Patents by Inventor Brian Spinar

Brian Spinar 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: 8320406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Publication number: 20120243480
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. One embodiment uses a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be “self-correcting”. Another embodiment utilizes an abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol to allocate bandwidth. The abridged bandwidth request/grant protocol system utilizes padding packets to request a reduction in bandwidth allocation to a CPE. A base station modem alerts a base station CPU when the BS modem receives a padding packet from a CPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Ofer Zimmerman, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Brian Spinar, Yair Bourlas, Amir Serok
  • Patent number: 8249051
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Patent number: 8243663
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Patent number: 8213359
    Abstract: The invention relates to communication systems and to systems and methods for implementing adaptive call admission control (CAC) in such systems. Adaptive call admission control can determine what CPE to base station calls (connections) are allowed at any given time. CAC, coupled with precedence, can further determine what connections are suspended if less bandwidth is available than is currently committed. Multiple techniques are disclosed to select connections for suspension. These techniques include suspending enough connections through the affected CPE until there is enough bandwidth to meet the remaining commitment, randomly (or in a round robin fashion) choosing connection to suspend from the entire set of connection, and using precedence priority levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Yair Bourlas, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Brian Spinar, Sheldon L. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20120033633
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Sheldon I. Gilbert, Israel Jay Klein, James F. Mollenauer
  • Publication number: 20120033634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Sheldon I. Gilbert, Israel Jay Klein, James F. Mollenauer
  • Publication number: 20120026873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Sheldon I. Gilbert, Israel Jay Klein, James F. Mollenauer
  • Publication number: 20110268085
    Abstract: Techniques for performing forward handover in a wireless communication system are disclosed. In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) transmits a connection request to a target eNodeB. The connection request may be transmitted when the UE detects a connection failure in a communication with a source eNodeB. The UE receives a connection response from the target eNodeB in response to the target eNodeB requesting handover preparation information from the source eNodeB. In another aspect, a target eNodeB may receive a connection request from a user equipment (UE) and transmit a radio link failure (RLF) recovery request message to a source eNodeB to prompt the source eNodeB to initiate handover of the UE from the source eNodeB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter A. Barany, Ajay Gupta, Brian Spinar, Abhijit S. Khobare
  • Publication number: 20110249645
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Patent number: 7830795
    Abstract: A self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a broadband wireless communication system. The protocol uses a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. Stations primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. Risks are reduced that a base station erroneously issues duplicate bandwidth allocations to the same station for the same connection. Race conditions that may have occurred using only aggregate bandwidth requests are eliminated. Use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests that express the current state of respective connection queues provides a “self-correcting” property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ofer Zimmerman, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Brian Spinar, Yair Bourlas, Amir Serok
  • Patent number: 7817666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Patent number: 7751437
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Wi-LAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Publication number: 20100157928
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Publication number: 20090225776
    Abstract: A self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a broadband wireless communication system. The protocol uses a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. stations primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. Risks are reduced that a base station erroneously issues duplicate bandwidth allocations to the same station for the same connection are re. Race conditions that may have occurred using only aggregate bandwidth requests are eliminated. Use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests that express the current state of respective connection queues provides a “self-correcting.” property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: OFER ZIMMERMAN, Kenneth L. Stanwood, Brian Spinar, Yair Bourlas, Amir Serok
  • Patent number: 7583623
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing management messages in a broadband wireless communication system. Management messages are sent across a link in packets addressed to a particular connection, where the address identifies messages which may be specially treated. Such special treatment may include recognition of an overall message conveyed in such packets as containing one or more implicit messages embedded within the overall message. Two methods are disclosed to efficiently convey such management messages. First, each packet of information sent across the link may include a message type identifier, in which case it need not be repeated in the payload of the packet, and a number of such messages may be sent within a packet. Second, a packet of information may contain mixed management messages, in which case the byte with the message type identifier should be included with each such message. In this case, an overall message may be constructed from individual management messages simply concatenated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ofer Zimmerman, Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Publication number: 20090207795
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively obtaining bandwidth requests in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes dynamically varying technique combinations enabling a plurality of users to efficiently request bandwidth from a shared base station. A user may “piggyback” a new bandwidth request upon, or set a “poll-me bit” within, presently allocated bandwidth. A base station may poll users, individually or in groups, by allocating unrequested bandwidth for new requests. Polling may respond to a “poll-me bit,” and/or it may be adaptively periodic at a rate based on communication status parameters, such as recent communication activity and connection QoS levels. Group polling permits a possibility of collisions. Polling policies may be established for dynamically varying user groups, or may be determined for each user. Dynamic selection of appropriate polling techniques makes use of efficiency benefits associated with each technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: WI-LAN, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Patent number: 7567532
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing management messages in a broadband wireless communication system. Management messages are sent across a link in packets addressed to a particular connection, where the address identifies messages which may be specially treated. Such special treatment may include recognition of an overall message conveyed in such packets as containing one or more implicit messages embedded within the overall message. Two methods are disclosed to efficiently convey such management messages. First, each packet of information sent across the link may include a message type identifier, in which case it need not be repeated in the payload of the packet, and a number of such messages may be sent within a packet. Second, a packet of information may contain mixed management messages, in which case the byte with the message type identifier should be included with each such message. In this case, an overall message may be constructed from individual management messages simply concatenated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventors: Ofer Zimmerman, Brian Spinar, Kenneth L. Stanwood
  • Patent number: RE41655
    Abstract: A system and method providing a wireless broadband connection between base stations and customer sites. The system includes indoor units, within the base stations and customer sites, that communicate across cables to outdoor units. The indoor units link to routers, switches and other devices and services. The outdoor units transmit and receive wireless data and send it to the indoor units. The indoor units control the functioning of the outdoor units by transmitting digital messages along the interface cables. The outdoor units report various detector values to the indoor units, which allows the indoor units to tune and adjust several functions within the outdoor units. Several embodiments for automatically calibrating the receive path gain in the base stations to compensate for the base station cable between the indoor unit and outdoor unit are described. In addition, an An improved transmit power control technique which is not affected by modulation type, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventors: David Woodhead, Brian Spinar, David Gazelle, Sheldon Gilbert
  • Patent number: RE41936
    Abstract: A system and method providing a wireless broadband connection between base stations and customer sites. The system includes indoor units, within the base stations and customer sites, that communicate across cables to outdoor units. The indoor units link to routers, switches and other devices and services. The outdoor units transmit and receive wireless data and send it to the indoor units. The indoor units control the functioning of the outdoor units by transmitting digital messages along the interface cables. The outdoor units report various detector values to the indoor units, which allows the indoor units to tune and adjust several functions within the outdoor units. Several embodiments for automatically calibrating the receive path gain in the base stations to compensate for the base station cable between the indoor unit and outdoor unit are described. In addition, an An improved transmit power control technique which is not affected by modulation type, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: David Woodhead, Brian Spinar, David Gazelle, Sheldon Gilbert