Patents by Inventor Robert Novak

Robert Novak 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: 9184892
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for device-assisted interference management in heterogeneous wireless network environments. A mobile station (MS) assists a serving access point (AP) in assigning radio resources according to the interference management capabilities of the MS, the serving AP, and one or more neighboring interfering APs on the downlink, or alternatively, to one or more neighboring APs with interfering mobile stations on the uplink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Chandra Sekhar Bontu, Shalini Suresh Periyalwar
  • Publication number: 20150319593
    Abstract: A method of establishing communication links during a failure within a mobile communications network includes detecting disruptions in communications between a plurality of base stations and a plurality of mobile terminals. Survivability components are activated within the base station and the mobile terminal to operate in a survivability mode. The survivability mode enables communications and services to be provided by the surviving base stations to mobile terminals through activated survivability components. The alternate communication links may operate for as long as a disruption exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: David Gywn Steer, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20150304943
    Abstract: A method for execution by a mobile station (MS) in a mobile communications network, the method comprising: receiving a first MS identifier from the network during a ranging operation involving the MS; using the first MS identifier to extract the contents of at least one message received from the network during said ranging operation; using a second MS identifier, different from the first MS identifier, to extract the contents of at least one message received from the network after said ranging operation is complete. Also, a method for execution by the base station, comprising: outputting a first message destined for the MS, the first message including a first identifier for use by the MS during a ranging operation; determining that said ranging operation is complete; outputting a second message destined for the MS, the second message including a second identifier for use by the MS in subsequent communication with the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20150296555
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for determining the proximity of client nodes within a wireless-enabled communication environment. A first client node comprises a database containing identification data associated with a plurality of wireless network access nodes and fingerprint data associated with the client node and a plurality of second client nodes. As the fingerprint information is updated, it is processed by the first client node to identify second client nodes that have matching, or similar, fingerprint information. Those that do are determined to be within a viable device-to-device (D2D) communication range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: David Gywn Steer, Dongsheng Yu, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20150288504
    Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9143296
    Abstract: Methods, base stations and access terminals for uplink signalling are provided. Resource request channel characteristics such as location in time-frequency, sequence, time slot, are assigned to each access terminal to distinguish their resource requests from the resource requests of other access terminals. Access terminals make requests using a resource request on a resource request channel having the assigned characteristics. The base station can then determine which access terminal transmitted 0 the resource request based on the resource request channel characteristics of the resource request channel upon which the resource>request was received. The base station then transmits a response to the request which may for example be a new resource allocation, a default allocation or a renewal of a previous allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu, Jianglei Ma
  • Publication number: 20150264697
    Abstract: To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20150263878
    Abstract: A method and system for achieving a link budget improvement in a diverse OFDM radio system by addressing the timing misalignment issue that can occur due to the differences in propagation time in signals between mobile stations and Radio Access Nodes. Timing misalignment is shared or split between the primary path to a primary Radio Access Node and a diverse path to a diverse Radio Access Node. The relative timing offsets between mobile stations are adjusted, the mobile stations are grouped into zones using a variety of different grouping techniques, and the transmission for each mobile station is scheduled, using one or more of a variety of scheduling techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Adrian Smith, Xiao-Dong Li, David Steer, Kelvin Kar-Kin Au, Robert Novak, Mark Earnshaw
  • Patent number: 9112685
    Abstract: Described herein is a user equipment comprising a processor configured to: derive a plurality of virtual subframes from an allocation of radio resources, the virtual subframes comprising a virtual special subframe and a virtual forward link subframe wherein the virtual forward link subframe comprises a first forward link portion and the virtual special subframe comprises one or more of: a second forward link portion, and a reverse link portion; transmit, via a direct device to device (DD2D) link, to a second user equipment during the first forward link portion; and receive, via the DD2D link, from the second user equipment during the reverse link portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: William Anthony Gage, Masoud Ebrahimi Tazeh Mahalleh, Biswaroop Mukherjee, Robert Novak
  • Patent number: 9088971
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method implemented in user equipment UE for use in a wireless system for single carrier frequency division multiple access SC-FDMA includes receiving an assignment of a recurring scheduling request resource from within the wireless system. Information is transmitted on an instance of the assigned recurring scheduling request resource within an SC-FDMA uplink shared channel signal wherein said information comprises a user ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas William Anderson, Robert Mark Harrison, Robert Novak, Eswar Vutukuri
  • Patent number: 9088385
    Abstract: Transmission of uplink control message for a wireless system. The uplink control message may be encoded according to one of multiple possible schemes. The choice of encoding scheme may be made based on the control message size and/or based on the available transmission resources and/or based on the detection scheme used on the receiving end. A modulation scheme may also be selected based on such factors. CDM may be used for certain control messages. Block code encoding, such as Reed-Muller encoding may be used for certain control messages. Different transmission resources may be allocated for different control message uses. The encoding specifics may be selected to obtain a certain hamming distance and/or size of the encoded message or based on other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dong-Sheng Yu, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Sophie Vrzic, Mo-Han Fong, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan
  • Patent number: 9088995
    Abstract: An architecture, system and associated method for dynamic coordination of radio resource usage in a network environment. In one aspect, a relay communication method comprises detecting, by a first wireless mobile device, sensory data associated with multiple radio channels relative to at least one radio element in a sensing area of the first wireless mobile device. If the first wireless mobile device is out of range of a wide area cellular network, a short-range wireless communication path is established with a second wireless mobile device having a wide area cellular communication connection. The sensory data is transmitted by the first wireless mobile device to the second wireless mobile device for reporting to a network element via a wide area cellular network serving the second wireless mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, David Steer, Dongsheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9084235
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for determining the proximity of client nodes within a wireless-enabled communication environment. A first client node comprises a database containing identification data associated with a plurality of wireless network access nodes and fingerprint data associated with the client node and a plurality of second client nodes. As the fingerprint information is updated, it is processed by the first client node to identify second client nodes that have matching, or similar, fingerprint information. Those that do are determined to be within a viable device-to-device (D2D) communication range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David G. Steer, Dongsheng Yu, Robert Novak
  • Patent number: 9072106
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for mitigating interference between wireless access points (APs). A user equipment (UE) device uses a first set of radio resources to wirelessly communicate with a first AP and a second set of radio resources to wirelessly communicate with a second AP. The UE device then uses the first and second radio resources to communicate cooperation data between the first and second access points to mitigate interference thereinbetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, William Gage
  • Patent number: 9071403
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for allocating resources including VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) and Non-VoIP resources. In some embodiments, multiplexing schemes are provided for use with OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access) systems, for example for use in transmitting VoIP traffic. In some embodiments, various HARQ (Hybrid Automatic request) techniques are provided for use with OFDMA systems. In various embodiments, there are provided methods and systems for dealing with issues such as Handling non-full rate vocoder frames, VoIP packet jitter handling, VoIP capacity increasing schemes, persistent and non-persistent assignment of resources in OFDMA systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic, Mo-Han Fong, Kelvin Kar-Kin Au, Jianglel Ma, Peiying Zhu, Wen Tong
  • Patent number: 9071987
    Abstract: A method of establishing communication links during a failure within a mobile communications network includes detecting disruptions in communications between a plurality of base stations and a plurality of mobile terminals. Survivability components are activated within the base station and the mobile terminal to operate in a survivability mode. The survivability mode enables communications and services to be provided by the surviving base stations to mobile terminals through activated survivability components. The alternate communication links may operate for as long as a disruption exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David G. Steer, Robert Novak
  • Patent number: 9055454
    Abstract: A method for execution by a mobile station (MS) in a mobile communications network, the method comprising: receiving a first MS identifier from the network during a ranging operation involving the MS; using the first MS identifier to extract the contents of at least one message received from the network during said ranging operation; using a second MS identifier, different from the first MS identifier, to extract the contents of at least one message received from the network after said ranging operation is complete. Also, a method for execution by the base station, comprising: outputting a first message destined for the MS, the first message including a first identifier for use by the MS during a ranging operation; determining that said ranging operation is complete; outputting a second message destined for the MS, the second message including a second identifier for use by the MS in subsequent communication with the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Robert Novak
  • Patent number: 9055542
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for using a mobile station to mitigate interference between wireless access points. A mobile station communicates interference mitigation data corresponding to a first and second set of radio resources between a first and second wireless access point (AP). The interference mitigation data is processed by the first wireless AP to resolve conflicts in the claiming, and subsequent assignment, of the first and second radio resource assignments to the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: William Anthony Gage, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20150156801
    Abstract: A method and system are provided having an uplink control structure and a pilot signal having minimal signal overhead for providing channel estimation and data demodulation in a wireless communication network. The uplink control structures enable mobile terminals to communicate with corresponding base stations to perform various functions including obtaining initial system access, submitting a bandwidth request, triggering a continuation of negotiated service, or providing a proposed allocation re-configuration header. A dedicated random access channel is provided to communicatively couple the base station and the mobile terminal so that the mobile terminal can select a random access signaling identification. A resource request is received at the base station to uplink resource information from the mobile terminal and an initial access information request is received from the mobile terminal to configure the base station connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Sophie Vrzic, Jun Yuan, Mo-Han Fong, Robert Novak, Dong-Sheng Yu, Jianglei Ma
  • Patent number: 9048983
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for mitigating interference between wireless access points (APs). A user equipment (UE) device uses a first set of radio resources to wirelessly communicate with a first AP and a second set of radio resources to wirelessly communicate with a second AP. The UE device then uses the first and second radio resources to communicate cooperation data between the first and second access points to mitigate interference thereinbetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, William Gage