Patents by Inventor Mark Bales

Mark Bales 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).

  • Publication number: 20240372858
    Abstract: A system comprises a communication device and an VS server. The communication device is configured to receive, a communication message comprising a digital identifier (ID) from a source communication device; send a verification request for receiving an authentication result of the digital ID, wherein the verification request includes the digital ID; and display a visual identifier in response to receiving the authentication result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Mark BALES, Zhisheng CHEN
  • Patent number: 10953999
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle docking system can include a docking arm and a docking station. The docking arm can be mounted on the UAV and include a rod with an interface element positioned on top of the rod. The interface element can have charging contacts that are attached to wires that extend down to a charging circuit on the UAV. The docking station can be located separate from the docking arm and have a guidance cone to direct the docking arm to a capture mechanism. Once the interface element is in the capture mechanism, a charging dome is then lowered down onto the top of the interface element to form a circuit between a power source at the docking station and the UAV's battery. Upon completion of the charging process, the charging dome is raised and the capture mechanism releases the interface element of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
    Inventors: John Alcorn, Stewart King, Mark Bales, David Brian Landrum
  • Publication number: 20200071001
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle docking system can include a docking arm and a docking station. The docking arm can be mounted on the UAV and include a rod with an interface element positioned on top of the rod. The interface element can have charging contacts that are attached to wires that extend down to a charging circuit on the UAV. The docking station can be located separate from the docking arm and have a guidance cone to direct the docking arm to a capture mechanism. Once the interface element is in the capture mechanism, a charging dome is then lowered down onto the top of the interface element to form a circuit between a power source at the docking station and the UAV's battery. Upon completion of the charging process, the charging dome is raised and the capture mechanism releases the interface element of the UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: John Alcorn, Stewart King, Mark Bales, David Brian Landrum
  • Patent number: 10407182
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle docking system can include a docking arm and a docking station. The docking arm can be mounted on the UAV and include a rod with an interface element positioned on top of the rod. The interface element can have charging contacts that are attached to wires that extend down to a charging circuit on the UAV. The docking station can be located separate from the docking arm and have a guidance cone to direct the docking arm to a capture mechanism. Once the interface element is in the capture mechanism, a charging dome is then lowered down onto the top of the interface element to form a circuit between a power source at the docking station and the UAV's battery. Upon completion of the charging process, the charging dome is raised and the capture mechanism releases the interface element of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: John Alcorn, Stewart King, Mark Bales, David Brian Landrum
  • Patent number: 9860137
    Abstract: A method and corresponding system to help facilitate the application of service policy rules for client devices while reducing the amount of signaling between network entities is disclosed. In accordance with one example, the wireless network may evaluate the extent to which the service policy rules defined by the UE's service profile have been applied by the wireless network. Based on this evaluating, the network may identify a subset of service policy rules that have been applied to greater than a threshold extent by the network for the given UE. And in response to this identifying, the network may cause the PDP to provision the PEP, with the subset of service policy rules, rather than provision the PEP with every possible service policy rule. As a result, the PDP and PEP may refrain from engaging in excess signaling, and the wireless network, in turn, may enjoy reduced congestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Mark Bales
  • Publication number: 20060204398
    Abstract: To reduce the likelihood of transmission of infection from a patient, the exposed surface of an X-ray cassette is disinfected, the cassette is covered with a fluid repelling, radio lucent wrap and X-rays of the patient are taken while the cassette is still covered by the wrap. The cassette may then be removed from the wrap and re-covered with another fluid repelling, radio lucent wrap or, alternatively, left in the wrap and the wrap disinfected for subsequent use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventor: Mark Bales
  • Publication number: 20060023657
    Abstract: A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request seeking to set up a call for a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) that is operating in the coverage area of the RAN, a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into a cellular-PBX integration service. A service control point (SCP), for instance, may make the determination. If the determination is that the WCD is currently checked-in, then the call is set up to an IP PBX server that services the WCD, and the IP PBX server may then handle the call as it would handle a call placed to any IP PBX extension. Further, differential billing can be applied, charging an enterprise billing-account for the call if the WCD is checked-in, and charging a WCD billing-account for the call if the WCD is not checked-in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Charles Woodson, Jeffrey Phillips, Lyle Paczkowski, Mark Bales, Farni Weaver
  • Publication number: 20060023658
    Abstract: A method and system for using location of a cellular wireless communication device (WCD) as a basis to restrict application of a cellular-PBX integration service. In one embodiment, a radio access network (RAN) serving the WCD receives a call request for the WCD, and, based on the WCD's location, a determination is made as to whether the call should be set up to an IP PBX server that serves the WCD, to allow the IP PBX server to handle the call. In another embodiment, an IP PBX server serving a WCD receives a call request and responsively signals to a call session control function (CSCF), and the CSCF or a policy server decides based on the WCD's location whether the call should be set up to the RAN that serves the WCD, to allow the RAN to handle the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Phillips, Lyle Paczkowski, Mark Bales, Farni Weaver
  • Publication number: 20060025140
    Abstract: A method and system for selectively applying a cellular-PBX integration service. When a radio access network (RAN) receives a call request for a served wireless communication device (WCD), call setup signaling passes to a call session control function (CSCF), and a determination is made as to whether the WCD is currently checked-into or checked-out of the cellular-PBX integration service. If the WCD is checked-in, the call is set up to an IPPBX server for handling. If the WCD is checked-out, the call is set up back to the RAN for handling. Similarly, the CSCF may receive call setup signaling in response to a call dialed to an IPPBX extension associated with the WCD, and the check-in/check-out status of the WCD may be used as a basis to decide whether to send the call to the RAN for handling or whether to return the call to the IPPBX server for handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Bales, Farni Weaver, Jeffrey Phillips, Lyle Paczkowski
  • Publication number: 20060025139
    Abstract: A method for using an account balance to limit application of cellular-PBX integration service. A cellular wireless communication device (WCD) will be allotted a quantity of cellular-PBX integration service, such as a number of minutes of use per month for instance. The quantity will be decremented a the WCD uses the service, and the WCD may be precluded from benefiting from the cellular-PBX integration service upon exhaustion of the balance. In one embodiment, for instance, when a radio access network (RAN) that serves the WCD receives a call request for the WCD, the account balance can be used as a basis to decide whether to pass the call to an IP PBX server that serves the WCD or whether to have the RAN handle the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Bales, Farni Weaver, Charles Woodson
  • Publication number: 20060025114
    Abstract: A method for dynamically selecting a voice mail system to receive a call on behalf of a cellular wireless subscriber. A radio access network (RAN) receives a voice mail call request, and a policy server determines which of a plurality of voice mail systems should receive the call from the media gateway system. The policy server can make this determination based on user profile logic and/or by voice interaction with the caller. In one embodiment, the determination may be whether to set up the call to a voice mail system provided by the subscriber's wireless carrier or rather whether to set up the call to a voice mail system provided by an enterprise that serves the subscriber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Bales, Farni Weaver, Charles Woodson