Patents by Inventor Mark R. Bales

Mark R. 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).

  • Patent number: 10250498
    Abstract: A system for proving secure streamed data sessions is disclosed. The system comprises a first computer system executing an orchestrator virtualized network function (VNF). The orchestrator VNF collects performance metrics on routers, receives a request for a secure streamed data session, analyzes the metrics based on the request, determines a secure routing path, creates a routing instruction set that defines the secure routing path, and transmits the routing instruction set to a session aggregator. The system further comprises a second computer system that executes the session aggregator in a trusted security zone. The session aggregator establishes trusted end-to-end communication links with a first edge router, a second edge router, and at least one of the plurality of routers and configures the routing instruction set into each of the CPE node, the first edge router, the second edge router, and the at least one router via the trusted end-to-end communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Mark R. Bales, Lyle T. Bertz, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 10237796
    Abstract: An example embodiment may involve receiving an attach request related to a WCD. It may be determined that the WCD already has an established bearer session with a first PGW device. Possibly in response to receiving the attach request from the WCD and the WCD already having the established bearer session with the first PGW device, a request for PGW device assignment may be transmitted to a server device. A response from the server device may be received, where the response may indicate assignment of a second PGW device. A create session request may be transmitted to an SGW device. Reception of the create session request may cause the SGW device to establish, for the WCD, a new bearer session to the second PGW device. Establishment of the new bearer session may involve the second PGW device retrieving, from the first PGW device, context information related to the WCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Mark R. Bales
  • Patent number: 9936430
    Abstract: An example embodiment may involve receiving an attach request related to a WCD. It may be determined that the WCD already has an established bearer session with a first PGW device. Possibly in response to receiving the attach request from the WCD and the WCD already having the established bearer session with the first PGW device, a request for PGW device assignment may be transmitted to a server device. A response from the server device may be received, where the response may indicate assignment of a second PGW device. A create session request may be transmitted to an SGW device. Reception of the create session request may cause the SGW device to establish, for the WCD, a new bearer session to the second PGW device. Establishment of the new bearer session may involve the second PGW device retrieving, from the first PGW device, context information related to the WCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Mark R. Bales
  • Patent number: 8254989
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver, Charles E. Woodson
  • Patent number: 8180393
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Phillips, Lyle W. Paczkowski, Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8169952
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Charles E. Woodson, Jeffrey F. Phillips, Lyle W. Paczkowski, Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8064951
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Charles E. Woodson, Jeffrey F. Phillips, Lyle W. Paczkowski, Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8060135
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver, Jeffrey F. Phillips, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Publication number: 20110211531
    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 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
    Inventors: Charles E. Woodson, Jeffrey F. Phillips, Lyle W. Paczkowski, Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7903794
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for voice mail notification is disclosed. When a voice mail server receives a voice mail message left by a first party for a second party, the voice mail server stores the voice mail message and generates and sends to the second party a pictorial voice mail notification message that includes (i) an image associated with the first party and (ii) a link to the stored voice mail message at the voice mail server. The pictorial voice mail notification message may be structured such that, when a user invokes the link, an active session will be established between the user's device and the voice mail server, and the voice mail server will automatically play the stored voice mail message to the user and then offer the user one or more normal voice mail management options, such as options to delete, replay, save, or forward the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver, Anthony J. Wageman, Arun Santharam
  • Patent number: 7769146
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically connecting a calling party with a called party when the called party is leaving a message for the calling party. When first person is attempting to call a second person at the same time as the second person is leaving a voice mail message for the first person, a network system will determine that the second person is leaving the voice mail message for the first person and will responsively engage in call control signaling to disconnect the second person from the voice mail server and to instead set up a call between the first person and the second person. Once the call is set up between the first person and the second person, the first person and the second person may then conveniently talk with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Farni B. Weaver, Mark R. Bales, Anthony J. Wageman, Arun Santharam
  • Patent number: 7697667
    Abstract: A voicemail apparatus comprises a voicemail database for storing messages awaiting retrieval by a subscriber, wherein each stored message comprises a message header and message data, the message header including a calling party phone number and calling party network information. A voicemail controller is coupled to the voicemail database for handling an incoming call from a calling party to the subscriber. The voicemail controller compares the calling party phone number of the incoming call with calling party phone numbers of each of the stored messages for the subscriber. If the calling party phone number of the incoming call matches at least one calling party phone number of the stored messages then the incoming call is authenticated by comparing the calling party network information for the incoming call with calling party network information stored for the calling party phone number matching messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Wageman, Mark R. Bales, Farni Weaver
  • Patent number: 7260384
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Mark R. Bales, Farni B. Weaver, Charles E. Woodson