Patents by Inventor Michael Philip Dougan

Michael Philip Dougan 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: 10460263
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for pooling network devices and updating service plans in a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and network devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured to group network devices based on a location identifier of each network device. The base station may pool network resources of network devices in each group. The base station, in turn, updates the service plans for customers having addresses that correspond to the location identifiers to reflect the grouped network devices and the pooled resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9760843
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for pooling network devices and updating service plans in a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and network devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured to group network devices based on a location identifier of each network device. The base station may pool network resources of network devices in each group. The base station, in turn, updates the service plans for customers having addresses that correspond to the location identifiers to reflect the grouped network devices and the pooled resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9554235
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for connecting wireless devices to a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and wireless devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured with a database that stores metrics for each wireless device. The base station may identify one or more wireless devices that are suitable to communicate data for each of wireless devices based on the stored metrics. The identified suitable wireless devices proxy communications for other wireless devices over the wireless network. The wireless devices are part of a package delivery truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9509703
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for sharing content among network devices. The system includes at least one base station and network devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured to receive a request for content from a network device. The content may be available on a second network device proximate to the first network device. The base station may generate temporary and permanent keys that allow network devices to access content available on other network devices. The base station, among other functions, may transmit keys, determine proximity settings and facilitate content transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9460437
    Abstract: Methods, media, and servers are provided for maintaining persistent sessions for a network device and providing quick authorization to a user of the network device. The network server maintains persistent sessions with network devices based on a usage profile associated with the network devices. The persistent sessions are maintained during time periods when the network device experience peak transaction activity. Additionally, during these time periods, the network device may provide quick authorizations to users of the network device. Quick authorizations allow a transaction to complete on the network device without waiting for authorization if the user is identified as a returning user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9432855
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for connecting Machine-to-Machine (M2M) components of trucks. The system includes at least one base station, a central computer, and trucks that are part of a wireless network. Each M2M component calculates metrics. The metrics are transmitted to a central computer that identifies M2M components that are suitable for communicating to a base station over the wireless network. The identified M2M components that are suitable are configured to send package delivery information stored by the M2M component on each truck over a wireless network to the central computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9160629
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for connecting wireless devices to a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and wireless devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured with a database that stores metrics for each wireless device. The base station may identify one or more wireless devices that are suitable to communicate data for each of wireless devices based on the stored metrics. The identified suitable wireless devices proxy communications for other wireless devices over the wireless network. The wireless devices are part of a package delivery truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9154976
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for connecting wireless devices to a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and wireless devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured with a database that stores metrics for each wireless device. The base station may identify one or more wireless devices that are suitable to communicate data for each of wireless devices based on the stored metrics. The identified suitable wireless devices proxy communications for other wireless devices over the wireless network. The wireless devices are part of a package delivery truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 9106638
    Abstract: Methods, media, and servers are provided for maintaining persistent sessions for a network device and providing quick authorization to a user of the network device. The network server maintains persistent sessions with network devices based on a usage profile associated with the network devices. The persistent sessions are maintained during time periods when the network device experience peak transaction activity. Additionally, during these time periods, the network device may provide quick authorizations to users of the network device. Quick authorizations allow a transaction to complete on the network device without waiting for authorization if the user is identified as a returning user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 8943605
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for sharing content among network devices. The system includes at least one base station and network devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured to receive a request for content from a network device. The content may be available on a second network device proximate to the first network device. The base station may generate a temporary key that allows the first network device to access the content available on the second network device while proximity between the first network device and the second network device is maintained. The base station, in turn, transmits the temporary key to the first network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 8880662
    Abstract: Methods, media, and network devices are provided for automatically re-provisioning a network device. The network devices include several triggers for re-provisioning the network device. When a trigger is satisfied, the network devices may switch communication networks by replacing current provisioning credentials with provisioning credentials for other communication networks. After the switch, the home address for the network devices point to the other communication networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 8848558
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for connecting mesh devices to a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and mesh devices that are part of a mesh network. The base station is configured with a database that stores metrics for each mesh device. The base station may identify one or more mesh devices that are suitable to communicate data for each of mesh devices based on the stored metrics. The identified suitable devices proxy communications for other mesh devices over the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan
  • Patent number: 8631472
    Abstract: Methods, media, and servers are provided for maintaining persistent sessions for a network device and providing quick authorization to a user of the network device. The network server maintains persistent sessions with network devices based on a usage profile associated with the network devices. The persistent sessions are maintained during time periods when the network device experience peak transaction activity. Additionally, during these time periods, the network device may provide quick authorizations to users of the network device. Quick authorizations allow a transaction to complete on the network device without waiting for authorization if the user is identified as a returning user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Scott Martin, Michael Philip Dougan