication number: 20090249252
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for efficiently locating a desired item within an ordered list of items, such as a list of contacts, pictures, or football teams. An illustrative method includes presenting a selectable option on a mobile device's display, presenting a positional indicator on the display when the selectable option has been selected that indicates to the user its position within the ordered list of items, and if the selectable option is moved, dynamically indicating the positional indicator's position among the list of items. The selection of the selectable option may be made by any object, such as a finger or stylus. Further, releasing the selection of the selectable option, such as removing the object used from the display, allows for a display of an item in the ordered list of items that corresponds to the position of the positional indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Mathew Jay Van Orden, Brandon Christopher Annan
  • Patent number: D615546
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Mathew Jay Van Orden, Brandon Christopher Annan