User Location Independent Information Retrieval Patents (Class 455/414.2)
  • Patent number: 8655389
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for blurring location information for an entity. The system may be configured to receive a location display setting comprising a condition and a blur level to apply to location coordinates, receive location coordinates for an entity, determine whether the condition is satisfied based on the location coordinates, and, if the condition is satisfied, report location information for the entity in a mapping interface based on the location coordinates for the entity and the blur level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Kenneth Jackson, Daniel Victor Klein
  • Patent number: 8655379
    Abstract: A system is described for monitoring the geographical location of a subscriber's mobile cellular telephone, and for providing the location information to an authorized user through the world wide web. The geographical location of the subscriber's mobile cellular telephone is tracked using registration signals transmitted over the control channel by the cellular telephone. This information is supplied to a geographical location coordinator system, which determines the geographical coordinates for the cellular telephone. A database stores the geographical location information along with a subscriber's telephone number and account code. The database is updated to track the movement of the cellular telephone user across a geographical area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Vernon Meadows, Michael S. Harper
  • Patent number: 8656458
    Abstract: A method and system for authenticating an internet user identity by cross-referencing and comparing at least two independent sources of information. A first IP address of an internet user is identified and the geographical location of the first IP address is traced to determine a first location. The geographical-location of a communication voice device of said internet user is identified to determine a second location. The first and second locations are compared for geographical proximity to confirm the identity of the internet user. Based upon geographical proximity of said locations, a score is assigned to the internet user, and access to a website is allowed or limited based upon said score. Alternatively, additional authentication information can be required or access can be terminated. Geographical information is maintained in an updatable cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Guy Heffez
  • Patent number: 8655314
    Abstract: Subject matter described herein is directed to detecting unauthorized use, such as by a cloned mobile device, of wireless telecommunication services. Differences in location patterns of unauthorized and authorized mobile devices are leveraged to detect likely fraudulent uses. For example, a location-pattern entropy of an authorized mobile device is tracked. A change in the location-pattern entropy suggests an unauthorized use of the mobile device's account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Travis E. Dawson
  • Patent number: 8655361
    Abstract: A femto cell service framework is employed for registration, activation, and provisioning of femtocell service. An account management service enables femtocell account creation, and registration thereof. Registration includes validation of wireless coverage for a location of operation of a femto AP, and validation of availability enhanced 911 (E911) service. As part of registration provisioning, record(s) are updated to indicate registration status. Connection of femto AP to a network interface triggers activation process; the femto AP delivers an activation request. A femto network validates registration of the connected femto AP and conducts a location tolerance check of a received actual location of the femto AP and a registered location. Upon tolerance validation, a cell identifier and radio frequency channel(s) are assigned to femto AP. When femto AP radiates wireless signal, network activation status indicators are provisioned. Handling of errors that arise during registration or activation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: AT&T Mobility II LLC, AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Lott, Ravindra Babu Gurajala, Kurt Donald Huber, Judson John Flynn, William Gordon Mansfield, Jefferey Thomas Seymour, Rahul Neelakantan, Thomas Joseph Pitassi, John Potts Davis, Alfreda Downie, Stephen Leon Favor, Brian Keith Rainer, Dipak Kumar Sahoo, Victoria Collier, William Adams, Glen Zdroik, Gerald V. Porter, Daniela Pechova Diefenbach, Robert Bryon Chambers, David Raymond Glass, Ewa Monika Reppling Sack, Liane F. Rulifson
  • Patent number: 8649774
    Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to receiving, with a first computing device, an incoming communication. The first computing device may determine that a user has not an taken action with the first computing device with respect to the incoming communication. The first computing device may further identify a second device determined to be physically proximate to the first computing device, and may send an outgoing communication, based at least on the received incoming communication, to the identified second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lantian Zheng, Zhi Dennis Weng
  • Patent number: 8649772
    Abstract: A method for delivering a stored message to a satellite radio receiver is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request to retrieve the message, receiving the message, encoding the message for satellite transmission, and transmitting the message for delivery to the satellite radio receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Blake Slemmer, Ryan Schaub
  • Publication number: 20140038573
    Abstract: A method of managing place data for a mobile device, the method comprising storing place data for a place in a centralized place database and receiving input to specify which one or more applications on the mobile device are to have access to the place data for the place. In response to a place data request from a data-requesting application executing on the mobile device, the device determines if the data-requesting application has access to the place data for the place and provides the place data to the data-requesting application only if the data-requesting application has access. This technology enables the device to control the sharing of place data among applications on the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ngoc Bich NGO, Jason Christopher BECKETT
  • Patent number: 8644857
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a communication technology and discloses a method, device, and system for implementing a Location-Based Service (LBS). A corresponding particular service area is set for a User Equipment (UE) and services in the particular service area are provided by a corresponding application server. By applying the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, an operator can provide services for particular users in the particular service area, and implement intelligence and personalization to avoid the spread of junk information and to improve user satisfaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Xu Zeng
  • Patent number: 8644808
    Abstract: A system for providing mobile advertisement actions may include a memory to store a request, mobile carrier data, mobile advertisement data, and mobile advertisement action data. The system may include an interface operatively connected to the memory to communicate with a mobile device. The system may include a processor operatively connected to the memory and the interface. The processor may receive information and a request from the mobile device via the interface and may determine the mobile carrier data relating to a mobile carrier associated with the mobile device. The processor may identify the mobile advertisement data and the mobile advertisement action targeted to the request and the mobile carrier data. The processor may append the mobile advertisement action data to the mobile advertisement data. The processor may provide the mobile advertisement data with the appended mobile advertisement action data to the mobile device via the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Gupta, Ashutosh Tiwari, Gopalakrishnan Venkatraman, Dominic Cheung, Stacy R. Bennett, Douglas B. Koen
  • Patent number: 8644856
    Abstract: A mobile device that can use both data from a GPS or other GNSS receiver and signals from a wireless network to provide location based services based on the location of the mobile device is controlled at least partly by a locationing resource control module in the wireless network. The module provides network-assisted optimization of utilization of the GPS receiver and other resources by activating the GPS receiver and associated components when fine resolution location data is needed for provision of the location based services, and deactivating the GPS components when coarse resolution will suffice. The selective control of the GPS components is performed in the wireless network in response to receipt from the mobile device of location requisition data, conditions specifying what actions are to be performed by the mobile device, and current location data from the wireless network. The wireless network may also specify and prioritize at least some conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Byoung-Jo Kim, Nemmara K. Shankaranarayanan
  • Patent number: 8644849
    Abstract: A system and method for anticipating wireless signal loss and providing location based services in view of the anticipated wireless signal loss is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Evan Stephen Crandall, Steven Lloyd Greenspan, Wayzen Lin
  • Patent number: 8644842
    Abstract: Personal augmented reality advertising involves detecting a proximity between a participant's mobile device and a viewer's mobile device. An identifier of the participant's mobile device and biometric data that describes the participant have both been made publicly available. The biometric data is obtained in response to detecting the proximity between the participant's mobile device and the viewer's mobile device. A match is detected between the biometric data of the participant and an image captured from a sensor of the viewer's mobile device. In response to detecting the match, the captured image and an advertisement presented with the captured image is presented in the viewer's mobile device. The advertisement is associated with the participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Juha Arrasvuori, Jukka Antero Holm, Antti Johannes Eronen
  • Patent number: 8644793
    Abstract: Methods of determining a location of a mobile device in a first communication network are presented. The mobile device is in communication with a cellular base station in a second communication network. First, access points within the first communication network are detected with the mobile device. Then, one or more of the detected access points is selected based on information provided by the cellular base station. Finally, the location of the mobile device is determined based on the selected access points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignees: Koninklijke KPN N.V., Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Franklin Selgert, Antonius Hendrikus Johannes Norp
  • Patent number: 8639266
    Abstract: To determine the location of a querying mobile device, a request is received from the querying mobile device via a communication network. One or several participating mobile devices that potentially are physically proximate to the querying mobile device are identified. A request to scan for a location broadcast message transmitted by the querying mobile device is sent to the participating mobile devices. One or more location broadcast reports from participating mobile devices are received, where each received location broadcast report indicates that the location broadcast message was received at the corresponding participating mobile device. The location of the querying mobile device is estimated based on (i) the received one or more location broadcast reports and (ii) respective locations of the participating mobile devices from which the one or more location broadcast reports were received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen David Zelinka
  • Patent number: 8638937
    Abstract: Systems and methods are used to provide distributed processing on a service provider network that includes a plurality of remotely located consumer devices. Each of the remotely located consumer devices includes a processing device. A service is provided from the service provider network to the remotely located consumer devices. Distributed processing of a task on the processing devices of the remotely located consumer devices occurs, the distributed processing being unrelated to the service provided to the consumers. The distributed processing occurs even when the processing devices are in use by corresponding remotely located consumer devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: CSC Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Neill, Leon Rivkin
  • Patent number: 8639226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for weighing a use located on an electronic scale in communication with a mobile telecommunication terminal having a display screen, the scale and the mobile terminal both wirelessly communicating with a telecommunication network adapted to put at least the mobile terminal in communication with an additional communication device, the method including a weighing step, a two-way communication step during which the scale transmits weighing data resulting from the weighing to the mobile terminal, and a display step during which the mobile terminal displays weighing data on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Withings
    Inventors: Cédric Hutchings, Eric Carreel
  • Patent number: 8639222
    Abstract: A message transmission method includes storing message data whose message contents change depending on a value of a parameter in a storage unit, acquiring the value of the parameter based on an operation of a called party when a second terminal device receives a call from a first terminal device, determining the contents of the message based on the acquired parameter value and the message data, and transmitting the message whose contents are determined to the first terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda, Yuuji Nanba, Shuichi Enomoto, Tooru Natsumi, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Yukio Kise, Hideo Shirai, Minao Tanaka, Naoto Matsuo, Takashi Nagata, Shigehiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8639227
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for ensuring usability of digital content on a mobile device. In exemplary aspects, digital content on a mobile device is rendered unusable, such as where a download is interrupted. The usability of the digital content is automatically restored to the mobile device without user intervention. In situations in which the mobile device is unavailable, digital content might be restored to an alternative mobile device and an advisory notification might be communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Martin, Jonathan Kindred
  • Patent number: 8639267
    Abstract: Provided is a distributed system and method for enabling new and useful location dependent features and functionality to mobile data processing systems. Mobile data processing systems (MSs) interact with each other as peers in communications and interoperability. Indirectly located mobile data processing systems are located relative other mobile data processing systems, and are automatically located using whereabouts data of directly located mobile data processing systems and/or whereabouts data of other indirectly located mobile data processing systems. A mobile data processing system may dynamically take on roles of being directly located or indirectly located, depending on the environment and capabilities available at a particular time. Data is shared between mobile data processing systems to carry out novel Location Based eXchanges (LBX) of data for new mobile applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: William J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8639236
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system, method and device for controlling function on an electronic device. The method comprises: receiving a communication from a communication network at the first device, the communication addressed to an account accessed by the first device and providing a first request for a meeting, a start time for the meeting and a second request to control a function of the first device for the meeting; identifying a component on the first device associated with the function; and deactivating the component when the start time arrives on the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Alexander Truskovsky, Shivangi Anantrupa Gandhi, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 8634827
    Abstract: Ground vehicle reporting and tracking techniques are provided to track vehicles associated with a particular area (e.g., an airport, a military base, etc.). Ground vehicles may regularly report information about the vehicle to one or more control stations via corresponding communication links. The communication links may include, for example, an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) link and a non-ADS-B link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: ADS-B Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Steven Melum, Robert C. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8635106
    Abstract: A system is described for targeting data to users on mobile devices. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The memory may be operatively connected to the processor and the interface and may store a request, a mobile identifier, a session identifier, a user behavior dataset and a data. The interface may be operatively connected to the memory and the processor and may communicate with the mobile device. The processor may be operatively connected to the interface and the memory and may receive a request from a user on a mobile device via the interface. The processor may extract a mobile identifier from the request and map the mobile identifier to a session identifier. The processor may use the session identifier to collect a user behavior dataset and may communicate data to the user based on the user behavior dataset via the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh R. Sarukkai, Subash Sundaresan, P. Sam Hamilton, Shubhasheesh Anand
  • Patent number: 8634813
    Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring location of a user of a mobile device. A notification triggering event based on location of a mobile device is detected. Notification information is generated in response to the detection of the notification triggering event. The notification information to a video processor (e.g., set-top box) that is configured to transmit the notification information to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Paschetto, Vincent Phuah
  • Patent number: 8630627
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for knowledge generation and deployment in a distributed network. In one embodiment, a method for processing messages in a social network includes receiving a new message from a first node in the network, the new message including a query, providing the first node with an answer to the query, if the answer is located in a repository, and initiating generation of the answer, if the answer is not located in the repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Jeffrey Davitz, Sugato Basu, Jiye Yu, David Gutelius
  • Patent number: 8630639
    Abstract: A user equipment and cell search method for the same are disclosed. The user equipment supports two or more frequency bands. The cell search method for the user equipment includes: receiving intersection data through a first frequency band; and skipping, when the received intersection data is set to a search skip value, cell searching in a second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 8625766
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting current presence and/or determining capabilities of subscribers, and enabling users of communication devices to initiate communication sessions with other communication devices of selected ones of the subscribers, in selected manners, based at least in part on current presence and/or capabilities of the other subscribers, are described herein. In various embodiments, the initiating is performed without or substantially without further input from an initiating user on the other communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Geo Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: David Brown, Ajit B. Pendse, Michael James Ward
  • Patent number: 8626145
    Abstract: A system and method for service fulfillment is based on service invocation with a preprogrammed communication device. The communication device recognizes special multi-function code digit sequences to cause service invocation. The preprogrammed communication device, upon recognition of a multi-function code, selects a communication channel or messaging protocol and forwards information related to the service invocation to a service fulfillment platform. The communication channel or messaging protocol may be selected based on availability, optimization, preprogrammed logic associated with the multi-function code, or other parameters related to the service invocation, such as user, subscription, registration, location or device ID. The preprogrammed communication device permits service invocation without reconfiguration of a communication network to which the communication device is coupled. The communication device can be reconfigured or reprogrammed to recognize and respond to different multi-function codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Zoove Corporation
    Inventor: Wen Khang Han
  • Patent number: 8626199
    Abstract: A method for a PC to realize an A-GPS in a PC technology field is provided. The method includes: a. the PC controlling a wireless network module of the PC to connect with a network to initiate a GPS positioning session; b. a location server transmitting GPS auxiliary information to the PC; c. the PC acquiring information of a current satellite according to the GPS auxiliary information. The method enables the A-GPS function to be applicable for the PC to provide positioning and navigation services to the PC. A corresponding A-GPS server can be connected to acquire the information of the current satellite based on the GPS auxiliary information with the network function provided by the wireless network module of the PC to accelerate the speed for acquiring data of the current satellite, and then current position information of the PC can be accurately calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meng-zhe You, Jing-gao Zhou, Cong Li
  • Patent number: 8626136
    Abstract: Content management architecture for a portable wireless device. Caching and fetching techniques are provided to improve content handling for portable devices such as cellular telephones and portable computers. A search component automatically performs searches as a background process, and potentially desired content is received and cached by a content storing component to be available in the future when and if needed, mitigating latency associated with slow download speeds, refresh rates, and other system and/or network impediments. Content from background search results can be trickled into the device as part of the background process so as not to burden system resources for other processes. As part of memory management, aged and/or low priority or low interest content can be selectively removed or archived to increase available cache or memory space, as well as to maintain relevant content within the device. A presentation component facilitates presentation of the pre-stored content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond E. Ozzie, Eric J. Horvitz, William H. Gates, III, Joshua T. Goodman, Susan T. Dumais, Gary W. Flake, Trenholme J. Griffin, Xuedong D. Huang, Oliver Hurst-Hiller, Christopher A Meek
  • Patent number: 8626188
    Abstract: A position estimation server estimates the position of a target mobile node by using position information of a minimum number of anchor nodes knowing their position, distance information estimated between mobile nodes or between the anchor nodes and the mobile nodes, and connectivity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seong Yun Cho, Youngwoo Choi, Jooyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 8626120
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to automate at least some of the information gathering required for check-in using a mobile device. A user may enter at least some required information using a mobile application on a mobile device. The mobile application may convert the entered data into a Quick Response (“QR”) code or other type of readable form that may be read or received by a device at the location of check-in. The information entered may be stored in the mobile device's memory and may be modified for future check-ins. A user would enter the location of check-in and present the mobile phone containing the information previously entered by the user to a reader at the location. The reader reads the information which may be transmitted to the location's database. Using the information submitted, the user may be checked in automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Kristoffer Dominic Amora, Cres Daryl C. Sadernas
  • Patent number: 8626212
    Abstract: A method for group messaging at a mobile terminal in autonomous network includes acquiring a message and a list of target identifiers, containing the identifiers of multiple mobile terminals to which the message is to be sent; transmitting the message via the autonomous network to any mobile terminal of the multiple mobile terminals that locates in the autonomous network, and removing the identifier of the mobile terminal from the list of target identifiers to obtain an updated list of target identifiers; generating an aggregate message, wherein the aggregate message contains the message and the identifiers in the updated list; sending the aggregate message to a base station if the length of the aggregate message does not exceed a threshold; dividing the aggregate message into multiple fragment messages and sending the multiple fragment messages to the base station if the length of the aggregate message exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Li Li, Chi Liu, Liang Liu, Ju Wei Shi, Wen Jie Wang, Wei Xue
  • Publication number: 20140004836
    Abstract: A system and method using an iPhone cellular telephone to detect hidden materials, or contraband, in an automobile by measuring vibration. The mathematical formula frequency of vibration uses the mass M which affects the vibration. As mass of solid surface changes, so does the vibration. If difference in the vibration is detected between the inspected vehicle and empty vehicle that is the baseline, it may indicate hidden materials or contraband. The iPhone mobile cellular telephone contains components needed to implement this system and method. An accelerometer. A vibrator. A touch screen display. A computer operating system, iOS that runs Objective C software. SQLite, a computer database. A computer network connection to the internet using a wireless network. A GPS sensor to provide the latitude and longitude location of the phone during testing The iPhone also provides an electrical power source using the phone battery, or wall outlet electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: ABION LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Workman
  • Patent number: 8620287
    Abstract: A tracking system for food products includes labeled food product packages and labeled containers for transporting the labeled packages to harvest sites. A data-clearing center receives mobile phone communications from the harvest sites for uploading the container codes. Ancillary information collected from the mobile phone communications including the time, date, location, and phone identification is associated with the container codes for linking the labeled food product packages to details of their harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: WS Packaging Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Uland
  • Patent number: 8620281
    Abstract: System and method for determining whether an incoming call originates from inside or outside of a mobile carriers network and indicates the result to the subscriber. An example system performs a GTT (global title translation) on an incoming number to determine the hosting carrier of any mobile phone number. When the result matches the subscriber's carrier, the mobile device then indicates to the subscriber (i.e. mobile device) that the call is an “in network call.” Results of the comparison are stored and used for later incoming calls. The stored results are refreshed every time or periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cequint, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Gosselin, Rick Hennessey
  • Patent number: 8620019
    Abstract: Automatically preparing communications for transmission by a mobile terminal device. In one example, this includes storing contact information including personal contacts and associated address and face image information. A face image is extracted from within a still image content to obtain an extracted face image. The extracted face image is linked to a given personal contact among the personal contacts by finding a match corresponding to the extracted face image among previously extracted face images found in the stored contact information. The given personal contact is correlated to address information using the contact information, and a message is automatically prepared for transmission to the given personal contact using the address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tanigawa, Keiko Hiraoka, Yoshimitsu Funabashi, Mayu Irimajiri, Atsushi Imai, Seiji Muramatsu, Takamoto Tsuda, Takeshi Matsuzawa, Tomoharu Okamoto, Akihiko Adachi, Tatsuhiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8620255
    Abstract: Techniques for routing an emergency call originated by a mobile station via a femto access point (FAP) in a wireless network and for locating the mobile station are described. In an aspect, the emergency call may be routed to an appropriate emergency center based on location information for the FAP. In one design, the location information for the FAP may include a macro cell identity (ID) and/or a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID determined based on the FAP location. The macro cell ID and/or the macro MSC ID may be assigned to the FAP and used to access a database, which may store routing information for emergency centers versus cell IDs and MSC IDs. In another design, the location information for the FAP may include a location estimate for the FAP. The location estimate may be used to access a geographic database, which may store routing information for emergency centers for different geographic areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen W. Edge, Kirk Allan Burroughs
  • Patent number: 8620280
    Abstract: A system and method for interference mitigation. The system and method includes a number of base stations configured to coordinate with each other to perform a joint transmission to one or more subscriber stations. The base stations allocate a portion of a frequency band for the joint transmission and jointly schedule the joint transmission. Further, the base stations are configured to select a common codebook or separate codebooks to perform the joint transmission. Thereafter, the joint transmission is performed wherein the one or more subscribers stations substantially simultaneously receive the joint transmission from each of the base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingjia Liu, Jianzhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8620348
    Abstract: Interaction between wireless devices, one of which may be equipped with a directional radio (a radio with a directional antenna for directional sensing capabilities) can be used in directional peer-to-peer networking. A method can include obtaining, at a first device from a serving device, proximity information regarding a second device. The method can also include obtaining, at the first device from the serving device, direction information regarding the second device. The method can further include calculating a position of the second device with respect to the first device based on the proximity information and based on the direction information. The method can additionally include communicating with the second device based on the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Vishal Shrivastava, Hawk Yin Pang, Vidya Raghavan Setlur, Raja Bose, Quinn Able Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8620286
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, digital content is able to be better promoted on mobile phones and other electronic devices. The digital content and/or references to the digital content are stored on a server device which is accessible by the mobile phones or electronic devices. In operation, a user of a mobile device acquires digital content. When the user obtains a second mobile device, to facilitate and promote the same or similar digital content on the second mobile device, the digital content or references stored on a server device are able to be used to present the possibility of acquisition of the digital content for the second mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Liam Stannard, Brandon Huff, Jason Burns, Bryan Taketa, Richard Onyon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8615256
    Abstract: A communications system (100, 300) comprises base stations (101) for providing mobile stations (104) with communications links. It comprises at least one localized service area (111) and means (108, 109) for changing the service selection offered to a given mobile station on the initiative of the communications system. The change is realized in response to information (203) indicating the arrival of the mobile station in said localized service area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Petteri Putkiranta
  • Patent number: 8615224
    Abstract: An approach is provided for scheduling of ringtones. A ringtone schedule is stored for specifying information for invoking a plurality of ringtones, wherein one of the ringtones is selected for playout by a mobile device according to the ringtone schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Eric W. Ericson, IV
  • Patent number: 8615262
    Abstract: A method is provided to process data in a wireless data exchange. The method includes exchanging data between two or more wireless devices in real time and opening a thread of communications between the wireless devices, where the thread includes one or more data exchanges between the wireless devices. When the real time messaging exchange has been established, the method identifies all or portions of the thread as potential data to store. As such data is identified, the method selectively caches the identified portions of the thread for future data retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Kristin Marie Pascal, Andrew Evan Klonsky, Matthew James Bailey
  • Patent number: 8615255
    Abstract: An embodiment of the current invention is directed to facilitating a location-based service for use by a given mobile-device. A location of each of a number of base stations that makes up a portion of a wireless-telecommunications-network is identified. For a given base station, the probability that it provides a level of signal coverage to a geographical area that would enable the mobile-device in the first geographical area to communicate with the network is determined. A density of possible locations that the mobile-device may be within the geographical area is determined. A position for the mobile-device is approximated based on the density. A location-based service is facilitated for use by the mobile-device based on the position of the mobile-device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Jean C Bolot, Francois Baccelli
  • Patent number: 8611872
    Abstract: An emergency alert message in the form of multimedia is distributed via an Internet Protocol multimedia broadcast system utilizing wireless communications networks. In an example embodiment, the IP multimedia broadcast based system includes the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) and is utilized with Global System for Mobile communications/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System/Long Term Evolution (GSM/UMTS/LTE) networks, the Broadcast and Multicast Services (BCMCS) and is utilized with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, or a combination thereof. Multimedia information can include text, maps, graphics, video clips, audio clips, still pictures, and/or images, for example. In an example embodiment, the multimedia emergency alert message is provided along with a link to additional multimedia information related to the emergency alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: DeWayne Allan Sennett, Brian Kevin Daly
  • Patent number: 8611518
    Abstract: A system and method for delivering calling area information to a called party device within a telecommunications system are provided. The calling area information is stored in a network and/or a device calling area database and is accessible by their respective call processors. Upon receipt of an incoming call, a called party device can obtain calling area information from either database and can present it to the called party on a device display in the subscriber's preferred language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: DeWayne Allan Sennett, Brian Kevin Daly
  • Patent number: 8611968
    Abstract: A method for processing contacts in a mobile terminal according to embodiments of the present invention includes: setting a mapping relationship between different values of distinctive attributes of contacts and display effects of contact icons; reading contacts; obtaining distinctive attributes of contacts locally or from a network side; determining display effects of contact icons according to the mapping relationship and the distinctive attributes; and displaying the contacts distinctively according to the determined display effects. According to the processing method and mobile terminal provided in embodiments of the present invention, different contacts can be displayed intuitively in the mobile terminal, which enhances the capability of intelligent interaction between the mobile terminal and the user greatly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuanyuan Yang, Junjie Deng
  • Patent number: 8611920
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to analyze and present location information in an easy-to-digest manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, each piece of location information can include a piece of location-designating information and a piece of location-related information. Location-designating information is primarily for identifying location. Location-related information is information related to location-designating information. The location-designating information and the location-related information can be supplied by a mobile device. With the help of location-related information, each piece of location-designating information can be more accurately transformed into a label to help identify a location. The amount of location information can be reduced. All of the location-designating information pertaining to a given area can be consolidated into one piece of location-designating information related to the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung Lau, Peter P. Tong, C. Douglass Thomas
  • Patent number: 8611871
    Abstract: A system and method of validating an advertisement presented to an advertisement recipient via a mobile communication device includes presenting an advertisement for a product or service to a recipient via a mobile communication device, monitoring the geospatial location of the mobile communication device relative to some predetermined criteria, and inferring information about the reaction of the advertisement recipient to the advertisement on the basis of the monitored geospatial location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canyon IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: James Richard Terrell, II