Patents by Inventor Robert H. Burcham

Robert H. Burcham 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: 9319379
    Abstract: A method of generating a user identifier is disclosed. The method comprises identifying, by a client, that the client does not have a device identifier associated with the device, wherein the device identifier is a device system identifier unique to the device. The method also comprises requesting, by the client, the device identifier from the device in response to identifying that the client does not have the device identifier. The method further comprises receiving, by the client, the device identifier. The method also comprises masking, by the client, the device identifier with client logic. The method further comprises generating, by the client, the user identifier based on masking, wherein the user identifier is unique to the device, and wherein the user identifier is attached to one or more interactions with one or more applications used by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Geoff A. Holmes, Robin D. Katzer
  • Patent number: 9154949
    Abstract: A method of authenticating a communication device for accessing premium communication services via an untrusted network. The method comprises receiving a request message from a communication device, wherein the request message comprises an identification of a delegated premium service delivery service and a mobile directory number of a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is different from the communication device. The method further comprises transmitting a code word to the mobile communication device associated with the mobile directory number, receiving a request authentication payload message from the communication device, wherein the request authentication payload message comprises the code word, and sending an authentication payload message to the communication device based on the code word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Robert H. Burcham, Robin D. Katzer, Brian D. Mauer
  • Patent number: 9154955
    Abstract: A mobile communication device. The device comprises a cellular radio transceiver, a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application receives an input that initiates access to a premium communication service via an untrusted network, determines whether an authentication payload is stored in the memory. When the application determines it is not stored in the memory, it transmits via the cellular radio transceiver to a media gateway a request to execute a service provided by an authorization server, receives an authentication payload from the media gateway via the cellular ratio transceiver, stores the authentication payload in the memory, and accesses the premium communication service initiated by the input based on the authentication payload stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Robert H. Burcham, Robin D. Katzer, Brian D. Mauer
  • Publication number: 20150236986
    Abstract: A communication system transfers user data messages to users. The system stores the user data messages in association with message stream identifiers and message delivery metrics. The system processes the message delivery metrics to enter the user data messages into a plurality of delivery queues associated with multiple message transmission systems. The system receives a data request indicating a message stream identifier and a message transmission system, and in response, identifies a message set and associated delivery metrics. The system receives a data instruction indicating new delivery metrics, and in response, re-enters the message set into the delivery queue. The communication system transfers the user data messages based on their associated delivery queues over data networks for receipt by the users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Umesh Chandra Upadhyay, Robin Dale Katzer, Geoff A. Holmes, Robert H. Burcham
  • Patent number: 9098366
    Abstract: A mobile communication device comprises a processor, a memory, a plurality of stub applications comprising updateable version numbers, and a widget stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to: determine a plurality of the stub applications to present, present the stub applications on a display of the mobile communication device, and elicit, in response to selection of a first stub application, retrieval and installation of a first full application in place of the first stub application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Fared A. Adib, Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, Jason Salge, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Patent number: 9092291
    Abstract: A method of renaming stub applications on a mobile communication device comprises installing a plurality of stub applications, wherein each of the stub applications comprises a generic file name. The method further comprises determining a plurality of interactive thumbnail images to present on a display, wherein the determining is done by a widget, displaying the plurality of interactive thumbnail images within a graphical user interface frame of the widget in response to the determining, wherein each of the interactive thumbnail images is linked to one of the stub applications, identifying that the generic file names of the stub applications do not match the file names of the interactive thumbnail images to which they are linked, and replacing the generic file names of the stub applications linked to the interactive thumbnail images with file names that match the file names of the interactive thumbnail images in response to the identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Fared A. Adib, Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, Jason Salge, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Publication number: 20150074204
    Abstract: A message distribution system comprising an analytics system to receive an inquiry with qualifiers to generate an estimate of the number of mobile devices associated the with qualifiers, wherein the qualifiers comprise at least one characteristic associated with at least one of a mobile device, a mobile device user, or a mobile device owner, generating an estimate of the number of mobile devices associated with the qualifiers at a future time which may receive messages, and transmit the estimate of the number of mobile devices to a common campaign system. The system comprises a common campaign system to provide the qualifiers for selection, transmit the inquiry with the qualifiers to at least the analytics system to receive an estimate of the number of mobile devices associated with the qualifiers, and receive the estimate of the number of mobile devices associated with the qualifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Sprint Communications L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, Robin D. Katzer
  • Patent number: 8880706
    Abstract: A system for enabling interaction with a user interface device, comprising a separable transportable mobile core comprising a radio transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a communication component, wherein the mobile core receives indicia of the user interface device and communicates the indicia to a computer, wherein the computer authenticates the user interface device and transmits an instruction to the mobile core, and wherein the instruction enables the mobile core to interact with the user interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon C. Annan, Lyle T. Bertz, Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, David A. Schmuck
  • Patent number: 8761722
    Abstract: A telematics unit for use in a vehicle. The telematics unit comprises a cellular radio transceiver operable for placing an emergency call in a wireless access network, a location data generating unit operable to determine and output enhanced location information about the vehicle location, a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application builds an emergency call origination message, including at least some of the enhanced location information and transmits the emergency call origination message via the cellular radio transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Bowles, Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker
  • Publication number: 20140106705
    Abstract: A wireless communication device operates between a WiFi link and an LTE link. The device receives a request indicating a user identifier and determines if the user identifier has sufficient usage credit. If there is sufficient usage credit, the device exchanges WiFi signals and LTE signals including user communications. The device decrements the usage credit and transfers usage credit consumption over the LTE link. After decrementing the usage credit, the device determines if the user identifier has sufficient usage credit, and if the user identifier does not, the device transfers a credit request and receives an additional usage credit for the user identifier over the LTE link. The device exchanges additional WiFI signals and LTE signals including additional user communications. The device decrements the additional usage credit and transfers additional usage credit consumption over the LTE link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Brandon Christopher Annan, Jason R. Delker, Cesar Perez, Thomas W. Keel
  • Patent number: 8665864
    Abstract: A method to translate between Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) numbers and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) addresses without performing an address translation database lookup. A network gateway receives and translates a first endpoint identifier associated with a destination client device to a second endpoint identifier associated with the destination client device. The first endpoint identifier is either a PSTN number or a VoIP address comprising at least the PSTN number and a predefined suffix and the second endpoint identifier is the other of the PSTN number and the VoIP address. The network gateway translates the first endpoint identifier to the second endpoint identifier without performing an address translation database lookup, by either adding the predefined suffix to or removing the predefined suffix from the first endpoint identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, Jeremy R. Breau, John M. Everson, Lars J. Hacking, Robert H. Burcham, Matthew C. Schlesener
  • Patent number: 8644255
    Abstract: A method of operating a communication system is disclosed which includes, in a wireless communication device, transferring a wireless beacon signal and responsively receiving a wireless access request from a user device, determining if a user identifier received with the wireless access request has usage credits in a data structure, exchanging wireless signals with the user device and with a wireless communication network based on the usage credits to provide a wireless communication service to the user device, and decrementing the usage credits for the user identifier in the data structure. The method also includes wirelessly transferring usage credit updates for receipt in a master data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Brandon Christopher Annan, Jason R. Delker, Cesar Perez, Thomas W. Keel
  • Patent number: 8630747
    Abstract: A system for alternative authorization for telematics in a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a telematics unit residing in the vehicle, a radio transceiver, and a digital rights management application executing on the telematics unit. The radio transceiver couples the telematics unit with a wireless service provider. The digital rights management application receives a remote operation request, maps the remote operation request to vehicle specific instructions contained in the digital rights management application, and executes the vehicle specific instructions on the telematics unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, Robin D. Katzer
  • Publication number: 20130303142
    Abstract: A mobile phone that is delivered by an original equipment manufacturer in an unbranded state. The mobile phone comprises a near-field-communication radio transceiver, a memory, a processor, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application reads brand information, using the near-field-communication radio transceiver, from a radio frequency identity (RFID) tag coupled to the mobile phone during an order fulfillment process in a distribution center of a communication service provider and, based on the brand information, loads brand firmware into the memory, whereby the mobile phone presents a branded look and feel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Publication number: 20130304281
    Abstract: A system for alternative authorization for telematics in a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a telematics unit residing in the vehicle, a radio transceiver, and a digital rights management application executing on the telematics unit. The radio transceiver couples the telematics unit with a wireless service provider. The digital rights management application receives a remote operation request, maps the remote operation request to vehicle specific instructions contained in the digital rights management application, and executes the vehicle specific instructions on the telematics unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker, Robin D. Katzer
  • Publication number: 20130297456
    Abstract: A vehicle computer system including a processor and memory coupled to the processor is provided. The memory stores a plurality of vehicle applications and a vehicle application management program. The vehicle application management program, when executed by the processor, is configured to initiate restricted operations of the plurality of vehicle applications in accordance with a single digital rights payload received separately from the plurality of vehicle applications. The restricted operations of the plurality of vehicle applications comprise a multimedia operation and a remote access operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon C. Annan, Robert H. Burcham, William F. Foust, Ricky A. Hohler, Robin Dale Katzer, Daniel L. Naden, Ashish K. Singh
  • Patent number: 8484707
    Abstract: A method for granting secure network access comprising requesting, by a mobile device, access to a network via an access point; receiving a passcode from the access point; sending a message including the passcode and an indicia back to the access point; and generating, by the access point, a secure key based on the indicia, the secure key providing network access to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Spring Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Robert H. Burcham, Jason R. Delker
  • Patent number: 7831905
    Abstract: A portal can create and send one or more pages, such as markup language documents, to an information device. The portal can create the page using one or more stylesheets. The stylesheets may include one or more pre-conditions, such as data requirements, in order to use the stylesheet. The portal may use the pre-conditions in obtaining data used to construct the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Grant Jennings, Ivan I. Kepych, Peter S. Syromiatnikov, Robert H. Burcham