Patents by Inventor Bret D. Sumner

Bret D. Sumner 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: 10433156
    Abstract: A subscriber identity module (SIM) card. The SIM card comprises a processor and a non-transitory memory that stores an initiation application and a plurality of profile components, where the plurality of components comprise the components of a USIM, the components of a CSIM, and the components of an ISIM. When executed by the processor, the initiation application looks up a profile identity in a table of profile identities stored in the non-transitory memory based on an identity of a brand and model of a mobile communication device with which the SIM card is associated, builds a SIM profile associated with the looked-up profile identity from the plurality of profile components, where the SIM profile comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a file that defines roaming behavior, and mobile network authentication keys, and sends at least some of the contents of the SIM profile to the radio transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Susan Long, Adrian M. Milner, Maksym Siryy, Bret D. Sumner, Simon Youngs
  • Patent number: 9532211
    Abstract: A method of customizing a mobile communication device comprising: receiving, at the mobile communication device, a signal comprising an identification code, comparing the identification code with a plurality of mobile network codes and a plurality of mobile country codes stored in a memory of the mobile communication device, identifying a reference based on the comparing, wherein the reference defines an addressable location providing access to a customization package, and selectively connecting to an open mobile alliance server based on the reference. The method further comprises sending a request to the open mobile alliance server for a customization payload to be sent to the mobile communication device, receiving, at the mobile communication device, the requested customization payload from the open mobile alliance server, and customizing an aspect of the mobile communication device in response to receiving the customization payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Bret D. Sumner
  • Patent number: 9525959
    Abstract: A mobile communication device comprising a radio transceiver to communicatively couple the mobile communication device to a radio access network by a wireless communication link, a processor coupled to the radio transceiver, a memory coupled to the processor, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, collects language information for use in determining a default language for the mobile communication device, analyzes the language information to determine a probability of accuracy of the default language, and assigns the default language to the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Justin Eddings, Michelle E. Masterson, Tammy M. Otten, Bret D. Sumner
  • Publication number: 20160234675
    Abstract: A method provides dynamically changing a mobile communication device by communicative coupling with a dynamic subscriber identity module (SIM). The method comprises identifying, via a communication transceiver, a mobile communication network that corresponds with one carrier sub-partition of a carrier partition of the mobile communication device. The method polls an identification of an active carrier applet from the dynamic SIM, one carrier applet of a plurality being the active carrier applet. Responsive to a trigger event, one carrier sub-partition changes dynamically to another carrier sub-partition, each corresponding with a different wireless communication identity. The corresponding wireless communication identity is activated based on confirming the identification of the active carrier applet is associated with the corresponding wireless communication identity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Jagannath Ghoshal, Robert L. Spanel, Bret D. Sumner, Robert E. Urbanek
  • Patent number: 9313643
    Abstract: A method provides dynamically changing a mobile communication device by communicative coupling with a dynamic subscriber identity module (SIM). The method comprises identifying, via a communication transceiver, a mobile communication network that corresponds with one carrier sub-partition of a carrier partition of the mobile communication device. The method polls an identification of an active carrier applet from the dynamic SIM, one carrier applet of a plurality being the active carrier applet. Responsive to a trigger event, one carrier sub-partition changes dynamically to another carrier sub-partition, each corresponding with a different wireless communication identity. The corresponding wireless communication identity is activated based on confirming the identification of the active carrier applet is associated with the corresponding wireless communication identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jagannath Ghoshal, Robert L. Spanel, Bret D. Sumner, Robert E. Urbanek
  • Patent number: 9264842
    Abstract: A device management (DM) server. The server comprises a memory, a processor, and an application programming interface (API), wherein the secondary DM server makes available a subset of the functionality of a DM server and when accessed through a portal, initiates a DM session with a short message service (SMS) system type message, notifies the mobile communication devices associated with a trusted third party of secondary DM server via the short message service system type message, and makes available firmware to be downloaded from a sandbox of the secondary DM server and tested by a limited number of the mobile communication devices associated with the third party, wherein the sandbox is an area in a memory to isolate untested firmware or firmware under test from the environment outside the sandbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Bret D. Sumner, Simon Youngs
  • Patent number: 9204239
    Abstract: A method of making customization changes on a mobile communication device, comprises identifying, on the mobile communication device, the bandwidth of a bearer channel of the mobile communication device, and selecting at least one server from which to request a customization payload based at least in part on the bandwidth of the bearer channel of the mobile communication device, wherein different servers are configured to access different portions of the customization package. The method further comprises sending a request for the customization payload to the selected server, receiving the customization payload from the selected server, and performing customization changes on the mobile communication device in response to receiving customization information contained in the customization payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Bret D. Sumner
  • Patent number: 9198045
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a lock state of a mobile communication device is disclosed. The method comprises a provisioning server receiving a request to unlock a mobile communication device. The method further comprises, in response to the request, the provisioning server provisioning the mobile communication device with a payload. The payload comprises unlock instructions to be executed, and a list of pre-approved telecommunications service providers. The payload further comprises instructions that lock the device if the mobile communication device attempts to activate or connect to a service provider that is not identified in the list of pre-approved service providers. The payload further comprises instructions to block attempts by applications installed on the mobile communication device to connect to a domestic network while the mobile communication device is communicatively coupled to a foreign network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jagannath Ghoshal, Bret D. Sumner, Simon Youngs
  • Patent number: 9143924
    Abstract: A method of sending a customization payload to a mobile communication device comprises identifying, by the mobile communication device, the bandwidth of a bearer channel, wherein the bearer channel provides a connection between the mobile communication device and a server, sending, from the mobile communication device to the server, an alert string selected based upon the identifying, and receiving, by the mobile communication device, a customization payload identified based on the alert string, wherein the customization payload is received from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Hassan Abou-El-Ella, Bret D. Sumner