Patents by Inventor Todd N. Koellner

Todd N. Koellner 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: 9985735
    Abstract: A broadcasting system having a transmitter that broadcasts a one-way signal is provided. The one-way signal is embedded with data that is transmitted to a device that is enabled with near field communication (NFC) technology. The NFC-enabled device may then transfer at least a portion of the transmitted embedded data to another NFC-enabled device by bringing the NFC-enabled devices into close proximity to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9883381
    Abstract: A method is provided for secure access to a smart card application. An alert is received related to a mobile device having the smart card application. Access by the mobile device to the smart card application is restricted responsive to receiving the alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
    Inventors: Robin Dale Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8954834
    Abstract: A system is provided for widget to widget communication. The system includes a first device, a second device, and a communication server. The first device and/or the second device are a mobile device. The communication server provides a first widget to the first device and provides a second widget to the second device, wherein the first widget and the second widget are portable code that is installed and executed in a corresponding runtime environment without additional compilation. The first widget, when executed by the first device, communicates information that identifies content associated with the first widget and a state of the content via the first device to the communication server. The communication server communicates the information and the state to the second device. The second widget, when executed by the second device, presents at least some of the content based on the information and the state in coordination with the first widget presenting the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: John M. Everson, Erich J. Izdepski, Todd N. Koellner, Wing K. Lee, Sei Y. Ng, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Patent number: 8689012
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing a mobile device is provided. The method comprises obtaining an access key from a key store based on an identity of the mobile device and based on an identity associated with an issuer of a confidential information, wherein the access key is associated with a secure element of the mobile device storing the confidential information. The method also comprises wirelessly transmitting a message from a station associated with the issuer to the mobile device to initiate diagnostics of at least the secure element of the mobile device, the message comprising the access key, wherein the diagnostics are performed by diagnostic instructions stored on the mobile device. The method also comprises displaying the result of the diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin K. Zhu
  • Patent number: 8255159
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device is disclosed. The mobile electronic device comprises a near-field-communications receiver and an application. The near-field-communication transceiver receives identification information from at least one of a transit vehicle and a transit platform. The application, when executed on the mobile electronic device, receives a transit destination as entered into the mobile electronic device. Based on the identification information and a transit system route map, the application presents a notification on the mobile electronic device that the identification information does not agree with the transit destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8225997
    Abstract: A mobile device is provided. The mobile device comprises a near field communication transceiver, a memory that contains a secure element, and an application that can pay multiple transit fares. The near field communication transceiver is used to complete fare payment transactions with a fare gate, based on a transit funds balance. The secure element in the memory stores the transit funds balance. The application, when executed on the mobile device, pays a plurality of fares corresponding to a plurality of passengers entering a public transportation system via the fare gate at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin K. Zhu
  • Patent number: 8181867
    Abstract: A system is provided for transit card credit authorization. An authorization component on a mobile device determines whether a balance on a transit card application on the mobile device is below a threshold, and determines whether a communication signal is too weak to request an approval for a balance increase from a server in response to a determination that the balance on the transit card application is below the threshold. The authorization component also determines whether credit data on the mobile device authorizes increasing the balance in response to a determination that the communication signal is too weak to request the approval for the balance increase from the server, and authorizes increasing the balance in response to a determination that the credit data authorizes increasing the balance. A fare gate enables access for the mobile device at the fare gate in response to the authorization component authorizing increasing the balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin Dale Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8126769
    Abstract: A method of electronic transit fare payment is provided. The method comprises receiving a transit card state correction input and storing a transit card state correction record based on receiving the transit card state correction input. The method also comprises changing the transit card state in response to receiving the transit card state correction input. The method also comprises providing transit card information including the transit card state correction record to a exit fare gate to support electronic payment with a transit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8036646
    Abstract: Systems and methods of wirelessly transmitting multimedia data over a cellular network are disclosed which may, in some embodiments, comprise transmitting a segmented multimedia content from a data center to a base transceiver station, transmitting the content from the base transceiver station to a wireless device, and tracking a usage of the content by a user on the wireless device. These systems and methods may further comprise transmitting the usage of the content of the user to the base transceiver station, transmitting the usage of the content of the user from the base transceiver station to the data center, and creating a customized content based on the usage of the content on the wireless device by the user. In addition, these systems and methods may also further comprise transmitting the customized content to the base transceiver station and transmitting the customized content from the base transceiver station to the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Brian D. Mauer, Sei Y. Ng, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Patent number: 8036690
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting multimedia data are disclosed which, in some embodiments, may comprise polling a first wireless device to obtain at least a first statistics of consumption of content previously transmitted to the first wireless device and polling a second wireless device to obtain at least a second statistics of consumption of content previously transmitted to the second wireless device. The method also comprises determining the resources available to transmit a first content and a second content to the first and second wireless device, wherein the first content to be transmitted to the first wireless device is selected based on the first statistics of consumption, and wherein the second content to be transmitted to the second wireless device is selected based on the second statistics of consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communciations Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Brian D. Mauer, Sei Y. Ng, M. Jeffrey Stone
  • Patent number: 7832634
    Abstract: A system is provided for customer care intelligent routing. The system includes a mobile device and a server. The mobile device includes a transaction component and an error manager. The error manager determines that an error occurred during a point-of-sale transaction involving the transaction component and promotes the transmitting of transaction data to the server. The server determines a provider related to the error, and promotes the routing of the transaction data to the related provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communication Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu
  • Patent number: 7797248
    Abstract: An electronic transit fare payment system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of mobile devices adapted to store a transit fare payment application and a server in wireless communication with the mobile devices. The transit fare payment application decrements a transit fare funds balance by a fare amount after completing a transit ride, wirelessly requests a top-up of the transit funds balance when the transit funds balance drops below a threshold, wirelessly receives a top-up instruction, increments the transit fare funds balance in response to executing the top-up instruction, and wirelessly transmits a top-up confirmation. The server receives the request for the top-up, charges the top-up to a credit card associated with the mobile device requesting the top-up, transmits the top-up instruction to the mobile device requesting the top-up, receives the top-up confirmation. When the top-up confirmation is not received, the server requests top-up confirmation from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Robin D. Katzer, Todd N. Koellner, Kevin Zhu