Patents Issued in March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8995947
    Abstract: While a mobile wireless device (102) operates in a home region (106), the mobile wireless device (102) displays public broadcast messages in accordance with the default broadcast message display settings (244) for the home region (106). In the event that the mobile wireless device (102) transits to a different region (110) for which region-specific broadcast message display settings have not already been configured, the mobile wireless device (102) queries a user to configure the broadcast message display settings (244) to be used for the new region (110). The display settings for a given region may be stored such that when the mobile wireless device (102) enters a region previously visited, the previously-configured display settings for the previously-visited region may be automatically implemented without user prompting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Scott T Droste, Howard P Benn, Jian Jun Wu
  • Patent number: 8995948
    Abstract: A location-based call forwarding method comprises, in response to determining that an intended call recipient is unavailable to receive a call from a caller, identifying an alternate call recipient located within a predetermined proximity of a current location of the intended call recipient, and forwarding the call to the alternate call recipient. The alternate call recipient may be identified by determining a person with whom the intended recipient is meeting or an establishment where the intended recipient is situated. This information may be extracted from various sources such as a calendar, social network site, or device-generated location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Ryan Walker, Jerome Pasquero, Donald Somerset McCulloch McKenzie
  • Patent number: 8995949
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S. Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Patent number: 8995950
    Abstract: Systems and methods for handling emergency notification messages such as Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) alerts. In one example, a mobile communications device receives a text-based emergency alert message, converts at least some of the message content into an audio format, and then audibly plays the message. Such a system may enable additional persons to receive emergency notifications who otherwise may not receive them, for example, persons with visual impairments, or persons using communications devices that are unable to display text. In another example arrangement, a response center receives a text-based message, recognizes that a particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based message, derives from the content of the text-based electronic notification message data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based electronic notification message into an audio format, and transmits the data or signals to the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Williams, Pat Merritt
  • Patent number: 8995951
    Abstract: Management of multiple subscriber identity modules by a server is disclosed. The server, for each subscriber identity module belonging to a set of subscriber identity modules of a user of a mobile terminal, detects a need to top up credit of the subscriber identity module, and after the detection, transmits, through a communication interface, transaction data determining a payment to the mobile phone operator of the subscriber identity module in order to top up the credit of the subscriber identity module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Uros Technology S.Á R.L.
    Inventors: Jari Korkiakoski, Tommi Uhari
  • Patent number: 8995952
    Abstract: A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Baker, Steven Ira Geller, Douglas Owen Kesser, Daniel John Neal, Carol Ann Politi, Ben Julian Weintraub
  • Patent number: 8995953
    Abstract: Information that is no longer valid due to the passage of time is not provided to a user. When a stock price information server acquires updated stock price information from a securities market network, a message that instructs that a predetermined application be started up and to which a term of validity has been attached is sent to a user terminal over a paging channel via an SMS server. When the user terminal receives the message, it determines whether or not the message is within the term of validity, and if it determines that the message is within the term of validity, starts up the instructed application from among a plurality of applications that are stored. The stock price information server then sends to the user terminal the stock price information that is requested by the started up application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamane
  • Patent number: 8995954
    Abstract: Notifying users of mobile communication devices, which may include providing options for response to notifications. A component of a communication service provider system receives an indication of a notification for a user of a mobile communication device. The notification may be received from a source internal or external to the communication service provider system. A component of the mobile communication service provider formats the notification so that it is compatible with the mobile communication device of the user and sends the notification to the mobile communication device of the user. The notification may include one or more options to respond to the notification using the mobile communication device. The notification may, for example, pertain to minutes-of-use in a mobile communication service plan, or to other information, including notifications from outside service providers such as airlines, banks, restaurants, hotels, libraries, credit card companies, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Steve Clayton
  • Patent number: 8995955
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for logging phone calls are provided. In some embodiments, methods for logging phone calls are provided, the methods comprise: causing a phone call to a client to be made; creating at least one note based on received user input; transmitting information about the phone call and the created note to the first server; causing the information and the note to be stored in association with the client by the first server; causing the information about the phone call and the note to be transmitted from the first server to a second server, wherein the information and the note are stored in an electronic medical record on the second server that is associated with the client; receiving an analysis of phone calls associated with the client over a period of time; and causing the analytical information to be presented based on the received analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Henry Gross, Jennifer Gross
  • Patent number: 8995956
    Abstract: One or more vehicle communication systems associated with one or more vehicles may be activated. The one or more vehicles may, for example, include a gateway vehicle. A backhaul connection between a vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle and a cellular infrastructure may be established. Signals from the cellular infrastructure may be received at the vehicle communication system associated with gateway vehicle. Using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle, the signals received from the cellular infrastructure may be transmitted. Signals from one or more mobile devices may be received using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle. The signals received from the one or more mobile devices may be transmitted to the cellular infrastructure using the vehicle communication system associated with the gateway vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nadav Lavi, Ron Rotstein, Kobi Jacob Scheim
  • Patent number: 8995957
    Abstract: A repeater apparatus includes a network communication unit that acquires, from a server through a network, first terminal identification information for identifying a terminal to be controlled and control information for controlling the terminal to be controlled, a near-field communication unit that acquires, by near-field communication from the terminal, second terminal identification information for identifying the terminal and stored in the terminal, and a comparison unit that decides whether the first terminal identification information agrees with the second terminal identification information. The near-field communication unit transmits the control information to the terminal by near-field communication, in the case where the comparison unit decides that the first terminal identification information agrees with the second terminal identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ohira, Masaru Yamaoka, Michihiro Matsumoto, Toshiaki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8995958
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that employ various mechanisms to selectively disable mobile device functionality. In general, mobile devices can be utilized to store personal and/or highly sensitive information such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card numbers and the like. If the mobile device is lost or stolen, data stored within the device can be accessed by an unauthorized user; and, thus, any personal and/or highly sensitive information can be obtained. In order to mitigate unauthorized access, the subject invention provides a disabling component that communicates with the lost or stolen device to render data stored thereon inaccessible. Further, the data can be stored in local or remote locations to backup stored information, thereby creating a more robust and reliable method of storing information important to the device owner. These features provide enhancements over conventional mobile device security techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Core Wireless Licensing, S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kenney
  • Patent number: 8995959
    Abstract: Techniques include, in response to a first communication network of a hybrid communication system being aware of a potential for a mismatch of reported authentication parameters associated with a second communication network of the hybrid communication system, wherein the first communication network is used to transport the reported authentication parameters to the second communication network, the first communication network preventing the mismatch of the reported authentication parameters. In one example, the first communication network is an LTE network and the second communication network is a CDMA2000 network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Violeta Cakulev, Semyon B. Mizikovsky, David A. Rossetti
  • Patent number: 8995960
    Abstract: A mobile device has an authentication module that detects a proximity-based authentication component and unlocks sensitive areas of the mobile device when the proximity-based authentication component is within a desired proximity of the mobile device. If the proximity-based authentication component is not within the desired proximity of the mobile device, the mobile device automatically locks the secured areas of the mobile device. The proximity-based authentication component is separate from the mobile device in that it is not inserted or slid within the mobile device, or in any way attached to the mobile device, in order to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Dedo Interactive, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark F. Miller
  • Patent number: 8995961
    Abstract: Systems and methods of connection control for wireless mobile communication devices enabled for communication via a plurality of communication connections are provided. Connection control information associates software applications with communication connections. When a connection request specifying a requested connection is received from a software application, it is determined whether the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information. Where the requested connection is permitted by the connection control information, the requested connection is opened. If the requested connection is a first connection opened by the software application, then the software application is associated with the requested connection in the connection control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Grant Kirkup, Herbert Anthony Little, David Paul Yach
  • Patent number: 8995962
    Abstract: An information notification method is disclosed in this application. The method includes: receiving notification information sent by a sending end that indicates that unprocessed information exists, and the notification information is information carrying a vibration instruction (S101); obtaining a sending identifier in the notification information and searching for unprocessed information that has the sending identifier (S102); and When the unprocessed information is found, triggering a vibration motor according to the vibration instruction (S103). In the information notification method provided by the present invention, in a manner of sending an information vibration instruction to generate vibration at a receiving party, the receiving party is rapidly and effectively notificationed to view the unprocessed information, so that the information receiving party can process some significant information sent by a sending party in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Huawei Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junjie Deng
  • Patent number: 8995963
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products are described for controlling content presented on user-controlled wireless device assets and/or features, such as ringtone, wallpaper, wireless device memory and the like. In present aspects, a user-requested control state change is undertaken from a user-controlled state to an advertisement-control state. In this regard, once the user has conceded control of the wireless device asset over to an advertiser or advertisement provider, the advertiser is allowed to provide advertisements to the designated wireless device asset for a predetermined period of time. From the advertiser or advertisement provider perspective present aspects provide for advertisements to be presented on novel platforms. Additionally, by gaining control over the wireless device asset the advertisers or advertisement providers are assured that their advertisements will be executed for the duration of the control period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel H. Agre, Nakul Duggal, Vikram Yashpal
  • Patent number: 8995964
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a broadcast receiver configured to receive broadcast program information related to available broadcast programs, a memory configured to store user-schedule information and the received broadcast program information, and a controller configured to update the stored user-schedule information to include a broadcast schedule corresponding to a broadcast program selected from the available broadcast programs included in the broadcast program information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 8995965
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a method and system of registering a phone device on a synthetic communication network. One implementation receives a request to connect the phone device to a synthetic communication network that transmits messages over a data network using one or more phone numbers from a voice network. Aspects of the present invention initially obtain a phone number and a corresponding country code presumed associated with the phone device to be used for communications over the synthetic communication network. Based on the country code, the phone number is normalized to a standard format that distinguishes the resulting normalized phone number from international phone numbers using the synthetic communication network. Before the phone device is registered, aspects of the present invention verify an association between the normalized phone number and the phone device by sending a verification message addressed to the phone device that loops back and returns to the phone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Whatsapp Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Koum, Brian Acton
  • Patent number: 8995966
    Abstract: A method and system communicates a request between a user application and a modem within a wireless communication device. A radio interface layer (RIL) architecture includes an application framework which receives a hardware specific request as a first application programming interface (API) call from the user application. In response to receiving the request, the application framework sends a corresponding, second API call to a vendor radio interface layer (Vendor RIL) which provides an interface configured for communicating with a specific type of transceiver or modem. In one embodiment, the second API call is transmitted via a Java Native interface (JNI). The JNI provides access to software programs associated with the transceiver, which programs are written in a language that is different from Java. The Vendor RIL communicates with the modem using a modem protocol software corresponding to the specific type of modem to perform commands associated with the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Naveen Aerrabotu
  • Patent number: 8995967
    Abstract: A user may access a website via a mobile channel using a mobile device. As the user is logged into the website, the user may call or otherwise contact a representative via another communications channel with the mobile device or another user device, such as a phone or a user computing device or another mobile device. An emulator engine may determine the type of mobile device that the user is using to access the website via the mobile channel. An emulator for the mobile device that has been determined may be retrieved from an emulator library and provided to the representative computing device. The representative may view the same user interface on the representative computing device that the user sees on the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Bradly J. Billman
  • Patent number: 8995968
    Abstract: A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Millennial Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorey Ramer, Adam Soroca, Dennis Doughty
  • Patent number: 8995969
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sending video content to a mobile device is described. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprising embedding a widget in a website, the widget generating a form. The form is provided when a user visits the website so as to execute the widget. The form includes a first field to enter a recipient phone number, a send selector, and one or more non-visible fields, the non-visible fields containing a content service provider identifier, and a video URL. A data packet is generated with the widget when the user selects the send selector, the data packet including the recipient phone number, the video URL, and the content service provider identifier. An encoded version of the data packet is sent to the content service provider and a video link message is sent to the recipient phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Open Invention Network, LLC
    Inventors: Scirocco Michelle Six, Sterling Mace, Rajeev Raman, Stephen Mui, Jason Fisher
  • Patent number: 8995970
    Abstract: A multicast communication method in a CDMA mobile communication system is disclosed, which is capable of reducing a transmission power in a base station system and performing an efficient multicast operation for a large number of mobile subscribers is provided. Starting of information distribution by a multicast operation and identification of information indicating content are notified through a broadcast channel to a mobile subscriber. Through the broadcast channel, information necessary for actual reception of communication data is notified. In the mobile subscriber, a surround environment of the mobile subscriber is checked to determine the possibility of simultaneous receiving from a plurality of other base station systems. If possible, similar notified information is also received from other base station systems. Thus, all kinds of information regarding the spread code or the like to be used for receiving distributed information are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 8995971
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile communication terminal method includes receiving Internet tag information identifying an Internet address, providing a menu screen on a display of the terminal so that a user can select representative image data that visually represents to the user the Internet address, linking the representative image data selected by the user with the Internet tag information and displaying the representative image data on a display of the mobile communication terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8995972
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for providing automatic personal assistance on a user device (e.g., mobile phone). In some embodiments, a personal assistant on a first user device may respond automatically to a received input communication from a second user device. In some embodiments, the personal assistant may perform a local search of data stored on the first user device in order to retrieve data responsive to the received input. In some embodiments, the personal assistant may perform a local load of an entry into an application on the first user device in order to perform an action responsive to the received user input. In some embodiments, the automatic response may include sending a responsive output communication to the second user device. The automatic personal assistance may be customized based on user-editable automatic personal assistance settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GrandiOs Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Cronin
  • Patent number: 8995973
    Abstract: A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Millennial Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorey Ramer, Adam Soroca, Dennis Doughty
  • Patent number: 8995974
    Abstract: A device that enable users to send and receive a message in different formats may include a text message gateway, an audio message gateway, and a processor. The text message gateway may include a Short Message Service (SMS) gateway. The audio message gateway may include an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) unit and/or a client application interface that receives audio from a client application of a mobile communications device. The processor may be configured to convert text messages received at the text-message gateway into audio messages and then to send the audio messages via the audio message gateway. The processor may also be configured to convert audio messages received at the audio message gateway into text messages and then to send the text messages via the text message gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Robert Lee Engelhart, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8995975
    Abstract: A hardware and/or software facility measures end user activity associated with a software application or service on a mobile phone or other mobile device. The facility tracks and stores usage data associated with a mobile user's use of the application or service. When the mobile user initiates transmission of the usage data, the facility retrieves from the mobile phone or other mobile device a usage code representing the usage data. The facility relies on user transcription, text input-buffer insertion, or other indirect means of data transport to deliver the usage code from the mobile phone or other mobile device to an application developer, service provider, or another entity. The recipient extracts the usage data contained in the usage code, and may perform various data mining and analysis techniques on the usage data in order to evaluate how the application or service is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Marshall
  • Patent number: 8995976
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, in a mobile station of a terminating party, an incoming call and an identifier of a service provider of an initiating party of the incoming call, and displaying information corresponding to the initiating party service provider on a display of the mobile station. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mubashir A. Mian, Rita H. Wouhaybi, Stanley Mo, Tobias M. Kohlenberg
  • Patent number: 8995977
    Abstract: Distributed locater, alert, repeater, and call technologies for communication devices are presented herein. A base component can be configured to receive a message at a base unit, the message corresponding to at least one of a call directed to a wireless communication device or another message directed to at least one of the wireless communication device or a wired communication device. The base component can distribute an alert to at least one remote unit based on the message. A remote component can be configured to receive the alert at the at least one remote unit, and broadcast the alert or another alert from the at least one remote unit. An interface component can be configured to receive an input at the at least one remote unit based on the alert. Further, the remote component can be configured to transmit a response based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Max Faulkner, Erick Haughn, John Lewis
  • Patent number: 8995978
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates provisioning a wireless capable device as an emergency call apparatus. In one implementation, a wireless capable device or apparatus receives a provisioning message from a provider of wireless voice and data services, the message including emergency call provisioning information to provision the wireless capable device or apparatus as an emergency call device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications GmbH
    Inventor: Gruber Roland
  • Patent number: 8995979
    Abstract: A method of operating a telematics unit includes replacing a mobile identification number (MIN) or a mobile dialed number (MDN) stored in a telematics unit with a temporary geographical mobile identification number (GMIN) that prevents the telematics unit from using all of its features; associating the GMIN with a mobile equipment identification number (MEID) of the vehicle telematics unit; storing the associated GMIN and MEID at a central facility; paging the telematics unit using the associated GMIN and MEID; and instructing the telematics unit via the page to communicate with the central facility over a wireless data connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: James Doherty, Ki Hak Yi
  • Patent number: 8995980
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for protecting privacy when a mobile device is located in a defined privacy zone are described herein. The available features that a user of a mobile device may use are controlled while the mobile device is located in a define privacy zone. Once a mobile device is detected in the define privacy zone, a database is accessed to determine if the mobile device has the features available that are to be disabled. If the features are available, a disable signal is sent via the communications network to the mobile device and the feature is disabled. Once the mobile device is detected to be outside of the defined privacy zone, the previously disabled mobile device feature is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Venson Shaw, Qingmin Hu, Justin Allan McNamara, DeWayne Allan Sennett
  • Patent number: 8995981
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods in which a controllable device transfers to the remote device, such as to a remote control application (“app”) located on a smartphone, a data structure identifying various functions that can be controlled by a remote device, together with the identity of the signal type that will achieve the desired operation. The remote device, upon accepting input directly from the remote device, can then allow the remote device user to select how controls of the various functions are to be configured and presented to, or otherwise selectively arranged for a user on a user interface of the remote device. In this way, the present disclosure provides a single highly customizable system. Distributors, resellers, and/or manufacturers of various electronic devices will be able utilize the same controllable device instructions, yet visually distinguish its brand name from other solutions using the same instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Vladislav Aginsky, Dani Shaket
  • Patent number: 8995982
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to generate a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system can determine which devices are within the vehicle. From this determination, the vehicle communication system may create a universal bus and hotspot where applications, data, multimedia information, and resources can be shared both with the vehicle and with the other devices in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 8995983
    Abstract: A method of adjusting an event prompt degree and a mobile electronic device and a computer program product using the same are provided. In the present method, when the mobile electronic device executes a ringtone prompt, whether the mobile electronic device is moved is determined. When the mobile electronic device is determined to be moved, the ringtone prompt is reduced without turning off the vibration prompt or the ringtone prompt. Thereby, continuous event prompt is prevented from bothering other people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Yih-Feng Kao, Hui-Wen Wang
  • Patent number: 8995984
    Abstract: A communication system (1) includes a mobile communication network (2); a fixed communication network (3) connected to the mobile communication network (2); and a plurality of radio base stations capable of communicating with a mobile terminal (100) by radio communication. The radio base stations include a first base station (41, 42) connected to the mobile communication network (2); and second base stations (51, 52) connected to the fixed communication network (3) through wire communication lines (61, 62). A communication connection using a predetermined interface is established between one of the second base stations (51) and one of neighboring base stations (the first base station (42) and another one of the second base stations (52)) located in the neighborhood of the one of the second base stations (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Mochida, Hirotsugu Yamamoto, Kenichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8995985
    Abstract: A method for use in a core network node, such as a mobility management entity, is described for associating a tracking area list comprising at least one tracking area identity (TAIs) with a user equipment. A wireless communication network, such as an EPS network, comprises the core network node. The method comprises the steps of: registering at least one tracking area identity sequence of tracking areas repetitively used by a plurality of user equipments; and compiling at least one tracking area list using the at least one registered tracking area identity sequence. The disclosure also relates to a core network node and a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Attila Mihály, Åke Arvidsson, Johan Rune
  • Patent number: 8995986
    Abstract: Detection of a confusion caused by scrambling code reuse is provided herein. Timing measurements, as observed by a mobile device, and an identification of primary scrambling codes associated with the timing measurements are captured. The timing measurements are identified by the primary scrambling codes for the particular radio measured. The mobile device also reports its location information. Radios for which timing measurements have been received are paired. Based on the paired radios and a history of observed time difference reference values for radio pairs, comparisons are made between paired radios having at least one common radio. Radios, exhibiting a set of values that is near an expected range, are removed from the analysis. Radios, exhibiting two sets of values that are distinct, are isolated in order to identify the radio that is causing the scrambling code confusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Fix, Sheldon Kent Meredith, Rick Tipton
  • Patent number: 8995987
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for operating a wireless communication system are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transferring, for delivery to user devices, overhead signaling for a non-long term evolution (LTE) communication protocol over an LTE signaling pathway. The method also includes identifying control channel congestion for wireless communications exchanged with the user devices over a LTE signaling pathway. The method also includes determining when the control channel congestion exceeds a congestion threshold, and responsively transferring the overhead signaling for the non-LTE communication protocol using a non-LTE signaling pathway to ones of the user devices having power headrooms exceeding a headroom threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jasinder Pal Singh, Jason Peter Sigg, Maulik K. Shah
  • Patent number: 8995988
    Abstract: [Object] To improve analysis precision of communication characteristic, while minimizing the calculation amount, to determine a local dead area, thereby providing useful information for cell site design. [Solving Means] There are included the steps of: determining, on the basis of the maximum population of an area to be analyzed, an area attribute of big city, local city or rural area (S2); accepting the designation of a target building out of buildings in the area to be analyzed; finding that one or those ones of analyzing methods including quota analysis, topology analysis and geographic feature analysis which are associated with the determined area attribute, and executing a local analysis of the communication characteristic of the target building (S3-S5); and correcting, on the basis of the analysis result, the referential estimated value (A-value) of the area to be analyzed, and outputting the corrected value as a communication characteristic value of the target building (S6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Softbank BB Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Shibayama, Hirofusa Watamori, Hirokazu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8995989
    Abstract: A method of applying a network forbidden list for enhanced service recovery in mobile communication networks is provided. In a first embodiment, upon receiving an error cause for a RAT in a selected network, a UE stores a PLMN ID, the RAT information, and the error cause as an entry in the forbidden list. The UE will not select to the RAT of the network stored in the forbidden list until the PLMN/RAT entry is removed from the forbidden list. In a second embodiment, upon receiving an error cause in a selected network, a UE stores a PLMN ID, the error cause, and a timer value as an entry in the forbidden list. The UE will not select to the network stored in the forbidden list until the timer associated with the PLMN ID is expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Syuan Jheng, Hung-Lin Chang
  • Patent number: 8995990
    Abstract: Selecting at least one recipient to receive a communication, identifying and presenting a list of additional recipients to the user, the additional recipient list including contacts who have received messages in combination with the at least one selected recipient in the past, and allowing the user to select one or more of the additional recipients to receive the communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Mikko A. Nurmi
  • Patent number: 8995991
    Abstract: Service data is transferred in a wireless communication system. A first service identification is synchronously transmitted for reception by a group of users of a cell in the system. The group of users does not include all of the users of the cell. Each of the group of users receives the service identification. Each of the group of users monitors for a second service identification being transmitted over a downlink shared channel. The service data is transmitted over the downlink shared channel with the second service identification. Each of the group of users detects the second service identification and receives the service data of the downlink shared channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen E. Terry
  • Patent number: 8995992
    Abstract: Method and system for testing communication devices via network connections. A request from a user in association with testing a communication device is received by a server. The request is with respect to a feature of the communication device that is being tested. The request is forwarded to a gateway that is responsible for facilitating the testing of communication devices. Upon receiving a response by the server from the gateway, the response is sent to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventor: Jack M. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8995993
    Abstract: The Aircraft Mobile IP Address System provides wireless communication services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link which connects the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network but also creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link thereby to enable each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured; each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but does allow this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Gogo LLC
    Inventors: Bryan A. Lauer, Jerry Stamatopoulos, Anjum Rashid, Joseph Alan Tobin, Patrick J. Walsh, Steven J. Arntzen
  • Patent number: 8995994
    Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a first (home) mobile telecommunications network A5 second (roamed) mobile telecommunications network B and a third (virtual) mobile telecommunications network C. The virtual network C does not have its own radio access network but uses the radio access network of network B in accordance with a commercial contract between networks B and C. Network C is a MVNO. When a mobile telecommunications device that has network A as its home network roams to network B, the mobile telecommunications device initially registers with network B as the roamed network. Conventionally, communications between network A and network B would be transmitted via a fixed communication link (25) (such as a leased line). However, in the embodiment described, the network A transmits a command to the mobile telecommunications device, instructing that device to de-register from network B and to re-register with virtual network C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited
    Inventors: Mark Dowds, Paul Davey, Ian Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8995995
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically roaming with a wireless device. A signal strength of a first wireless signal is sampled at a time interval. A determination is made whether the signal strength is less than a threshold for a predetermined duration. The wireless device is set to roam on a second wireless signal in response to the signal strength of the first wireless signal being less than the threshold for the predetermined duration. The wireless device is reset to a default setting for communication after a predetermined duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Bennett Gamel, Robert John Morrill
  • Patent number: 8995996
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing the operation and capacity of a wireless coexistence community having devices with multiple differing air interfaces that share physical or spectral access resources such as time, frequency, code, etc. These methods and apparatus allow the multiple devices to manage interference among one another fairly or according to one or more policy objectives, despite having different physical layer operations and implementations. In one embodiment, a mathematics-based model is utilized in accordance with device profiles to intelligently optimize the operation of one or more of the wireless devices according to a “good neighbor” paradigm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Harry V. Bims