Patents by Inventor Nicholas P. Alfano

Nicholas P. Alfano 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: 9002787
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking device management data changes comprising storing information related to modification to device management data wherein the device management data is stored in an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) compliant device management tree of Managed Objects (MO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Axel Ferrazzini, Nicholas P. Alfano, James Andrew Godfrey
  • Patent number: 8301135
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate operation of a roaming mobile node to perform a packet communication service. When the mobile node roams beyond its home network, detection is made of the available networks in whose coverage area that the mobile node roams together with the communication capabilities of the available networks. A preferred listing stored at a storage element of the mobile node is accessed to determine if any of the available and compatible networks are listed on the preferred listing. If so, selection is made of one of the available and preferred networks. Otherwise, a network not contained in the preferred listing is selected through which to communicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Nicholas P. Alfano, Mihal Lazaridis
  • Patent number: 8229431
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating selection of a radio access network with which a roaming mobile node attempts to effectuate communications pursuant to a selected communication service. Listings are maintained at the mobile node, each containing entries of networks and their communication service capabilities. Different listings identify networks of differing preference levels. Detection is made of available networks, and a selector selects with which network to attempt to communicate based upon network availability, network capability, and preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Nicholas P. Alfano
  • Publication number: 20120040666
    Abstract: A network selection method and wireless user equipment device operable in a network environment having one or more radio access networks (RANs), one or more core networks (CNs), and one or more service networks (SNs). Upon obtaining identity information of a particular network combination, a wireless user equipment (UE) device is operable to register with a roaming broker (RB), whereby additional information may be provided to the device for facilitating appropriate network selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Paul Carpenter, Nicholas P. Alfano, Andrew Allen
  • Publication number: 20120039325
    Abstract: A method and wireless user equipment (UE) device provide the capability to store network information in a database structure on the wireless user equipment device, with the network information containing network entries arranged by radio access technology. Each network entry contains a radio access network (RAN) identification code and a core network (CN) identification code and has a priority within the radio access technology. The UE device determines a currently preferred order of access technologies and selects a network entry according to the currently preferred order of radio access technologies and the priority of network entries within the radio access technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Paul Carpenter, Nicholas P. Alfano, Andrew Allen
  • Patent number: 8060084
    Abstract: A network selection scheme operable in a network environment having one or more radio access networks (RANs), one or more core networks (CNs), and one or more service networks (SNs). Upon obtaining identity information of a particular network combination, a wireless user equipment (UE) device is operable to register with a roaming broker (RB), whereby additional information may be provided to the device for facilitating appropriate network selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Paul Carpenter, Nicholas P. Alfano, Andrew Allen
  • Patent number: 7821927
    Abstract: A host server is operative to control the pushing of user data messages to a plurality of mobile communication devices adapted to communicate in a wireless communication network. In particular, the host server is adapted to cause, for each one of the mobile communication devices operating in the wireless communication network, user data messages to be pushed to a mobile communication device via a packet data connection; receive, from a serving node in the wireless communication network, an IP notification message having an IP destination address of the host server and including an identification or address that identifies one of the mobile communication devices, the IP notification message being produced in response to a termination of packet data connectivity for the identified mobile communication device; and in response to receiving the IP notification message, at least temporarily refrain from pushing user data messages to the identified mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Alfano, Adrian Buckley, Noushad Naqvi, Ian M. Patterson, Gary P. Mousseau, Allan David Lewis, Hugh Hind, Graeme R. S. Whittington
  • Publication number: 20100238793
    Abstract: In one illustrative example, a technique in a server to facilitate a re-establishing of communication over a data connection between an application server and a wireless communication device which communicates via a base station of a wireless communication network is described. In response to a communication loss between the wireless device and the wireless network which causes the data connection to be terminated, the server receives from the application server a plurality of connection requests which are intended for receipt by the wireless device for re-establishing the data connection. The server operates to limit the number or a rate of the connection requests allowed to pass from the server to the base station of the wireless network during the communication loss between the wireless device and the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Alfano, Noushad Naqvi, Sarmad K. Musa, Bryan Taylor, Craig A. Dunk, Atul Asthana, Adrian Buckley
  • Publication number: 20100198886
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking device management data changes comprising storing information related to modification to device management data wherein the device management data is stored in an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) compliant device management tree of Managed Objects (MO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Axel FERRAZZINI, Nicholas P. ALFANO, James Andrew GODFREY
  • Publication number: 20100185679
    Abstract: A device is disclosed. The device comprises a storage device storing a data structure of features supported by the device. The data structure is created either dynamically or on command using an OpenMobileAlliance Device Management protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Axel FERRAZZINI, Nicholas P. ALFANO, James Andrew GODFREY
  • Patent number: 7747244
    Abstract: Several related methods and apparatus for re-establishing communication for a wireless communication device after a communication loss between the wireless device and a wireless communication network are disclosed. In one illustrative example, the wireless network broadcasts identifiers of wireless devices associated with communication losses in the wireless network over a control channel. After regaining signal coverage, a wireless device monitors the control channel to decode and compare each broadcasted identifier with an identifier of the wireless device. Based on a match between a broadcasted identifier and the identifier of the wireless device, the wireless device transmits a control message which informs the wireless network of the presence of the wireless device. Otherwise, the wireless device normally refrains from transmitting the control message to the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Alfano, Noushad Naqvi, Sarmad K. Musa, Bryan Taylor, Craig A. Dunk, Atul Asthana, Adrian Buckley
  • Publication number: 20100036845
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for managing an access control list for a data item. The method includes designating an owner for the access control list, wherein the owner is a member of the access control list, and wherein only the owner of the access control list is allowed to manage the access control list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: James Andrew GODFREY, Axel FERRAZZINI, Nicholas P. ALFANO
  • Publication number: 20090270092
    Abstract: A method of establishing a wireless link is provided. The method comprises a user equipment (UE) receiving a transmission from a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell. When the CSG cell is associated with a CSG identified in a user defined list of CSGs stored in the UE, the method further comprises establishing a wireless link between the UE and the CSG cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Youngae Kim, Stephen A. Howell, Nicholas P. Alfano
  • Publication number: 20090125417
    Abstract: A method for conducting an e-commerce transaction between a user and a merchant is disclosed. The user has a customer account with a communication provider operating a first communication network. The customer account includes personal information about the user. The method includes the steps of: a) establishing communication between the user and the communication provider over the first communication network; b) authenticating the user to the communication provider; c) selecting a product from the merchant for the e-commerce transaction; d) retrieving the personal information about the user from the customer account; and e) completing the e-commerce transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Nicholas P. Alfano
  • Patent number: 7525936
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate operation of a roaming mobile node to perform a packet communication service. When the mobile node roams beyond its home network, detection is made of the available networks in whose coverage area that the mobile node roams together with the communication capabilities of the available networks. A preferred listing stored at a storage element of the mobile node is accessed to determine if any of the available and compatible networks are listed on the preferred listing. If so, selection is made of one of the available and preferred networks. Otherwise, a network not contained in the preferred listing is selected through which to communicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Nicholas P. Alfano, Mihal Lazaridis
  • Publication number: 20090061861
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for network selection in a user equipment (UE) device. A determination is made that a network identified by a received network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with the UE device. Responsive to that determination, a further determination is made that the equivalent home network is in a geographic region of a home country associated with the subscriber identity, whereupon a scanning of all equivalent home networks is performed in accordance with the scanning procedures specified for the geographic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Nicholas P. Alfano, Paul Carpenter
  • Patent number: 7478057
    Abstract: A method for conducting an e-commerce transaction between a user and a merchant is disclosed. The user has a customer account with a communication provider operating a first communication network. The customer account includes personal information about the user. The method includes the steps of: a) establishing communication between the user and the communication provider over the first communication network; b) authenticating the user to the communication provider; c) selecting a product from the merchant for the e-commerce transaction; d) retrieving the personal information about the user from the customer account; and e) completing the e-commerce transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas P. Alfano
  • Publication number: 20080273682
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for facilitating discovery and integration of service capabilities available in a network environment via disparate service platforms. A query may be generated by a subscriber party towards a service integration node having functionality to integrate service features from a plurality of service platforms. A response may be received by the subscriber party from the service integration node, wherein the response includes a list of service capability identifiers relating to one or more service features. A display module is operable for presenting at least a subset of the services enabled by the discovered list of service capability identifiers via a display for supporting user interaction at a user equipment (UE) device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jan John-Luc Bakker, Nicholas P. Alfano, Richard George, Adrian Buckley, Douglas Gisby
  • Patent number: 7447502
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a scheme for providing regulatory compliance in network selection by a user equipment (UE) device that is operable to discover an equivalent home network in a foreign country. Upon receiving a network identity code from a network node, a determination is made if the network identified by the network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with the UE device. If so, network scanning is performed by the UE device in accordance with scanning procedures specified for a home country associated with the subscriber identity provided that the geographic code portion of the network country code identifies a geographic area in the home country of the subscriber identity. Otherwise, network scanning is performed by the UE device in accordance with scanning procedures specified for a foreign geographic region identified in the network identity code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Buckley, Nicholas P. Alfano, Paul Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20080159257
    Abstract: A host server is operative to control the pushing of user data messages to a plurality of mobile communication devices adapted to communicate in a wireless communication network. In particular, the host server is adapted to cause, for each one of the mobile communication devices operating in the wireless communication network, user data messages to be pushed to a mobile communication device via a packet data connection; receive, from a serving node in the wireless communication network, an IP notification message having an IP destination address of the host server and including an identification or address that identifies one of the mobile communication devices, the IP notification message being produced in response to a termination of packet data connectivity for the identified mobile communication device; and in response to receiving the IP notification message, at least temporarily refrain from pushing user data messages to the identified mobile communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Alfano, Adrian Buckley, Noushad Naqvi, Ian M. Patterson, Gary P. Mousseau, Allan D. Lewis, Graeme R.S. Whittington, Hugh Hind