Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9609446
    Abstract: A sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes a control device and a sensor device. The control device has an audio combo jack and selectively provides an audio signal to the audio combo jack. The sensor device is connected with the audio combo jack. The sensor device includes a transformer, a rectifier, a power supply circuit, and a sensor. The transformer receives the audio signal through the audio combo jack and amplifies the audio signal to generate an amplified audio signal. The rectifier, coupled to the transformer, receives the amplified audio signal and rectifies the amplified audio signal to generate a rectified voltage signal. The power supply circuit is controlled by the rectified voltage signal to provide a supply voltage. The sensor is powered by the supply voltage to perform a sensing operation. An output signal which carries information related the sensing operation is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Lin Hsieh, Hsin-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 9609447
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, circuits and methods for providing an indication of an impedance between a detecting pin and a first signal pin of an audio socket using first and second comparators to, among other things, determine if moisture is present in the audio socket. If moisture is present in the audio socket, communication between an audio processing unit and the audio socket can be disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Myron J. Miske, Christian Klein, John R. Turner, Peter Chadbourne
  • Patent number: 9609448
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for testing and certification of media devices for use within a connected media environment. A testing device includes an input mechanism, for example a microphone, and a plurality of test files. Each test file can be used to produce a characteristic signal, for example an audio track having a particular frequency. The testing device emulates a gateway between a media device under test, such as an audio speaker, and a media server. Test scripts can be used to mimic commands to play or otherwise access media content at the device under test. Playback of a particular test file can be detected and recognized according to the characteristic signal produced by that test file. Resultant test information can be used to evaluate the performance and/or certify operation of the media device within the connected media environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SPOTIFY AB
    Inventor: Trevor Bentley
  • Patent number: 9609449
    Abstract: A device is disclosed, the device comprising a least one microphone, at least one output audio transducer driver, at least one processor, a storage comprising a set of instructions executed locally, wherein the set of instructions causes the processor to: continuously measure an ambient sound pressure level when the device is an on state, calculate a sound pressure level of the output audio transducer driver when the output audio transducer is active, combine the two sound pressure levels into a total sound pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Ossi Mäenpää
  • Patent number: 9609450
    Abstract: A method of monitoring speaker temperature for speaker protection starts by generating a low level inaudible noise signal and injecting the low level inaudible noise signal in an audio signal. The voice coil resistance estimate that estimates a resistance of a voice coil of a speaker is then computed. The voice coil resistance estimate changes while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal that includes the low level inaudible noise signal. The temperature estimate is then computed based on the voice coil resistance estimate. The level of the audio signal may be adjusted based on the temperature estimate. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Yeh
  • Patent number: 9609451
    Abstract: A multi-rate audio processing system and method provides real-time measurement and processing of amplitude/phase changes in the transition band of the lowest frequency subband caused by the audio processing that can be used to apply amplitude/phase compensation to the higher subband(s). Tone signals may be injected into the transition band to provide strong tonal content for measurement and processing. The real-time measurement and compensation adapts to time-varying amplitude/phase changes regardless of the source of the change (e.g. non-linear time-varying linear or user control parameters) and provides universal applicability for any linear audio processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Daekyoung Noh, Themis Katsianos
  • Patent number: 9609452
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for obtaining audio rendering information in a bitstream. A device configured to render higher order ambisonic coefficients comprising a processor and a memory may perform the techniques. The processor may be configured to obtain sparseness information indicative of a sparseness of a matrix used to render the higher order ambisonic coefficients to a plurality of speaker feeds. The memory may be configured to store the sparseness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nils Günther Peters, Dipanjan Sen, Martin James Morrell
  • Patent number: 9609453
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for controlling execution of multimedia data. One or more information blocks of multimedia data including audio sounds are determined. Also, one or more frequency differences in the audio sounds for each of the one or more information blocks of the audio data is determined. The control of the execution of the multimedia data is based, at least in part on, a comparison of the one or more frequency differences to one or more prestored frequency values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Abdulrahman Al Jabri
  • Patent number: 9609454
    Abstract: A method for playing back the sound of a digital audio signal comprising an oversampling step consisting of producing, from a signal sampled at a frequency F, a signal sampled at a frequency N×F, where N corresponds to an integer greater than 1, then of applying convolution processing to a first digital file sampled at a frequency N×F corresponding to the acquisition of the soundscape of a reference sound space, a second digital file sampled at a frequency N×F corresponding to the acquisition of the noise footprint of a piece of reference playback equipment, a third digital file sampled at a frequency N×F corresponding to the acquisition of the noise footprint of an equalizer and a fourth file corresponding to said oversampled audio file, the resulting digital packets then undergoing digital conversion processing at a sampling frequency F/M corresponding to the working frequency of the listening equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Haurais, Franck Rosset
  • Patent number: 9609455
    Abstract: The invention provides a new method to supply a power to a device which is used by connecting to a mobile terminal. The invention also provides a connective device which is connected and enables the mobile terminal to reproduce contents such as music on the mobile terminal. The connective device stores unique identifying information and is detachably connected to the mobile terminal provided with a communication function. The connective device is having a plug terminal connected to an earphone socket of the mobile terminal, and the plug terminal acquires a power from an audio output channel of the earphone socket and output the identifying information via a microphone channel of the earphone socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: BEATROBO, INC.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takei
  • Patent number: 9609456
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for communicating behavior analysis information using an application programming interface (API) may include receiving via the API a request to register the second module to access an operation of a behavioral monitoring system of the mobile computing device, and exchanging authentication information between the first module and the second module to accomplish mutual authentication. Aspects may include receiving via the API a request for version identification information that may be used by the server to determine how to interpret, evaluate, or crowd-source information, and exchanging version identification information between the first module and the second module to cause the second module to send the information to the server. Aspects may further include receiving via the API a provision malware model request including a command causing the first module to send a malware or classifier model to a behavioral monitoring system of the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Andres Valencia, Rajarshi Gupta, Mihai Christodorescu
  • Patent number: 9609457
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a system includes at least one server to manage voice over internet protocol (VOIP) services. The managed VOIP services provided by the at least one server include a procurement service configured to streamline configuration of at least some of the VOIP services for a mobile device during a signup session based on a VOIP services signup session token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CREXENDO, INC.
    Inventors: Satish Bhagavatula, Manish Rao
  • Patent number: 9609458
    Abstract: A mobile radio communication device is described comprising: an instruction receiver configured to receive an instruction from a second mobile radio communication device to request subscriber identity module installation data for installation of a second subscriber identity module, wherein the second subscriber identity module is related to a first subscriber identity module that is installed in the second mobile radio communication device; a request transmitter configured to transmit a request for the subscriber identity module installation data to a first server; a subscription data receiver configured to receive the subscriber identity module installation data from a second server; and a controller configured to install the second subscriber identity module based on the received subscriber identity module installation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vivek Ramanna, Juergen Kreuchauf, Robert Zaus
  • Patent number: 9609459
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device collects service usage measurements for a communications device use of a service on a network; and compares the service usage measurements to a device assisted implementation of a service policy to verify the device assisted implementation of the service policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Headwater Research LLC
    Inventor: Gregory G. Raleigh
  • Patent number: 9609460
    Abstract: Cloud based mobile device security and policy systems and methods use the “cloud” to pervasively enforce security and policy on mobile devices. The cloud based mobile device security and policy systems and methods provide uniformity in securing mobile devices for small to large organizations. The cloud based mobile device security and policy systems and methods may enforce one or more policies for users wherever and whenever the users are connected across a plurality of different devices including mobile devices. This solution ensures protection across different types, brands, operating systems, etc. for smartphones, tablets, netbooks, mobile computers, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Zscaler, Inc.
    Inventor: Amit Sinha
  • Patent number: 9609461
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for improving uplink communications of machine type communication (MTC) devices. In some embodiments, an MTC device may perform a discovery operation on a first narrow frequency band, establish a first communication link with a discovered relay device on a second narrow frequency band, and transmit MTC data on the second narrow frequency band to the discovered relay device to be relayed to a third device on a second communication link on a broad frequency band. In another embodiment, a first device may participate in a discovery operation with a second device. The first device may establish a communication link with the second device on a first narrow frequency band and receive data from the second device on a second narrow frequency band. The first device may relay the data to a third device over a second communication link on a broad frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Feng Ge, Junyi Li, Vincent Douglas Park
  • Patent number: 9609462
    Abstract: A boiler control device may include a housing and a wireless communication module for receiving coded control signals from the thermostat device. The boiler control device may also include boiler control circuitry for selectively controlling activation of the boiler-based heating system according to the coded control signals from the thermostat device. An onboard antenna disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module, and an interface configured to receive an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary antenna may be disposed outside of the housing. Detection circuitry may detect times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface. Switching circuitry may interrupt communication between the onboard antenna and the wireless communication module during the times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Warren, Honjo Hirofumi, Anthony M. Fadell, Richard W. Holbrook, Shigefumi Honjo
  • Patent number: 9609463
    Abstract: A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system supporting device to device (D2D) communication, and a method for operating the mobile terminal are provided. The terminal includes a first radio frequency (RF) chain configured to transmit a mobile communication signal and a second RF chain configured to receive a mobile communication signal, for mobile communication with a base station, a switching unit including a plurality of switches configured to establish transmission and reception paths in the first and second RF chains, and a controller configured to control switching of the switching unit to establish transmission and reception paths of a D2D communication signal for D2D communication by combining a part of the first RF chain with a part of the second RF chain. The combination of the parts of the first and second RF chains is different according to a D2D communication frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Seok Ryu, Young-Bin Chang, Chi-Woo Lim, Kyung-Kyu Kim, Dae-Gyun Kim, Seung-Hoon Park, Sang-Kyu Baek
  • Patent number: 9609464
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a computer program product are used for device filtering. A packet is received from a device, after which it is determined whether the device is allowed to be responded to, wherein the determination comprises at least one of the following: determining a received signal strength indication from the packet; or determining a time from previous connection of the device; or determining the data in a payload of the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Finland Oy
    Inventors: Jere Knaappila, Riku Mettala
  • Patent number: 9609465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-role Bluetooth device and more particularly to a multi-role Bluetooth handset. The multi-role Bluetooth device stores a plurality of SDPs (Service Discovery Protocols), and establishes Bluetooth connection with an electronic device by one of SDPs. The multi-role Bluetooth device can establish Bluetooth connection with the electronic device by a first SDP, and transmit and/or receive data to the electronic device each other via Bluetooth connection. Furthermore, the multi-role Bluetooth device also can establish Bluetooth connection with the electronic device by a second SDP, and transmit a control signal to the electronic device via Bluetooth connection to control the electronic device to execute particular function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Airoha Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kuen-Rong Hsieh, Chi-Teng Weng, Chun-Yi Chen, Tsung-Hui Ku
  • Patent number: 9609466
    Abstract: An identification apparatus is provided herein. The identification apparatus may include an identification mechanism coupled to a first guide segment and a reader mechanism coupled to second guide segment. The reader mechanism may receive a set of data of the identification mechanism via a proximity connectivity method. The reader mechanism may communicate the set of data to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventor: Kevin B Leigh
  • Patent number: 9609467
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an invention for pairing a plurality of wireless devices using wireless communications is disclosed. A method for pairing a plurality of devices comprises attenuating a pairing signal emitted from a wireless device within a pairing enclosure during a pairing procedure. A power level of the pairing signal that is emitted through the pairing enclosure is received at a pairing signal receiver. The pairing procedure is permitted to continue when the power level of the pairing signal is less than a predetermined power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FREELINC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas Howard Dobyns
  • Patent number: 9609468
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques and systems for inter-device bearing estimation. Particularly, sensor fusion techniques are disclosed that combine motion data of a local computing device with beamforming data of the local computing device to determine a line-of-site path between the local computing device and a remote computing device. A motion sensor(s) of a local computing device may generate motion data from movement of the local computing device. The local computing device may further determine a direction, relative to the local computing device, of a beampattern in which an antenna(s) of the local computing device radiates energy, the beampattern direction being along a communication path between the local computing device and a remote computing device. The local device may then determine, based at least in part on the motion data and the direction of the beampattern, whether the communication path corresponds to a line-of-sight path between the local and remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomer Moscovich, Oliver Huy Doan
  • Patent number: 9609469
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for determining a location of a mobile device are presented. Often a mobile device requests assistance data from a location server. If the mobile device expects a significant delayed response in receiving the assistance data, the mobile device may determine a seed location or rough location estimate from a server. The mobile device may also request a map to display and/or a data structure for its estimator. The mobile device may preload the estimator with the rough location estimate and/or the data structure. After preloading, the estimator determines a location of the mobile device. Also, the mobile device may show the map to a user via a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Behrooz Khorashadi, Faraz Mohammad Mirzaei, Saumitra Mohan Das
  • Patent number: 9609470
    Abstract: A system for implementing a positioning functionality. An apparatus (e.g. a directional transceiver) (706) may receive a signal (704) for positioning and measure characteristics associated with the received signal (704). If the directional transceiver (706) then determines that the received signal (704) comprises calculator identifier information, the apparatus may forward the measured characteristics based on the calculator identifier information. Otherwise, the directional transceiver (706) may forward the measured characteristics to a buffer (712). From the perspective of the apparatus (700) transmitting the signal (704) for positioning, a determination may be made as to whether calculator identifier information is known. If determined to be known, the transmitting apparatus (700) may include the calculator identifier information in the signal (704) for positioning. Otherwise, the other apparatus may transmit the signal (704) for positioning without any calculator identifier information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Ville Valtteri Ranki, Antti Paavo Tapani Kainulainen, Fabio Belloni, Kimmo Juhana Kalliola
  • Patent number: 9609471
    Abstract: An approach is provided for determining a first location-based record associated with at least one device (501). Next, the point of interest platform causes, at least in part, a specification of a second location-based record relative to the first location-based record (503). Subsequently, the point of interest platform causes, at least in part, a transmission of the second location-based record to the at least one device (505), wherein transmission of the second location-based record to the at least one device is based, at least in part, on the one or more codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Dhaval Joshi, Pankaj Nathani
  • Patent number: 9609472
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for identifying activities and/or destinations of relative importance. More specifically, a system, a device and a method are provided to determine interactions at a mobile computing device predict activities based on one or more types of interactions. Examples of activities include preferential activities available at a geographic region association with lodging In one or more embodiments, a method can include receiving data representing an interaction with a user interface, generating data summarizing the interaction to include an interaction type, and determining data representing a prioritized value indicative of a degree of the interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HomeAway.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Hedley Turner, Daniel Steven Haligas, Velayudhan Pillai Venugopal, Alex Holm Devine
  • Patent number: 9609473
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention disclose a service processing method and apparatus based on location information. The method comprises: acquiring, by an application server, a positioning signal sent by a positioning terminal; determining, by the application server, location information about the positioning terminal according to the positioning signal; and sending, by the application server, service processing information to an application client and/or a positioning terminal according to a service processing rule and based on the location information about the positioning terminal. The present invention achieves the technical effect of the application server sending adaptive service processing information to the application client and/or the positioning terminal according to different service processing rules, optimizes the existing location-based service technology, and meets the growing demand of people for individual and customized location-based services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Baolong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9609474
    Abstract: A capability for controlling or facilitating the use of a wireless tag to communicate location tracking information is presented. The capability for controlling or facilitating use of a wireless tag to communicate location tracking information utilizes a wireless tag supporting multiple states in order to control communication of location tracking information. The wireless tag supporting multiple states in order to control communication of location tracking information may be configured to support or facilitate tag-controlled state transitions, gateway-controlled state transitions, infrastructure-controlled state transitions, or the like, as well as various combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Alcatel Lucent, Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Howard C. Huang, Irwin Kennedy, Chih-Kuang Lin, Vijay Venkateswaran, Richard Abbot
  • Patent number: 9609475
    Abstract: A method of providing information regarding a mobile station adapted for communication via a communication system is provided. In the method an area event notification request is received at a location service entity provided in association with the communication system, the area event notification request containing information associated with the identity of the mobile station and an area of interest. Monitoring for an event indicative of a change in the presence status of the mobile station relative to said area of interest is then activated. A notification is signalled in response to detection of such event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Sebastian Kraufvelin, Jan Kall, Tomi Varonen
  • Patent number: 9609476
    Abstract: A wireless device including: an antenna wirelessly coupled to a terminal, a network interface coupled to a baseband unit (BBU) that perform baseband processing, and a processor configured to: convert a wireless signal received from the terminal into a baseband signal to be transmitted to the BBU, convert a baseband signal received from the BBU into a wireless signal to be transmitted to the terminal, and determine, when failure occurs in the wireless device, whether the wireless device takes a measure against the failure or not based on a first index indicating a level of the failure and a second index relating to the number of users that are affected by the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Reiko Mitsuze, Norio Murakami
  • Patent number: 9609477
    Abstract: Generally discussed herein are systems and apparatuses for determining a location of a device. Also discussed herein are methods of using the systems and apparatuses. According to an example a mobile device may include processing circuitry including a Measurement Engine (ME) and a Position Engine (PE), wherein the PE is configured to provide a location estimate of the device using a location function, generate an estimate location function that approximates the location function to within a specified error, and provide the estimate location function to the ME, and wherein the ME is configured to receive a geo fence boundary defining a boundary of a geographical region, determine a plurality of pseudo ranges between the device and a plurality of navigation satellites, and determine, using the estimate location function and the plurality of pseudo ranges, whether the device is within the geographical region defined by the geo fence boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Ron Rotstein
  • Patent number: 9609478
    Abstract: A mobile device having location services stores information pertaining to a geo-fence assigned to a building and stores a geo-fence log including one or more mobile device parameters and one or more geo-fence crossing events. The mobile device may determine the location of the mobile device via the location services and may determine when a geo-fence crossing event has occurred. Each of the geo-fence crossing events may be recorded in the geo-fence log, which may be uploaded to a remote server from time to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Frenz, Aaron J. Klein
  • Patent number: 9609479
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system is provided. A processor identifies an event based, at least in part, on a first news article. A processor determines a first area of impact for the event based, at least in part, on the first news article. Responsive to a determination that a current location of a first user is within the first area of impact, a processor sends a first message to the first user based, at least in part, on the first news article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Kimberly G. Starks
  • Patent number: 9609480
    Abstract: A method for positioning a mobile terminal in a radio network including a plurality of base stations, comprising: transmitting a signal from a base station for receipt in the mobile terminal along a line of sight of a radio beam; receiving time measurement data from the mobile terminal, obtained based on receipt in the mobile terminal of the transmitted signal; calculating a distance value (DLOS) for the distance from the base station to the mobile terminal based on the time measurement data; and calculating a vertical position (Dv) of the mobile terminal, based on the distance value and an elevation angle (?) of the line of sight of the radio beam from one or more of the plurality of base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Basuki Priyanto, Anders Berggren
  • Patent number: 9609481
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, computer-readable media, techniques, and methodologies are disclosed for transmitting variable beacon profiles. In some embodiments, a server may receive a variable beacon profile at a first point in time, the variable beacon profile associated with a wireless beacon. A temporal indicator indicating the first point in time may be received. Location information associated with the wireless beacon may be determined based at least in part on the variable beacon profile and the temporal indicator. The location information may be transmitted to a service provider application on a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventor: Alan L. Chung
  • Patent number: 9609482
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes location techniques for a mobile device. A mobile device may request permission from a server device to perform a ranging operation. Responsive to receiving an indication of allowance, the mobile device may output a first data packet via a radio signal, which is received by a beacon device that activates an ultrasonic transponder upon receipt of the first data packet. The mobile device then outputs a second data packet via an ultrasonic pulse. The beacon device receives the ultrasonic pulse and outputs a third data packet via a second radio signal that includes information identifying the beacon device. The mobile device calculates a time difference between outputting the ultrasonic pulse and receiving the second radio signal and determines its location based on the third data packet and the time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Want, William Noah Schilit
  • Patent number: 9609483
    Abstract: System and method for characterizing a geographical location by finding the behavioral patterns of groups of users of mobile devices being in the vicinity of the geographical location. Accordingly, after an examined Point of Interest is determined, signaling data related to the users is aggregated over a limited period of time, from the cellular network they use. The location, including change in the location of the users, is continuously calculated and cross-checked with anonymous multi-sensors with data records from external data sources. Then the mobility patterns of users are derived and the users are classified to groups according to the cross-checking results. Finally, the geographical location is characterized according to the mobility patterns and the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
    Inventors: Yuval Elovici, Dudu Mimran, Bark Chizi, Alexander Binun, Moshe Bixenspaner, Pavel Ackerman
  • Patent number: 9609484
    Abstract: Electronic devices can be provided with access point sparse databases that include a listing of some or all known access points in a geographic region and the respective coordinates of those access points. The device can scan and identify the access points that are within range of the device. The device can reference the names of the detected access points with access point information included in the sparse database stored in the device to determine the coordinates of the detected access points. These coordinates provide an estimate as to the device's geographic position. The sparse database can also include data describing various actions that are triggered in response to the device being located in the geographic region. Thus, upon determining that the device is physically located in the geographic region, the device can perform or execute any actions that have been specified in the sparse database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mete Rodoper
  • Patent number: 9609485
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for identifying activities and/or destinations of relative importance. More specifically, a system, a device and a method are provided to predict a type of companion with whom a traveler collaborates to, among other things, predict activities (e.g., preferential activities) available at a geographic region association with lodging. In one or more embodiments, a method can include determining a location at which a user computing device associated with a user is disposed, and calculating that a computing device associated with a candidate companion is within a region coterminous with the location. Also, the method may include predicting data representing a companionship type for data representing the candidate companion based at least the location at which the user and the candidate companion are co-located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HomeAway, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Hedley Turner, Daniel Steven Haligas, Velayudhan Pillai Venugopal, Alex Holm Devine
  • Patent number: 9609486
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing situational user contexts to mobile applications, allowing for delivery of the relevant content without exposing mobile users' locations and other personal data. A plurality of space-time contexts (STCs) are stored in computer memory, with each STC representing a situational environment as a function of location and time. A mobile user device is associated with at least one of the STCs based on, for example, the location of the device and the current time. The associated STCs are provided to an application interested in delivering context-specific data to the user of the mobile user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cinarra Systems
    Inventor: Alexey Dmitriyevich Zinin
  • Patent number: 9609487
    Abstract: A system for providing location relevant information to users of a plurality of mobile devices within a multi-storey building. A plurality of transmitters are located in different locations across multiple floors of the building. Each transmitter transmits a signal for identifying the location of its associated transmitter and signals transmitted at least by transmitters located on the same floor share at least one common transmission parameter. The mobile devices each run software that identifies signals received substantially concurrently from the transmitters, determining the closest transmitter, and then displays on the mobile device location relevant information associated with that location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Harib Darwish Alshihi
  • Patent number: 9609488
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing broadcasts of data in wireless communications. A request to join a multicast session is received. A plurality of broadcast technology based identifiers associated with the multicast session are received. Each broadcast technology based identifier identifies one of a plurality of radio access technologies (RATs) broadcasting the multicast session. One of the plurality of RATs is selected. A multicast stream of data associated with the multicast session is received from the selected RAT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hariharan Sukumar, Sundar Raman, Shailesh Maheshwari
  • Patent number: 9609489
    Abstract: A data network receives data associating media content identifiers with a content network identifier and a content user identifier. A wireless network receives a registration indicating the content network identifier and the content user identifier and transfers the content network identifier and the content user identifier to the data network. The data network identifies the media content identifiers associated with the content network identifier and the content user identifier and transfers the media content identifiers to the wireless communication network. The wireless network receives a media request from a wireless communication device indicating the content network identifier and the content user identifier. The wireless network transfers the media content identifiers associated with content network identifier and the content user identifier to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz, Michael Scott Probasco
  • Patent number: 9609490
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an access point sends timing information related to updating of a group key. A wireless station communicates with the access point according to the timing information to receive an updated group key. The updated group key is thereafter used for processing of multicast packets. Due to the use of the timing information, the wireless station can operate in a power-down mode, and yet receive at least the required group keys. In one embodiment, the timing information specifies a future time instance at which the update group may be available. In an alternative embodiment, a version number is associated with each value of the group key and the version number of the currently operative group key (in the access point) is broadcast to the wireless stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GAINSPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sibasis Purohit, Vishal Batra, Pankaj Vyas
  • Patent number: 9609491
    Abstract: A server apparatus, a communication apparatus, and a communication method are disclosed. Communication terminals forming a group are capable of performing push-to-talk group communication through the server apparatus. In reception of a call setting request from a first communication terminal of the group by the receiver, when the group includes a second communication terminal to which call setting fails, the transmitter transmits, to a communication terminal of the group, an instruction to execute a discovery processing of discovering a communication partner terminal capable of performing a direct communication with the communication terminal without passing through the server apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Kashiwase
  • Patent number: 9609492
    Abstract: A server computing device may be deployed in telecommunication signaling network and configured to communicate with a subscriber profile repository, policy management component, a charging component, and/or other components in the network to intelligently determine whether a user equipment device should receive/use a service via a communication tunnel, to authorize and/or create a communication tunnel between a user equipment device and a tunnel termination function component, and to implement policy charging rules for the use of the service via the communication tunnel. The communication tunnel may carry a portion or a segment of a data flow for a specific service (or a portion of the communication link) between the user equipment device and a destination component. The server computing device may be configured to authorize/create different communication tunnels for different services and to implement different policy charging rules for different tunnels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: OPENET TELECOM LTD.
    Inventors: Joe Hogan, Mamoon Chowdry
  • Patent number: 9609493
    Abstract: This invention relates to a smartphone conferencing system (1), a dial-out and permissions rating engine (DPRE) (17) for use in the system, and a method of handling a smartphone conference call between a smartphone user and a plurality of conference call participants (5). The system and method both incorporate a DPRE (17) which analyzes the conference call establishment requests and determines if a request is valid or if a request is invalid based on call dial-out history. The system and method will obviate many of the delays in establishing a smartphone conference call and will prevent fraud should the users lose their smartphone (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: 247Meeting (Ireland) Limited
    Inventor: Gavan Doherty
  • Patent number: 9609494
    Abstract: When a femto cell base station used for a communication system provided with a function of providing a predetermined supplementary service receives first information indicating supplementary service control from a radio terminal, the femto cell base station converts the received information to a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) message including the first information and transmits the SIP message to a higher apparatus in the communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuki Eguchi, Naoki Yoshida, Shunsuke Yokouchi, Toru Shiiba, Tomiharu Hamaguchi, Yasuyuki Ueda, Yasuhiro Watanabe, Hiroaki Akiyama, Takayuki Kido
  • Patent number: 9609495
    Abstract: A network device is configured to send information identifying a frequency at which an application, downloaded on a user device, is to send geographic location information to the network device. The network device is configured further to receive personal information associated with a plurality of social networking applications from the application on the user device. The network device is configured further to receive the geographic location information from the application; and send the personal information and the geographic location information to a plurality of social networking servers associated with a plurality of social networking applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Lalit R. Kotecha, Sergio Aguirre