Patents Issued in January 17, 2017
  • Patent number: 9549273
    Abstract: A microphone circuit includes a microphone configured to generate a microphone signal. The microphone circuit also includes a processor configured to perform sound detection based on the microphone signal and to determine whether to enable a component based on the sound detection. For example, the processor may be a digital signal processor (DSP) of the microphone circuit and the component may be external to the microphone circuit, such as a coder/decoder (CODEC), another DSP, and/or an application processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Mouna Elkhatib, Louis Dominic Oliveira
  • Patent number: 9549274
    Abstract: A sound processing apparatus includes: a first sound collecting unit placed in a sound field and configured to collect a sound signal which is speech of a talker; a second sound collecting unit arranged to be movable to a position which is closer to a talker than the first sound collecting unit and configured to collect the sound signal; a transfer function estimating unit configured to estimate a transfer function from a sound signal collected by the first sound collecting unit and a sound signal collected by the second sound collecting unit when a talker is at a predetermined position in the sound field; and a sound signal processing unit configured to perform a process of the sound signal by use of the transfer function estimated by the transfer function estimating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Nakamura, Kazuhiro Nakadai
  • Patent number: 9549275
    Abstract: Improved tools for authoring and rendering audio reproduction data are provided. Some such authoring tools allow audio reproduction data to be generalized for a wide variety of reproduction environments. Audio reproduction data may be authored by creating metadata for audio objects. The metadata may be created with reference to speaker zones. During the rendering process, the audio reproduction data may be reproduced according to the reproduction speaker layout of a particular reproduction environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas R Tsingos, Charles Q. Robinson, Jurgen W. Scharpf
  • Patent number: 9549276
    Abstract: Disclosed are an audio apparatus and an audio providing method thereof. The audio providing method includes receiving an audio signal including a plurality of channels, applying an audio signal having a channel, from among the plurality of channels, giving a sense of elevation to a filter to generate a plurality of virtual audio signals to be respectively output to a plurality of speakers, applying a combination gain value and a delay value to the plurality of virtual audio signals so that the plurality of virtual audio signals respectively output through the plurality of speakers form a sound field having a plane wave, and respectively outputting the plurality of virtual audio signals, to which the combination gain value and the delay value are applied, through the plurality of speakers. The filter processes the audio signal to have a sense of elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-bae Chon, Sun-min Kim, Hyun Jo, Jeong-su Kim
  • Patent number: 9549277
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the design and sound field control of a compact loud-speaker array, which includes a plurality of loudspeakers located on a closed loudspeaker surface and the control of the emitted sound field by the loudspeakers within a limited reproduction subspace, having the steps of capturing the sound field using a plurality of microphones and adjusting filter coefficients that modify the alimentation signals of the loudspeakers to minimize the difference between reproduced signals captured by the microphones and target signals describing a target sound field. A conical reproduction surface encloses a reproduction subspace is defined such that the apex of the conical reproduction surface is within the closed loudspeaker surface. Loud-speakers are positioned on a limited loudspeaker surface and the closed loudspeaker surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SoniceMotion AG
    Inventors: Etienne Corteel, Matthias Rosenthal, Khoa-Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9549278
    Abstract: A first communication apparatus generates export data, which includes an address book indicating data transmission destinations and indication information indicating that it is necessary to communicate with a server in order to transmit data to an address contained in the address book, and transmits the export data to a second communication apparatus. The second communication apparatus receives the export data transmitted from the first communication apparatus and sets an address book and indication information of the second communication apparatus in accordance with the export data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9549279
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including a communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with another information processing device, and a control unit that performs control of supplying, via a memory, a display device with display information supplied from the other information processing device through the short-range wireless communication and causing the display device to display the display information, and supplying the display device with the display information supplied from the other information processing device and retained in the memory and causing the display device to display the display information, when a wireless communication quality of the short-range wireless communication with the other information processing device satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Iwasaki, Eiko Sugisaki
  • Patent number: 9549280
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure describes devices, systems and methods for wireless data transfer with improved transport mechanism selection. The device may include a near field communication (NFC) circuit configured to initiate a data transfer between a first communication device and a second communication device; a Soft Access Point (Soft AP) data transport circuit configured to transfer data between the communication device and the second communication device; one or more additional data transport circuits configured to transfer data between the communication device and the second communication device; and a transport mechanism selection circuit coupled to the NFC interface circuit and further coupled to the one or more data transport circuits, the transport mechanism selection circuit configured to select one of the data transport circuits for the data transfer, wherein the selection is based on a determination of the size of the data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Somdas Bandyopadhyay, Pavana C. Kumar
  • Patent number: 9549281
    Abstract: A communication parameter is shared with an external apparatus and is held via second communication different from first communication. In the case where a connection with the external apparatus, which is started in response to sharing of the communication parameter, is disconnected, a communication parameter used in the disconnected connection is deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichiroh Hara
  • Patent number: 9549282
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a user identifier from a wireless tracking device that reads a user identifier article in proximity to the wireless tracking device; identifying a geographic location of the wireless tracking device; performing a look-up of a client device of the user; identifying first and second wireless routers that are positioned in the identified geographic location; transmitting, to the first router, a first request message to transmit to the client device of the user; transmitting, to the second router, a second request message to transmit to the client device; receiving, by the one or more computers from the first and second routers, reply messages transmitted by the client device; determining a geographic location of the client device; and verifying, based on the geographic location of the client device and the geographic location of the reader, that the user is in proximity to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FMR LLC
    Inventors: Suzanne K McDonough, Ashley Reichert, John McDonough
  • Patent number: 9549283
    Abstract: A method, device, or system is arranged to determine the presence of a person. The system includes a data store that stores a plurality of locations and stores a subset of the plurality of locations. The system includes a server in communication with the data store that is arranged to i) associate the subset of locations of the plurality of locations with the person and ii) associate a mobile device with the person. The system also includes a mobile device arranged to i) monitor the geographic position of the mobile device, ii) store the subset of the plurality of locations, iii) determine that the geographic position of the mobile device is within a vicinity of a first location of the subset of locations; and iv) provide a first indication that the mobile device is within the vicinity of the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ANAESTHESIA ASSOCIATES OF MASSACHUSSETTS, P.C.
    Inventor: Christopher William Connor
  • Patent number: 9549284
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for correcting the location of a base station. The apparatus includes a data collection unit for receiving collected data including collection places and scan data acquired from the collection places from a collection-only terminal, and receiving scan data having no collection places from a user service terminal. A determination unit obtains correlations between respective base stations based on a number of times each base station in an identical search group is found in a search using the collected data or the scan data, and determines whether a base station has been moved, deleted or added, based on the correlations between respective base stations. A location specification unit specifies a location of the corresponding base station that has changed due to any one of the movement, deletion, and addition of the base station, based on results of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Myung-In Ji, Young-Su Cho, Joo-Young Kim, Yang-Koo Lee, Sang-Joon Park, Jong-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 9549285
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for data brokering between hand held wireless devices (WDs) and data rendering devices (DRDs). DRDs in the form of multimedia devices used for rendering data by printing (e.g., to a networked printer) or displaying video data (e.g., televisions, video monitors, and projectors) are provided with data for rendering at the DRD at the request of WDs. DRDs are capable of receiving data data from a network at the request of a WD and/or directly from a WD as the host and then rendering or displaying the data on devices capable of receiving and processing the data. DRD (e.g., printers and multimedia video devices) can also be controlled by the WD during display of the data and to control display of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ortiz & Associates Consulting, LLC
    Inventor: Luis M. Ortiz
  • Patent number: 9549286
    Abstract: Embodiments for geo-fence notification management are generally described herein. A mobile device for geo-fence notification management may include a geo-location module to: determine a geographical location of the mobile device; and determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fenced area for longer than a threshold period of time; and a presentation module to present a notification on the mobile device when the mobile device is located in the geo-fenced area for longer than the threshold period of time. A server and mobile device may work cooperatively to obtain a position of a mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fenced area; determine whether the geo-fenced area has a software application associated with it; and present the software application to the mobile device when the geo-fenced area has a software application associated with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Birch, Derick Arnold Johnson, Michael J. Kasper
  • Patent number: 9549287
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for geofence profile management. A processor can execute a geofence profile management service. The processor can receive geofence profile data from an administrator device. The processor can create, based upon the geofence profile data, a geofence profile. The geofence profile can include a geofence profile title, a geofence profile description, and a geofence profile option. The processor can provide the geofence profile to a user device. The processor can determine that the user device accepts the geofence profile, and the processor can activate the geofence profile in response to the user device accepting the geofence profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: AT&T Mobility II LLC, AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Taner Baran, Catherine A. Wood, Jonathan Christiansen
  • Patent number: 9549288
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses to determine time difference of arrival of signals from two base stations as received at a mobile device, to use the time difference of arrival to determine differential forward link calibration for at least two base stations, and also to determine location using the differential forward link calibration for at least two base stations, determined using the time difference of arrival of signals from at least two base stations as received by a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Benjamin Werner, Weihua Gao, Guttorm R. Opshaug, Grant Alexander Marshall, Borislav Ristic
  • Patent number: 9549289
    Abstract: A user equipment (UE) communicating with a radio access network (RAN) sends to a network entity (e.g., an MSC/SGSN) a request for periodic reporting of the UE location to a client entity. After the request is approved, the MSC/SGSN sends to the RAN signaling to initiate periodic location reporting for the UE. The RAN may request a positioning center (e.g., a SAS) to send assistance data to the UE. The RAN may coordinate and control the periodic location reporting or may pass the control over to the positioning center. For each location reporting, the UE sends location information (e.g., measurements made by the UE or a location estimate computed by the UE) to the RAN. The SAS computes a location estimate if the UE sends measurements. The RAN then sends the location estimate for the UE to the MSC/SGSN, which forwards the location estimate toward the client entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen William Edge, Sven Fischer, Kirk Allan Burroughs
  • Patent number: 9549290
    Abstract: A method performed by an apparatus includes scanning at least one of multiple radio frequencies using at least two beamforming antennas of a plurality of beamforming antennas coupled to the eyewear and detecting, on a first scanned radio frequency, first externally emitted radio energy. The method further includes identifying a first wireless device using the detected first externally emitted radio energy and determining a first direction of the first wireless device relative to the eyewear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Dwight R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9549291
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a communication interface, a memory device, and a processing device. The communication interface is configured to communicate over a communication network. The memory device is configured to store a connectivity map associated with a geographic area. The connectivity map defines a communication quality at a plurality of locations in the geographic area. The processing device is configured to initiate a remote data transfer over the communication network in accordance with the connectivity map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Tseng, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Imad Hassan Makki, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Hsin-hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 9549292
    Abstract: A method for detecting a context of a mobile device (100) equipped with sensors (111, 121, 122, 131) and a context detection module (109) in which the sensors (111, 121, 122, 131) are assigned to at least two groups (110, 120, 30), each of which comprises at least one sensor (111, 121, 122, 131), and each group (110, 120, 130) is allocated a group classifier (116, 126, 136) 10 adapted to detect, in a form of a classification result, currently identified, by means of a given classifier, context of the device (100) based on indications of the sensors (111, 121, 122, 131) belonging to the given group, characterized in that with a use of the context detection module, whereas the groups (110, 102, 130) of sensors are ordered hierarchically, and the device context is detected 1 by reading a classification result indicated by the classifier (116, 126, 136) of the currently active group, wherein in case of detection of an identified context in the active group, switching on power supply of the sensors and activating
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Binartech Sp. z o.o
    Inventor: Pawel Aksamit
  • Patent number: 9549293
    Abstract: A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: IHEARTMEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Littlejohn, Michael Lincoln Albl, Jeffrey D. Zigler, Kevin R. Lockhart, Richard D. Wooden, Jacqueline J. Lockhart, Theodore N. Myers, Evan A. Hill, Tanya R. Jellison
  • Patent number: 9549294
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for notifying the Network Standard Time Information are provided by the present invention. The present invention is used to notify the Network Standard Time Information to a User Equipment (UE) in the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) mechanism, thus ensuring that the local time of the UE is consistent with the Network Standard Time Information of the network side, and enabling the UE to achieve the MBMS at a prescribed time. The said method comprises the following steps: the network side adds the Network Standard Time Information into the MBMS point-to-multipoint Control CHannel (MCCH) message; the network side notifies the Network Standard Time Information to the UE by transmitting the said MCCH message to the UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: China Academy of Telecommunications Technology
    Inventors: Xiaodong Yang, Haiyang Quan
  • Patent number: 9549295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for broadcasting audio tweets. A system broadcasting audio tweets receives tweets via telephone devices, wherein each listener hears a telephone call of a broadcast on the telephone devices. Each received tweet is associated with one or more tags specifying tweet content, which is used to analyze received tweets. The system presents a display of analyzed tweets for selection to a host. The host selects one or more tweets and broadcasts the selected tweets as part of the broadcast to the telephone devices. Automatic speech recognition can be used to automatically convert received audio tweets to text to enable tagging and analyzing the tweets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: AudioNow IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Marcel Barbulescu, Elan Joel Blutinger
  • Patent number: 9549296
    Abstract: To overcome the problem of limited backhaul capacity and limited wireless channel capacity when downloading videos to smart phones, a method for transmission of data across a mobile telecommunications network, includes providing each Smartphone or other user station (Ua-Ud) with a memory cache (12) and a download app (10), and providing a server (2) in the core network with a server cache memory (16) and a download control app (14). Each user registers with the server, the server gathers information of internet web sites (URLn) accessed by the users from which downloads may be made, monitors the websites, and as and when updates appear on the websites, selectively downloads the updates in the server cache. There is then established a common data channel from the server, across base stations (3), to the users in order to download the updates to the user's memory cache (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Govinda Rajan
  • Patent number: 9549297
    Abstract: A rugged, ergonomic integrated telecommunications handset includes an electronic controller that interoperates and controls the universal remote control (URC), which connects to multiple radios simultaneously. The controller downloads options which are implemented by the controller. The handset has an ability to vibrate in a silent mode, and has a memory capacity, as well as GPS capacity. Ergonomically, the handset has a pair of side arrays of protruding ribs, which enhance gripping, preventing the handset from falling out of the user's hands, even if the user has gloves on in inclement weather conditions in the field. While compatible with the latest radio system software defined dual net and dual channel radio equipment, the handset is also backward compatible with single radios or with two or more separate radios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Global Market Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W Mazzeo, Adam Hollander, Christopher Scocco
  • Patent number: 9549298
    Abstract: An embodiment method includes determining, by a server, a current position of a rotary knob equipped on a client device connected to the server. The method also includes determining, by the server, a push-to-talk (PTT) over cellular (PoC) configuration assigned to the current position of the rotary knob and performing, by the server, PoC operations for the client device in accordance with the PoC configuration assigned to the current position of the rotary knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KODIAK NETWORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ardsley Pihl Congdon, Jr., Brahmananda R. Vempati, Krishnakant M. Patel, Ravi Ayyasamy, Pratap Chandana, Gregory James Morton
  • Patent number: 9549299
    Abstract: A method for selecting a subscription to receive cell broadcast service (CBS) messages for a multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) mobile communication device may include: camping on a first communication network with a first subscription; camping on a second communication network with a second subscription; determining whether system information blocks (SIBs) received on the first subscription and the second subscription contain information elements including one or more parameters that define a broadcast multicast control (BMC) scheduling message (SM) period; in response to determining that the SIBs received on at least one of the first subscription and the second subscription contain the information elements including the one or more parameters defining the BMC SM period, selecting the one of the first subscription and the second subscription associated with the SIBs containing the information elements to receive the CBS messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dhananjaya Sarma Ponukumati, Bhanu Kiran Janga, Sitaramanjaneyulu Kanamarlapudi
  • Patent number: 9549300
    Abstract: A message receiving, intercepting and processing method and corresponding application and device may provide receiving a message at a message processing server, the message being intended for a phone number associated with a customer service provider, identifying a telephone number of the sender of the message, parsing at least one word from the message, retrieving user account information of the sender, and generating an automated response to the message that includes contextual information that is based on at least one of the user account information and the parsed at least one word from the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Caldwell, Jeffrey William Cordell, James K. Boutcher
  • Patent number: 9549301
    Abstract: A method and system suitable for supporting various wireless services on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). The DAS can provide wireless services including voice and data services using the same equipment. The DAS can include one or more active antenna units controlled by an access point, and includes control channels for transferring control and status information between the access point and the antenna. The control channels can be transferred over a separate cable, or transferred using one or more intermediate frequency signals transferred over existing cables. The control channels can be used to configure and control and receive status from the managed components of the DAS including active antennas, control the amplifiers used to process TDD signals, and control the switching of diversity antenna systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd
    Inventors: Igor Berlin, Dror Harel, Ofer Saban, Isaac Shapira
  • Patent number: 9549302
    Abstract: A Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context handling method for a Mobile Station (MS) with a PDP context for an emergency bearer service is provided, wherein a radio access bearer (RAB) associated with the PDP context is released by a network. The method comprises the steps of: downgrading the maximum uplink bit rate and the maximum downlink bit rate associated with the PDP context from original non-zero positive values to a zero value; sending a request signal associated with a modification of the maximum uplink bit rate and the maximum downlink bit rate; and re-establishing the RAB for the PDP context with the maximum uplink bit rate and the maximum downlink bit rate reconfigured as the original non-zero values after the request signal has been sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kundan Tiwari
  • Patent number: 9549303
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. The systems and methods provide a way for a portable device to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. A flag provides an indication the EAS should be on and the systems and method override the settings made by a user to a portable device to enable EAS reception. The user may then be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, or the user may optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, or the user may otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data (e.g., a link to the information).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Ming Zhang, Jun Shen
  • Patent number: 9549304
    Abstract: A method begins by an application server establishing information regarding a potentially adverse event and determining group constraints for a group regarding the potentially adverse event. The method continues with the application server selecting one or more user devices of a plurality of user devices affiliated with the group to produce selected user devices. The method continues with the application server obtaining, for each selected user device, a status associated with the selected user device and issuing a status response message to at least some of the user devices of the plurality of user devices affiliated with the group, where the status response message includes the status associated with each selected user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Gary W. Grube
  • Patent number: 9549305
    Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a social network identifying an affected area of an adverse event and identifying a user device of a plurality of user devices of the social network potentially associated with the affected area of the adverse event. The method continues with the processing module issuing a safety notification to the user device, where the safety notification includes one or more of the affected area of the adverse event and a safety status request. The method continues with the processing module receiving, from the user device, a safety status response, where the safety status response includes at least one of location information generated by the user device and a safety status level generated by the user device. The method continues with the processing module indicating the safety status level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Gary W. Grube, Evan Edward Quisenberry, John Edward Buchalo
  • Patent number: 9549306
    Abstract: An Online Charging System (“OCS”) that processes charging on a telecommunications network receives an indication of usage of a telecommunications service by a subscriber. In response to the indication, the OCS determines a configured offering for the service, where the configured offering includes a time period, and a credit and/or debit. The OCS determines if the usage of the service is a first usage within the time period, and when the usage is the first usage, applies the credit and/or debit. The OCS then determines a charge for the usage based on credit and/or debit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Helen N. Wiant, Debdulal Dey, Gireesh Malaksamudra, Richard Beaumont Tasker
  • Patent number: 9549307
    Abstract: In order to manage a change in conditions of using a service associated with a communication in progress established by a user terminal (TU) within its communications network (RT), a server determines that the user's account does not permit the delivery of the service with a change in the conditions of using a service, after the receipt of a first request derived from a network element, said request comprising an identifier of the service regarding the communication and a parameter defining the change in conditions of using the service, and the server transmits to the network element a response containing a code indicating that the delivery of the service is authorized only with other conditions of using the service, in order for the network element to transmit to the server a second request containing another parameter defining another change in conditions of using the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Thomas Levy, Maryse Gardella
  • Patent number: 9549308
    Abstract: A mobile communication device is provided with a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request for starting a Mobile Originated (MO) service, determine a plurality of remaining usage quotas for the MO service, which correspond to a plurality of subscriber numbers, and select one of the subscriber numbers for starting the MO service according to the remaining usage quotas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Te-Chung Cho, Yu-Ting Chen, Tao-Sheng Ou, Che-Cheng Lin, Jen-De Lai
  • Patent number: 9549309
    Abstract: A system and method providing location based wireless resource identification in a communication system. Various aspects may comprise determining a location of a communication system (e.g., a multimode communication device). One or more wireless resources may then, for example, be identified based, at least in part, on the determined location. Additionally for example, respective manners of communicating with identified wireless resources may be determined and utilized for communication between the communication system and the identified wireless resources. A communication system may, for example, comprise a location determination module adapted to determine a location of the communication device. A wireless resource identification module may, for example, be adapted to identify one or more wireless resources based, at least in part, on the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9549310
    Abstract: A cellular device 10 has a SIM 12 having a unique identifier 14, for example formatted as an IMSI. The cellular device is activated by a registration process which registers the SIM to a selected home network. In this way, the cellular device can be bundled with a SIM before it is known for which country, region or network the cellular device will be sold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ESEYE LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Marshall, Ian Marsden
  • Patent number: 9549311
    Abstract: Techniques for use by a mobile device configured to operate in a wireless network for the communication of data messages with a server are described. When the mobile device does not have an open session with the server, the mobile device receives from a service node via the wireless network a message which informs the mobile device that a data message has arrived at the server and needs to be retrieved. The message includes an identifier which identifies the data message at the server. In response to opening an application at the mobile device, the mobile device communicates directly with the server via the wireless network for retrieving the data message. This involves commencing an open session with the server, sending to the server a command for retrieving the data message, and receiving from the server the data message in response to sending the command. The mobile device may use the identifier for retrieving the data message from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Clark, Allan David Lewis, Barry Gilhuly, David Bajar, Nataliya Martsyna, Robbie John Maurice
  • Patent number: 9549312
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamic switching between service providers are described. The method includes receiving a service provider switch (SPS) request from a User Equipment (UE) having a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with a primary service provider where the request is indicative of switching the SIM from the primary service provider to a secondary service provider. The method further includes authenticating the SPS request based at least on the user subscription and triggering an update of a service control point (SCP) address in a home location register (HLR) of the primary service provider based on response to the authentication. The method may further include receiving another SPS request from the UE to switch the SIM from the secondary service provider to one of a former service provider and triggering an update of SCP details in the HLR of the primary service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Varun Gupta
  • Patent number: 9549313
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for remotely installing Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) information about various Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are provided. One of the apparatuses being a terminal including an electronic card, a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal, and a controller configured to receive at least one profile from a profile management server, wherein each profile of the received at least one profile is to be installed in an electronic card of at least one device, to obtain at least one electronic card identifier of the at least one device, and to transmit, to the at least one device, the at least one profile corresponding to the obtained at least one electronic card identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonghan Park, Duckey Lee, Sangsoo Jeong, Joohyun Park, Songyean Cho
  • Patent number: 9549314
    Abstract: A wireless communication system corresponding to a wireless terminal device in which at least one of a first frequency bandwidth for use in an up link and a second frequency bandwidth for use in a down link is variable, including a capability information reception unit capable of receiving and extracting terminal capability information transmitted from the wireless terminal device and related to capability of the wireless terminal device; a category designation unit capable of designating a terminal category to which the wireless terminal device belongs, based on the terminal capability information received and extracted by the capability information reception unit; and a link setting unit capable of setting a link to the wireless terminal device and transmitting a control signal depending on the link setting to the wireless terminal device, based on the terminal category designated by the category designation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takayoshi Ode
  • Patent number: 9549315
    Abstract: A mobile device comprises one or more sensors; a plurality of additional sensors; and logic configured to: obtain one or more first data outputs from the one or more sensors in a first state; obtain one or more second data outputs from the one or more sensors; determine whether there has been a transition from the first state to a second state, based on a difference between the one or more first data outputs and the one or more second data outputs; obtain one or more third data outputs from the plurality of additional sensors if there has been a transition from the first state to the second state; and compare the one or more third data outputs with stored data outputs obtained using the plurality of additional sensors in a third state, thereby determining whether the mobile device is in the third state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Vodafone IP Licensing Limited
    Inventors: David Pollington, Thomas Robert Lovett, Eamonn Joseph O'Neill
  • Patent number: 9549316
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a host-side surrogate tool configured to service mobile phones from a host device that is coupled to one or more peripheral cell phones. The presently-disclosed host-side surrogate tool executes on the host device concurrently with one or more software components of a vendor-compliant phone maintenance tool. In some embodiments, the concurrently-executing host-side surrogate tool may cause the vendor-compliant phone maintenance tool to provide functionality for which it was not intended. In some embodiments, it may be said that the host-side surrogate tool provides a ‘semi-virtual’ environment under which host-side vendor-compliant phone maintenance tool operates. Related methods, devices and systems are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: MCE-SYS Ltd.
    Inventors: Almog Ben-Harosh, Erez Manor
  • Patent number: 9549317
    Abstract: A request for an IP address for a client device having a first identifier information is received from an AP device. The request for the IP address is associated with a first communication protocol. The first identifier information is compared to a second identifier information. The second identifier information is associated with a second communication protocol. The second communication protocol is different from the first communication protocol. The IP address for the client device based on comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Mitel Mobility Inc.
    Inventors: Tamanna Jindal, Sashidhar Annaluru, Mukesh Garg
  • Patent number: 9549318
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling a computing device to be registered and authorized for network access, while deferring device hardware address capture until a later time. Subsequently, when the computing device connects to a network location at which the hardware address can be detected registration and authorization can be fully completed. In some cases, the subsequent completion can be performed automatically and without user intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SHAW CABLESYSTEMS G.P.
    Inventors: Christian Saunders, Ron Angerame
  • Patent number: 9549319
    Abstract: A first device wirelessly transmits beacon frames having distinct identifying contents within each. The first device issues a request to a second device to report what beacon frame contents the second device may have received. The second device sends a response to the first device. The first device analyzes the response in view of the beacon frame contents actually sent, the respective radio-frequency broadcast power of the beacon frames, and so on. Based on the analysis, the first device may determine proximity or other information regarding the responsive other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David George Butler, Richard William Mincher
  • Patent number: 9549320
    Abstract: Upon receiving a triggering message from a MTC server (20), a network (10) verifies if the MTC server (20) is authorized to trigger a target MTC device (30) and also if the MTC device (30) is authorized to respond the triggering message, by comparing an MTC device ID and MTC server ID (and optionally information on subscription) which are include in the triggering message with authorized ones. Upon succeeding in the verification, the network (10) checks a trigger type included in the triggering message to verify if the triggering message is authorized to be sent to the MTC device (30). Upon succeeding in the check, the network (10) forwards the triggering message to the MTC device (30). The network (10) also validates a response from the MTC device (30), by checking whether the MTC device (30) is allowed to communicate with the addressed MTC server (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaowei Zhang, Anand Raghawa Prasad
  • Patent number: 9549321
    Abstract: A method is presented of providing a subscriber identity for the provision of services on behalf of the subscriber in a virtual computing environment. The method includes receiving a request to establish an execution environment for a virtual machine-to-machine equipment, vM2 M E. The vM2ME is provided, comprising software for execution in the virtual computing environment and a downloadable Subscriber Identity Module. A Communications Module, CM, is set up for execution in a domain of a virtualization platform. The CM provides an end-point for communications between the vM2ME and a 3GPP network. The Subscriber Identity Module is installed for execution together with the CM, the Subscriber Identity Module including a 3GPP identity of the subscriber, security data and functions for enabling access to the vM2ME via the 3GPP network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Kristian Slavov, Patrik Salmela, Jukka Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 9549322
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for authenticating a communication device. The method conducted at a remote server includes the steps of: receiving, from a communication device via a first communication channel, a fingerprint identifying the communication device and a value of a parameter of the communication device specific to the communication device and variable over time; determining whether the value is within a predicted range; and if the value is not within the predicted range or the predicted range has not been established, sending an additional authentication request via a second communication channel. The predicted range is learnt over a given number of interactions between the communication device and the remote server and an expected rate of change of the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventor: Cornelius Johannes Badenhorst