Patents by Inventor Mark E. Church

Mark E. Church 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: 20120243436
    Abstract: Network selection techniques for use in a mobile device which is configured for voice and packet data communications are described. The mobile device performs a scanning operation to identify one or more communication networks, and consults a network selection list for selecting, in accordance with assigned priorities of the list, one of the identified networks. The mobile device also determines whether a packet data service interconnection to a home network via the selected network is available. If the interconnection to the home network via the selected network is determined to be available, then the mobile device operates with voice and packet data services in the selected network. Otherwise, if the interconnection to the home network via the selected network is determined to be unavailable, then the mobile device repeats the acts of consulting and determining for the next identified network in the list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Hugh Hind, Mark E. Church, Noushad Naqvi
  • Patent number: 8036654
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is adapted to provide voice communications with use of a voice service and data communications with use of a data service. The mobile device maintains a preferred network list as well as a service access list in its memory. The preferred network list has a listing of a plurality of networks with assigned priorities for network selection. The service access list has a listing of a plurality of networks that make the data service available to the mobile device. The mobile device performs a scanning operation for identifying one or more communication networks available in a coverage area of the mobile device. When a home network of the mobile device is unavailable in the coverage area, the mobile device consults the preferred network list and the service access list for identifying one of the networks identified by the scanning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Hugh Hind, Mark E. Church, Noushad Naqvi
  • Publication number: 20080287125
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is adapted to provide voice communications with use of a voice service and data communications with use of a data service. The mobile device maintains a preferred network list as well as a service access list in its memory. The preferred network list has a listing of a plurality of networks with assigned priorities for network selection. The service access list has a listing of a plurality of networks that make the data service available to the mobile device. The mobile device performs a scanning operation for identifying one or more communication networks available in a coverage area of the mobile device. When a home network of the mobile device is unavailable in the coverage area, the mobile device consults the preferred network list and the service access list for identifying one of the networks identified by the scanning operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Hugh Hind, Mark E. Church, Noushad Naqvi
  • Patent number: 7389109
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a cellular network to provide one or more communication services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A scanning operation is performed by the mobile device to identify a plurality of cellular networks that support a voice communication service in a geographic coverage area. The mobile device then identifies which of the cellular networks makes a data communication service available to it. Advantageously, the mobile device assigns priority to or selects a cellular network that makes the data communication service available over a network that fails to make the data communication service available, and may register with that network. The data communication service may include, as examples, an e-mail communication service or an Internet access service. Preferably, the cellular network operates in accordance with GSM (Global System for Mobile) and GPRS (Generalized Packet Radio Service).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Hugh Hind, Mark E. Church, Noushad Naqvi
  • Patent number: 7184768
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a cellular network to provide one or more communication services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A scanning operation is performed by the mobile device to identify a plurality of cellular networks that support a voice communication service in a geographic coverage area. The mobile device then identifies which of the cellular networks makes a data communication service available to it. Advantageously, the mobile device assigns priority to or selects a cellular network that makes the data communication service available over a network that fails to make the data communication service available, and may register with that network. The data communication service may include, as examples, an e-mail communication service or an Internet access service. Preferably, the cellular network operates in accordance with GSM (Global System for Mobile) and GPRS (Generalized Packet Radio Service).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Hugh Hind, Mark E. Church, Noushad Naqvi
  • Patent number: 6018770
    Abstract: A system and method for managing connections between one or more local terminals and one or more remote systems over a packet-switched network is disclosed. The invention includes a gateway computer that forms a bridge between the local terminals and the one or more host systems, the gateway and the local terminals including computer software instructions for embedding and filtering special connection identification information in each transaction request. The local terminals embed connection identification information into each request packet requesting a connection to a remote host system, and the gateway filters this information and verifies that the gateway and local terminal(s) are synchronized. The gateway then manages the communication to the host system using the native protocol of the host, thereby minimizing communication over the packet-switched network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Herb A. Little, Mark E. Church, Louise A. MacCallum, Gary P. Mousseau
  • Patent number: 5715387
    Abstract: A method and system provides a special purpose or embedded system developer with the ability to confirm the correct operation of a computer program designed to operate on a target system whose processing and storage capabilities may be more austere than the host system upon which the computer program is designed and tested. A key feature of the method and the system enables a developer to execute and debug an application program on a host system while observing and testing the operation of the program through the input/output of the target system. Another feature of the method and system is an application loader that dynamically sizes and, as necessary, reconfigures the available memory to permit multiple applications to reside simultaneously on the target system by resolving addresses in the target system at the time an application of interest is downloaded to the target system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael A. Barnstijn, Mark E. Church, Barry W. Linkert, Mihal Lazaridis
  • Patent number: 5600790
    Abstract: A method and system provides a special purpose or embedded system developer with the ability to confirm the correct operation of a computer program designed to operate on a target system whose processing and storage capabilities may be more austere than the host system upon which the computer program is designed and tested. A key feature of the method and the system enables a developer to execute and debug an application program on a host system while observing and testing the operation of the program through the input/output of the target system. Another feature of the method and system is an application loader that dynamically sizes and, as necessary, reconfigures the available memory to permit multiple applications to reside simultaneously on the target system by resolving addresses in the target system at the time an application of interest is downloaded to the target system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Michael A. Barnstijn, Mark E. Church, Barry W. Linkert, Mihal Lazaridis