Patents by Inventor Tom Steele

Tom Steele 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).

  • Base station controlled vertical handoff in a hybrid wireless communication system
    Patent number: 7471950
    Abstract: Base station controlled vertical handoff is disclosed. When a hybrid access terminal is operating under a first air interface protocol (e.g., IS-2000), in a mode (e.g., active) in which the terminal does not search for the presence of wireless service under a second air interface protocol (e.g., IS-856), the terminal sends a request to a base station seeking to hand off to a wireless coverage area under the protocol. The base station then determines (e.g., by reference to the PN offset specified in the request) that the target coverage area additionally provides service under the second protocol. Responsively, the base station causes the terminal to transition to a second mode (e.g., dormant) in which the terminal does search for the presence of service under the second protocol. The terminal may thereby discover the presence of service under the second protocol and may hand off to operate under the second protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Dae-Sik Oh, Leo R. Anderson, Jr., Kristin A. Hayne, Tom Steele
  • Car cup
    Patent number: D436499
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventors: Randy Pritchard, Tom Steele