Patents by Inventor Harry H. Lai

Harry H. Lai 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: 8880118
    Abstract: Determining a presence status associated with a user of a mobile communications device allows for presence information to be provided to network elements and device clients. Presence status information includes information that indicates whether a user is likely available via the mobile communications device. Acceleration data associated with the mobile device is collected and analyzed to determine whether a human profile is indicated. Presence status information is generated based at least on whether the human profile is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kristen E. Miller, Harry H. Lai
  • Patent number: 8712411
    Abstract: In systems and methods of varying a latency timer in a wireless communication system, a network identifier associated with an access node in communication with a wireless device is received at a communication node during the establishment of a communication session between a wireless device and the communication node. At least one latency timer criteria is determined based on the network identifier, and at least one latency timer is adjusted according to the latency timer criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dante A. Puliatti, Trinh D. Vu, Robert P. Dill, John D. Sumler, Harry H. Lai, Louie E. Wingo
  • Patent number: 8503405
    Abstract: A method and corresponding device are disclosed for varying setup mode based on reported latency at a target device. The target device or its serving network may report a latency characteristic associated with the target device, such as an indication of the air interface protocol and/or slot cycle being used by the target device, and an initiating device or communication server may use the reported latency as a basis to decide whether to operate in (i) a normal setup mode when setting up a communication session with the target device or (ii) an optimistic setup mode when setting up a communication session with the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Louie E. Wingo, Harry H. Lai, Cesar Perez, John D. Sumler
  • Patent number: 8369888
    Abstract: Determining a presence status associated with a user of a mobile communications device allows for presence information to be provided to network elements and device clients. Presence status information includes information that indicates whether a user is likely available via the mobile communications device. Acceleration data associated with the mobile device is collected and analyzed to determine whether a human profile is indicated. Presence status information is generated based at least on whether the human profile is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kristen E. Miller, Harry H. Lai
  • Patent number: 8345061
    Abstract: A method, system, and media are provided for enhancing viewability of information presented on a mobile device. The media includes presenting a user interface on a mobile device that includes foreground information that overlaps a background image. The background image may be converted into a first set of color values and the foreground information into a second set of color values. A dominant color may be determined for the background image and foreground information. The dominant colors may be used to calculate a contrast ratio that may be compared to a threshold value. At least a portion of the color values may be modified when the contrast ratio is less than the threshold value. A set of modified color values may then be derived and a modified presentation may be presented to the user that includes the modified color values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Shane Jeremy Landry, Harry H. Lai, Michael Joseph DeVries, Christine Schumaker
  • Patent number: 8306504
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining, based on a pass code inputted by a user, whether the user can access a particular feature of a mobile device. Features may include access to the device itself, products, services, applications, or the like. The mobile device requests access to the feature, and is sent display information for a plurality of icons, which indicates where each icon is to be displayed. An ordered selection of icons is received to determine whether the ordered selection matches a predetermined ordered selection. If they match, the user is allowed to access the feature of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jason W. Rincker, Harry H. Lai, Christine Schumaker, Allison A. DiMartino
  • Patent number: 8264499
    Abstract: A method, system, and media are provided for enhancing viewability of information presented on a mobile device. The media includes presenting a user interface on a mobile device that includes foreground information that overlaps a background image. The background image may be converted into a first set of color values and the foreground information into a second set of color values. A dominant color may be determined for the background image and foreground information. The dominant colors may be used to calculate a contrast ratio that may be compared to a threshold value. At least a portion of the color values may be modified when the contrast ratio is less than the threshold value. A set of modified color values may then be derived and a modified presentation may be presented to the user that includes the modified color values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Shane Jeremy Landry, Harry H. Lai, Michael Joseph DeVries, Christine Schumaker
  • Patent number: 8103304
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for determining a presence status associated with a user of a mobile communications device. Heat and motion information is collected by heat detectors and accelerometers within the device. The heat and motion information is referenced to determine whether the information suggests that the user is available via the mobile communications device, and a presence status is assigned based on that determination. Presence status information is communicated to a presence server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kristen E. Miller, Harry H. Lai
  • Patent number: 8027662
    Abstract: A method for obtaining media at a first communications device (e.g., that of a parent) from a wireless communications device (e.g., one being used by a child), includes steps of receiving a message from the first device at the wireless communications device, the message causing the wireless communications device to display a prompt for the user to capture media (e.g., photo, voice sample, or biometrical sample) with the device, obtaining current location information for the wireless communications device; and automatically transmitting the media from the second device to the first device along with the current location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Kristen Miller, Michael Lundy, Harry H. Lai, Balaji S. Thenthiruperai
  • Patent number: 7865205
    Abstract: A mobile station has a plurality of modes for processing incoming push-to-talk (PTT) audio communications. A first PTT mode is a “forced audio” mode, in which the mobile station plays PTT audio communications automatically. A second PTT mode is a “polite” mode, in which the mobile station plays PTT audio communications only after acceptance by the user. A “white list” identifies any parties that are allowed to communicate with the mobile station using the first PTT mode. A PTT audio communication from an initiator that is not identified in the white list is processed using the second PTT mode, even if the first PTT mode is requested. In addition, a PTT audio communication may be processed using the second PTT mode if the mobile station's speaker volume level is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T Lundy, Louie E Wingo, Harry H Lai, Daniel J Cureton
  • Patent number: 7747290
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing a media file in a device (e.g., a cellular phone, PDA, or alarm clock) and demarcating a portion of the stored media file as a ringtone, without storing the demarcated portion as a separate media file in the device. Thereafter, in response to detection of an alert at the device, the demarcated portion of the media file may be played out as an alert. The stored media file may be an audio file such that the ringtone is an audio ringtone, a video file such that the ringtone is a video ringtone, or an audio-video file such that the ringtone is an audio-video ringtone. Demarcating the portion of media file may include defining a ringtone start point and a ringtone end point. The ringtone start point and end point may be associated with distinct time stamps or data pointers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael T. Lundy, Harry H. Lai, Jason Whitney