Patents by Inventor Von K. McConnell

Von K. McConnell 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: 7634568
    Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for facilitating the performance of communication services in a communication network. An enhanced proxy server receives a signaling message and proxies the message to an application server. Further, the enhanced proxy server responds to the message by extracting a set of data from a data store and making the set of data available for use by the application server in responding to the signaling message. Similarly, a registration server may receive a signaling message from a communicating entity and may responsively make data available for use by an application server in responding to signaling messages regarding the communicating entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Arun Santharam
  • Patent number: 7574212
    Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The multi-mode mobile station may become engaged in one or more communication sessions via a first wireless network. Session information regarding these one or more communication sessions is stored in a storage system. In response to a handoff request, a control system evaluates the session information to determine which of the communication sessions, if any, can be continued via the second wireless network, in accordance with a policy. The user may be notified of any sessions that can not be continued via the second wireless network and/or continued at a reduced level of performance. If the user opts to complete the handoff, continuable sessions are continued via the second wireless network and non-continuable sessions are dropped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Manish Mangal
  • Patent number: 7545762
    Abstract: In a packet-switched network, a subscribing application subscribes to a network presence server to receive selected network presence information. The network presence server obtains the selected network presence information, at least in part, from status messages that a network access server, such as a packet data serving node (PDSN), sends, for example, to an accounting server. The network presence server then provides the selected network presence information to the subscribing application. The selected network presence information may include an identification of a particular customer that has just initiated or terminated a data session and the network address the particular customer is or was using.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Lyle T. Bertz, Arun Santharam, Matthew Barrow, Tania Mazza-Deblawe, Jesse Money, Ronald E. Lewis, Charles E. Woodson, Baoquan Zhang, Daren R. Furness, Tracy Poffenroth
  • Publication number: 20090067399
    Abstract: A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Kenneth C. Jackson, Bryce A. Jones
  • Patent number: 7471653
    Abstract: A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Kenneth C. Jackson, Bryce A. Jones
  • Patent number: 7406324
    Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). An internetwork service control system controls how services are provided to the multi-mode mobile station via the WLAN and the WWAN. The same service logic in the internetwork service control system can control the provision of services via both the WLAN and the WWAN. For example, a service logic module can be executed to define SIP signaling to control the provision of a service via the WLAN and can be executed to define WIN signaling to control the provision of the same service via the WWAN. The internetwork service control system may also include a call state monitor that maintains the call state of the multi-mode mobile station via the WLAN and the WWAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventor: Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7406330
    Abstract: An IP PBX system that serves enterprise telephones via a landline IP network connection is be expanded to serve cellular wireless communication devices (WCD) via a cellular wireless carrier's radio access network (RAN). Calls to and from the cellular WCD are connected through the cellular carrier's RAN and the IP PBX system, so that the IP PBX system can control and manage the calls just as the IP PBX would control and manage calls involving other extensions on the IP PBX. A cellular WCD thereby becomes an IP PBX client station, i.e., an extension on the IP PBX system. As such, the cellular WCD can seamlessly benefit from many of the same IP PBX features that other more conventional IP PBX client stations (e.g., desk phones) enjoy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Jeffrey F. Phillips, Dorene Weiland, Charles E. Woodson, Farni Weaver, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 7398087
    Abstract: A private wireless network is able to provide wireless telecommunication services to subscriber mobile stations that also subscribe to a public wireless network. The private wireless network includes a private base transceiver station (BTS), a private mobile switching center (MSC), and a gateway service control point (SCP). The private BTS provides a private network wireless coverage area within which the mobile station can communicate with the base transceiver station over an air interface. The gateway SCP has a private network database containing private network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A private network data record includes a private network service profile and a private network locator address. The public wireless network has a home location register (HLR) with a public network database containing public network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A public network data record includes a public network service profile and a public network locator address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Mark Yarkosky, Baoquan Zhang, Thomas M. Sladek, Kenneth C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 7356001
    Abstract: A private wireless network is able to provide wireless telecommunication services to subscriber mobile stations that also subscribe to a public wireless network. The private wireless network includes a private base transceiver station (BTS), a private mobile switching center (MSC), and a gateway service control point (SCP). The private BTS provides a private network wireless coverage area within which the mobile station can communicate with the base transceiver station over an air interface. The gateway SCP has a private network database containing private network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A private network data record includes a private network service profile and a private network locator address. The public wireless network has a home location register (HLR) with a public network database containing public network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A public network data record includes a public network service profile and a public network locator address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bryce A. Jones, Jason Delker, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7287064
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring an Internet user's level of interest in one or more subjects. For a given subject, web pages that are sent to the user are analyzed to determine how many keywords related to the given subject appear in the web pages. The keyword count is then used as a basis to establish a measure of the user's interest level in the given subject. The analysis may take various forms and can be carried out over successive time periods, so as to regularly update a measure of the user's interest level in the subject. Provided with a measure of the user's interest level in a given subject, a service provider can then tailor services for the user accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Debashis Haldar, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7272220
    Abstract: Locating a lost or misplaced mobile station. A user may dial a designated number, enter the phone number of the misplaced or lost mobile, and the network responsively plays a message to the user informing the user of the geographic location of the cell and sector, typically including city and state information, as well as boundary information of the sector, such as street boundaries. In an alternative embodiment, a user may input the MIN of the lost mobile to a web-based form, and thereby retrieve a map of the cell-sector location of the MS. A service node (SN) is configured to receive a request from a user trying to locate a mobile device. The SN either prompts the user to provide the phone number of the mobile device via an IVRU or through a web-based form sent to a web server connected to the SN. The SN then initiates a call to the mobile device. The standard network processing of such a call includes sending a facilities available (FAVAIL) message to the service control point (SCP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Baoquan Zhang, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7260386
    Abstract: A method and system in which a subscriber station that is operating under one subscriber account can make changes to a service profile that is associated with another subscriber account. The subscriber station operating under the one subscriber account will send a feature code into a telecommunications network, and, based at least in part on the feature code, the network will identify a change to make to the profile of at least one other subscriber account. The network will then make the identified change to the profile of the at least one other subscriber account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Debashis Haldar, Baoquan Zhang, Thomas M. Sladek, Charles E. Woodson, Mark Marsee, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7197322
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for facilitating location-based services. In an exemplary arrangement, when a mobile station is engaged in a data session with a server, the mobile station may be made to initiate a voice call to a designated number. As a result, a switch or other such entity may send a signaling message (such as an Origination Request message) to a central controller, thereby providing the central controller with an indication of the mobile station's current location. The central controller may then make that location information available to the server. In turn, the server may use the location to perform a location based service, such as providing location-based information to the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Terry Rayburn, James Hallock, Von K. McConnell, Baoquan Zhang, Donald F. Douglas
  • Patent number: 7174009
    Abstract: In a service control point (SCP) having logic normally dictating that a call destined to a called party should be routed instead to a service node for handling, a method includes making a determination that the service node has become unavailable. The method thereafter includes receiving, into the SCP, a signal from a switch, the signal indicating that the switch has received a request to set up a call to the called party. In view of the determination that the service node has become unavailable, the method then includes the SCP instructing the switch to treat the first call in a manner other than routing the call to the service node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Baoquan Zhang, Karen H. Miller, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7072653
    Abstract: A method and system for controlled provisioning of a desired set of service logic for a subscriber of group of subscribers. In response to a designated stimulus, such as a time-event, a location-event or a threshold-event, a network entity modifies the subscriber profile maintained by a serving system, so as to include in the profile one or more desired parameters. One such modification may be the inclusion in the profile of a trigger that directs the serving system to query a designated network entity for call handling instructions. The designated network entity may then provide a special set of services for the subscriber or group. Further, a mechanism is provided to help ensure that once such a service overlay is imposed, it remains imposed if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Specrtrum L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sladek, Baoquan Zhang, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7068769
    Abstract: A method and system for using physical presence as a basis to handle communications. A network includes a presence registry that indicates whether users are physically present at stations. Further, the network may include a user-station registry that indicates whether users are logically associated with stations. When a communication server receives a signals indicative of a communication, the server may query the presence registry to determine whether a user is physically present at a station. Based at least on the result of that query, the server may then establish a communication-handling decision, such as a decision of whether and where to route the communication or of some other action to take with respect to the communication. The server or another entity may then carry out the communication-handling decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Farni B. Weaver, Debashis Haldar, Piyush Jethwa, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7068644
    Abstract: A wireless access gateway provides a telecommunications link between a packet switched network and a base transceiver station (BTS), the BTS enabling wireless communication with mobile stations in a wireless coverage area. A session manager controls sessions through the packet switched network, and a mobility server performs mobility management for mobile stations being served by wireless access gateways. A wireless access gateway includes a packet agent, a coding agent, a radio frequency (RF) manager, and a signaling control agent. The packet agent packetizes frames from the BTS into packets and depacketizes packets into frames for the BTS. The coding agent transcodes content contained in packets from a first format to a second format. The RF manager performs RF management of the BTS. The signaling control agent sends queries to and receives responses from the session manager to control the operation of the wireless access gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Von K. McConnell, Rakesh C. Saxena
  • Patent number: 7058036
    Abstract: A wireless instant messaging system is disclosed. A mobile station (MS), such as a cellular telephone for instance, may be registered with an instant messaging (IM) server as being available to receive instant messages via an IM proxy. A user at an IM client terminal may then send an instant message destined for a user at the MS. The IM server may direct the message to a service node (SN), which may convert the message into an industry standard SMS message and send the SMS message to the MS. At the MS, a user may read the SMS message and engage a callback feature, which will establish a dial-up voice connection between the MS and the SN. The user at the MS may then speak an instant message response, and the SN may record the response as a compressed audio file. The SN may then send the compressed audio file as an attachment to an instant message back to the user at the IM client terminal. The IM client terminal may then play the spoken response message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Terry T. Yu, Robert W. Hammond, Von K. McConnell, Baoquan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7054654
    Abstract: An automatic messaging system, in which, when a person tunes to a particular television station, a video server sends an SMS message indicating the station being watched. The video server could be a host device, such as a cable-TV receiver or satellite receiver that serves the television, or could take other forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sladek, Von K. McConnell
  • Patent number: 7010300
    Abstract: A method of handing off an ongoing wireless telecommunication session with a mobile station when the mobile station is engaging in the ongoing communication session via a first access system, and then registers in a second access system, is provided. When communicating with the first access system the mobile station communicates with a first access node according to a first protocol. When communicating with the second access system the mobile station communicates with a second access node according to a second protocol, which is a different protocol than the first protocol. After registration of the mobile station in the second access system, the ongoing communication session is carried between the mobile station and the second access node according to the second protocol over the first protocol. More specifically, the ongoing communication session is carried between the mobile station and the second access node using the first protocol encapsulated in the headers of the second protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bryce A. Jones, Jason Delker, Von K. McConnell