Out-of-range Indication Patents (Class 455/421)
  • Patent number: 8854241
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an output of an electronic processing component which detects an out-of-range value in the output of the electronic processing component during one time period during which one channel of input channels of a time multiplexer provides an input signal to the electronic processing component. Corrective actions are performed based on the detected out-of-range value. The corrective actions including excluding further multiplexing of signals from the one channel of the input channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Hess, Kirk Lillestolen
  • Patent number: 8854203
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that establishes a connection between a mobile computing device and a second computing device. A notification of an initiating event is received from the second computing device. Physical movement of the mobile computing device is determined during a time period defined by the notification of the initiating event and a triggering event. An alert is output when determined physical movement is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lantian Zheng, Zhi Weng
  • Patent number: 8842560
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for handling of access terminals on an out-of-band piconet within a femto-proxy architecture. A femto-proxy system includes a femtocell (a femto access point, or FAP) and one or more out-of-band (OOB) proxies. One of the OOB proxies is configured to act as a master of an OOB piconet, through which various services are provided, including services to support the femtocell operation of the femto-proxy system. For example, the OOB piconet is used to facilitate lower power access to the macro communications services provided through the femtocell. In some cases, a combination of connected and inactive OOB operational modes are used to support an expanded number of slave access terminals on the piconet, where some of those slaves are operating in an active WWAN mode and others are operating in an idle WWAN mode. For example, parked mode may be used for idle WWAN mode access terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Soumya Das, Samir S. Soliman
  • Patent number: 8831631
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method including two operations of a first operation and a second operation. The first operation may determine between a terminal located in a space including the small base station and a terminal located in a space excluding the small base station based on a value reported by a terminal. The second operation may be performed using information received from a neighboring macro base station in response to the determination failing to be performed in the first operation, thereby ultimately discriminating between an area including the small base station and an area excluding the small base station corresponding to a location of a terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kyong Tak Cho, Jun Sik Kim, Byung Han Ryu, Nam Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 8824426
    Abstract: A method for transmitting Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) information, a method for determining PDCCH search space and devices thereof are disclosed in the present embodiments. The method for determining PDCCH search space includes the following step: Node B (NB) determines the different search spaces corresponding to different PDCCHs according to Carrier Indicator (CI) information. By applying the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the CI information is introduced in the search space determining process, so that different search spaces can be allocated to the cross-carrier PDCCHs of one User Equipment (UE) and the NB and UE are able to exactly determine the search spaces of PDCCHs in each downlink carrier, therefore reducing the blocking probability during PDCCH scheduling process and improving the reliability of PDCCH transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: China Mobile Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Xiaodong Xu
  • Patent number: 8818276
    Abstract: Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable granting access rights to guest devices. Example embodiments include a method comprising receiving, by a first device, an input from a user of the first device to grant access rights to a wireless short-range communication network to a user of a second device when the first device is present within coverage of the wireless short-range communication network; and transmitting, by the first device, an access grant message to a control node managing the wireless short-range communication network, wherein the access grant message comprises one or more rules indicating that access rights for a second device are to be granted only when the first device is present within coverage of the wireless short-range communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Niko Kiukkonen, Janne Marin, Jukka Reunamaki, Sverre Slotte
  • Patent number: 8818351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for minimizing potential security problems and battery power usage in a tracking device used in tracking an associated product while being transported along a route wherein wireless communication may be nonexistent or intermittent. This is accomplished in part by having an accessible database of signal quality and strength at a large plurality of locations along given transportation routes whereby adjustments can be made as to the times for the tracking device to obtain GPS location information as well as for times to report any location and or product status data to a remotely located central station. The ability to predict when, along a transportation route communication problems may occur provides the opportunity to notify appropriate authorities in advance of arriving at the communication gap zones whereby arrangements can be made to alleviate potential problems during transportation through wireless communication “gap or dead” zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: OnAsset Intelligence, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Crossno, Bruce C. Lutz
  • Patent number: 8819741
    Abstract: A system and method are described for streaming video to a wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Middleton, David Mendenhall, Andreas Atkins, Mandar Khadilkar
  • Patent number: 8811941
    Abstract: A wireless communication system, including apparatuses and methods, for handling emergency calls from wireless communication devices to emergency services providers and for automatically providing updated location estimates for the wireless communication devices to during such emergency calls absent any request therefor. The updated location estimates are generally provided in response to a detected occurrence of a triggering event within the wireless communication system. In the exemplary embodiments, such triggering events include the passage of a pre-determined threshold period of time and the handover of an emergency call between cells or sectors of the wireless communication system in response to movement of the wireless communication device from which the emergency call is being made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Marvin U. Fuller, Jr., John P. Davis, III
  • Patent number: 8811972
    Abstract: A communication terminal (10) including a first communication unit (11) and a second communication unit (12) with a shorter communication distance than the first communication unit (11) includes a presence status detection unit (13) that detects that a distance from a personal computer (50) has changed from a state possible to communicate to a state not possible to communicate for the second communication unit (12), and a communication status control unit (14) that causes a standby interval in intermittent reception performed by the first communication unit (11) to become shorter when a change of the second communication unit (12) from the state possible to communicate to the state not possible to communicate is detected by the presence status detection unit (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Suzuki, Mitsuru Murata
  • Patent number: 8787899
    Abstract: A method, device and system restrict and prevent virus attack and malicious software to a wireless communication device from a pairing attempt by another wireless communications device. A switch is included in a transmission path coupling a first device to a second device, wherein the second device is attempting to pair with first wireless communications device. A detector coupled to the transmission path, detects an address of the second wireless communications device in a pairing communication protocol between the first and second devices. A counter coupled to the detector counts the pairing attempts of the second device. A compare circuit compares the pairing attempts to a selected number N. The compare circuit signals the switch to open when the number of attempts equals or exceeds the number N, breaking the connection, thereby preventing the first device from receiving virus attacks and malicious software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jukka Parkkinen, Mikko A Hyvarinen
  • Patent number: 8787874
    Abstract: A method for controlling access to a conference call, the method comprising authenticating a mobile device in accordance with access requirements for the conference call rejecting the mobile device if the participant does not comply with the access requirements in response to the rejection, determining by a processor based on information other than said access requirements that the mobile device is legitimate and overriding the rejection to allow connection to the conference call if it is determined that the mobile device is legitimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Douglas Michael Gisby, Brian Edward Anthony McColgan, Christopher Labrador, Kevin W. Andrewin, Nicholas Patrick Alfano
  • Patent number: 8787917
    Abstract: Mobile telephone user route mapping services and coverage area warning services and systems for providing such services are provided. Origination location and destination location information is entered, and a route between the locations along which wireless telephone system coverage is available is returned. If the returned route is less preferable than another possible route along which there are areas of poor coverage or no coverage, the provider of the wireless telephone system is informed, and this information can be used to identify areas in which improved coverage would most benefit mobile telephone users. A warning may also be provided to inform the parties to a call that a participant using a mobile telephone is about to enter an area of poor coverage or of no coverage. The described services may be offered in return for a fee paid to the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Barrett, Gordon R. Brunson, Siobhan Buckley, Ciaran Gannon, Muneyb Minhazuddin
  • Patent number: 8775801
    Abstract: A radio communication apparatus executes communication by establishing a communication link according to a security level with other device. The radio communication apparatus sets a security level according to a type of service, and discriminates whether the security level is necessary for the communication with the other device. If the security level is necessary, the communication link according to the security level is established. If the security level is not necessary, security level is lowered and the communication link according to the lowered security level is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited
    Inventors: Toshiya Tamura, Shigeo Terabe
  • Patent number: 8761668
    Abstract: A method of performing an operation related to a second device, performed by a first device, via near field wireless communication, and an apparatus therefore. When a signal for wireless communication is received from the second device, the method includes calibrating the strength of the received signal; comparing the strength of the calibrated signal with operation signal information that is a result of calibrating a range of strengths of signals which are for the wireless communication and which are received from the second device moving between a plurality of points set to be within a predetermined distance from the first device; and as a result of the comparison, selectively performing the operation related to the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-hun Park
  • Patent number: 8756657
    Abstract: A system and method, according to one or more embodiments, includes a server computing device configured to communicate with a network-based device via a network; a visitor identification, in which the system generates the visitor identification and the visitor identification corresponds to a piece of information that is unique to the network-based device; a mapping for which the system adds the generated visitor identification to the mapping so that the visitor identification uniquely identifies the network-based device from all other network-based devices in communication with the server computing device; and a database in which the system tracks the visitor identification among a plurality of visitor identifications in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ebay Inc.
    Inventor: Lolke Bijlsma
  • Patent number: 8738046
    Abstract: An intelligent short message system can provide an integrated home location register and short message service center (HLR/SMSC). Upon receiving an indication from a mobile switching center (MSC) that an SMS message could not be delivered to a destination device, the integrated HLR/SMSC prevents further retries from being attempted until the destination device becomes available again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Numerex Corp.
    Inventors: Bryan Keith Tarleton, Michael J. Criscolo
  • Patent number: 8718627
    Abstract: A primary mobile station engaged in a communication session via a radio access network (RAN) may receive forward link communications over a forward link channel and transmit reverse link communications over a reverse link channel. If the quality of the communication session degrades, the primary mobile station may involve a secondary mobile station by establishing a short-range wireless communication link with the secondary mobile station, e.g., using Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.11, or other wireless communication protocol. The primary mobile station may then transmit reverse link communications to the RAN over the reverse link channel and also transmit the reverse link communications to the secondary mobile station, via the short-range wireless communication link, for transmission to the RAN. The RAN may receive the reverse link communications from the primary and secondary mobile stations as two distinct reverse link signals, which the RAN may combine together to achieve a diversity gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Jason P. Sigg, Maulik K. Shah, Jasinder P. Singh
  • Patent number: 8713211
    Abstract: A method of connecting an external device to an apparatus including calculating a time during which the external device is located within a reference range from the apparatus when a distance between the apparatus and the external device is within the reference range, and connecting the apparatus to the external device when the calculated time exceeds a critical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-dong Yu, Woo-yong Chang, Se-jun Park, Min-jeong Moon
  • Patent number: 8712398
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring the quality of a communication session with a first electronic device. Should the communication session degrade, rather than dropping the communication session the user of a second electronic device communicating with the first electronic device is prompted to wait while an attempt is made to improve the quality of the communication session. Similarly if the user of the first electronic device moves out of a coverage area, rather than dropping the communication session the user of the second electronic device communicating with the first electronic device is prompted to wait until a new communication session can be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Leonardo José Silva Salomone, Rudy Eugene Rawlins
  • Patent number: 8706840
    Abstract: The disclosure recites a device, system and method for provisioning resources from a server in a network to a mobile electronic device. The method comprises the steps of: downloading access information from the server for the resource; presenting the resource for selection on a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a display; sending a request to the server to download the resource from the communications network; and after receiving the resource from the communications network, integrating the resource into the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Knowles, Robert Edwards, Andrew Bocking, Tatiana Kalougina
  • Patent number: 8694007
    Abstract: A method for providing reliable wireless service in a femto system is provided. The method includes broadcasting information about out-of-service, which notifies that an air interface based on the femto BS is disabled, to user equipment (UE); and disabling the air interface. The information about the out-of-service comprising an identifier about a recommended BS that is another BS which the UE can enter. A method for receiving reliable service using user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving information about out-of-service, which notifies that service cannot be provided to the UE, from a femto base station (BS), the information about the out-of-service including an identifier about at least one recommended BS that is another BS which the UE can enter; and trying to enter one BS of the at least one recommended BS on the basis of the information about the out-of-service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Juhee Kim, Jae Sun Cha, Kwang Jae Lim, Soojung Jung, Eunkyung Kim, Hyun Lee, Chul Sik Yoon
  • Patent number: 8687517
    Abstract: A method and device for identifying degradation in service quality for a wireless media service. The wireless media service has a known expected packet generation rate, which may be determined by the device based upon the codec and payload size selected on initiating the media service. At a receiving device, the packets actually received by the device from the other termination point are counted over a time period, and this number is compared with the number of packets that were expected based upon the known packet generation rate. From this comparison a packet loss rate may be determined. If the packet loss rate exceeds a threshold level, then the device may issue a user alert, terminate the service, or take other action. The threshold level may be established based upon a packet loss rate corresponding to a significant degree of service quality degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sherif Abdel-Kader, Michael Chen
  • Patent number: 8687217
    Abstract: A wireless network printing system and method, the system including: a first wireless terminal to selectively connect to an ad-hoc network, where inter-device communication is directly performed between devices, and an infrastructure network, where inter-device communication is indirectly performed, via an access point (AP); a second wireless terminal to transmit data to the first wireless terminal, via the ad-hoc network; and an image forming device affiliated with the infrastructure network, to print the data, after the data has been relayed through the first wireless terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Young Jung
  • Patent number: 8682310
    Abstract: Localized areas within a cell of a cellular wireless communication network, wherein users experience high traffic loads or poor coverage, are automatically detected and positioned by a network-based monitoring and positioning method. The localized areas are detected by performing measurements (e.g., TAdv, AOA, and neighbor node measurements) on User Equipment (UE) indicating or recording a network capacity or coverage deficiency. The detected, localized area of deficient performance is then positioned (e.g., in latitude and longitude), such as by positioning one or more UE within the area. The deficient network capacity or coverage, the localized area in which it is concentrated, and the position of the localized area are then reported, with a recommendation to deploy a low-power serving node within the localized area (e.g., at or near the area reported position) to alleviate the capacity or coverage deficiency, while minimizing interference with communication services to other users within the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Jari Vikberg, Tomas Nylander
  • Patent number: 8676159
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for modifying control plane messages for subscriber sessions with a network device to add and/or modify discrete information elements and thereby conform the messages to different versions of mobile network specifications, including roaming protocols, executed by different mobile networks or by heterogeneous infrastructure elements within a mobile network. In some examples, an input network interface of a network device receives a roaming protocol message on an interface connecting a first support node of a first mobile network and a second support node of a second mobile network. A roaming protocol module of the network device modifies the roaming protocol message by adding or modifying a discrete information element to conform the roaming protocol message to a roaming protocol of the second mobile network. An output network interface of the network device sends the modified roaming protocol message to the second support node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Shu, Mingming Quan, Jinfeng Yu, Qiong Wang, Qiuyuan Liu
  • Patent number: 8666386
    Abstract: A method and mobile device that self-terminates a media service if an out-of-coverage condition is detected. The media service operates on top of a connectionless peer-to-peer packet-based transport protocol. The out-of-coverage condition may relate to the mobile device itself or to a remote mobile device engaged in the media service. The loss of coverage by the remote mobile device may be detected by observing whether the remote mobile device has failed to send any data packets for more than a predetermined period of time. If an out-of-coverage situation is detected, then the method or device initiates service cancellation or release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Sherif Aly Abdel-Kader
  • Patent number: 8666432
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a location of a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device receives an RF signal providing RF fingerprint data and receives a third party location estimate from a third party service. Location data is collected by a dead reckoning system and corresponds to RF fingerprint data and third party estimates collected for a plurality of locations. A correlation between the RF fingerprint data, the third party location estimates, and location data is determined providing a transform for transforming the third party location estimates into a more accurate location estimate of the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: RF Spot Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Joseph Gold, Gordon Sean Freedman
  • Patent number: 8660550
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a communication mode in a communication system are provided. The system and method include determining whether a first MS and a second MS are located within a preset area where P2P communications are available, estimating a first expected performance that can be achieved when the first and second MSs operate in a cellular communication mode, estimating a second expected performance that can be achieved when the first and second MSs operate in a P2P communication mode if the first and second MSs are located within the predetermined area, and selecting one of the cellular communication mode and the P2P communication mode as a communication mode between the first and second MSs by comparing the first expected performance with the second expected performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Ho Jung, Yung-Soo Kim, Myeon-Kyun Cho, Sang-Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8660606
    Abstract: A prompt method for a detachable element, a mobile electronic device using the detachable element and a computer-readable medium thereof are provided. The method comprises recording environmental information when detecting the detachable element is detached from the mobile electronic device. The method also includes determining whether the mobile electronic device conforms to a prompt condition according to the environmental information. The method further includes performing a prompt operation when the mobile electronic device conforms to the prompt condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Wang, Hsiang-Tai Huang, Hsi-Kun Chen
  • Patent number: 8660480
    Abstract: A report message may be transmitted with collaborated information related to the occurrence of an emergency event. A plurality of devices, such as mobile communications devices, that are out of range of a communications network can communicate via direct communication, such as device-to-device communication, to corroborate characteristics that are indicative of an occurrence of an emergency event. Information related to the occurrence may be collaborated amongst the plurality of devices. A transmitting device, which may be one of the plurality of devices that corroborates characteristics or collaborates information, may generate and transmit the report message comprising the collaborated information. A receiving device may provide the message over a communications network, or the report message may continue to be handed off between devices capable of direct communication, the message eventually reaching a device that is within range of the communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ross Jacobs, Geoffrey Zampiello
  • Patent number: 8655348
    Abstract: Systems and methods for acquiring wireless network performance data comprising a user equipment accessible via a wireless network, the user equipment comprising; a receiver, a transmitter, a first processor configured with software executable instructions to cause the user equipment to perform operations comprising; receiving a data acquisition signal via the receiver, sampling a wireless network signal received at the user equipment in response to receiving the data acquisition signal, generating acquired network data, and transmitting the acquired network data via the transmitter, a server accessible via the wireless network, the server comprising, a second processor configured with software executable instructions to cause the server to perform operations comprising; transmitting the data acquisition signal, receiving the acquired network data; and generating network performance data using the acquired network data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: PCTEL, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zha, Amir Soltanian, Tony Kobrinetz
  • Patent number: 8649757
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Publication number: 20140038586
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for managing events associated with the detection of wireless devices. The disclosed embodiments utilize a residential wireless access point for detecting the signal transmitted by a wireless device. A user configures a wireless device detection program to perform specified events in response to the detection and/or absence of a wireless device. The disclosed embodiments may provide home automation functions, home security functions, and/or provide child monitoring features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Sweeney, Kelsyn D.S. Rooks, SR., Shekhar Gupta, Kendra Dwyer, Mark Wilmoth
  • Patent number: 8634817
    Abstract: A multimode wireless communication device utilizes location information provided by a co-located autonomous position location receiver to determine a preferred provider database and associated operating mode and operating technology when an out-of-service condition is encountered. The multimode wireless communication device can utilize active preferred provider database while in service and while acquired within a network. The multimode wireless communication device can initiate location-based mode and technology control when in an out-of-service condition. The multimode wireless communication device determines its location and based on the location, accesses a database to determine a preferred provider database. The preferred provider database provides a hierarchical list of available systems and associated information for acquiring and registering with the systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Parag M. Kanade
  • Patent number: 8634847
    Abstract: A communication system (100) comprises a plurality of mobile stations (118, 124) each operable to communicate with other communication stations by a wireless link of a first kind, at least one location indicator (116) operable to detect by a wireless link of a second kind a location of at least one (118) of the mobile stations when the at least one mobile station is within a communication range of the location indicator, at least one proxy location server (110) operably coupled to at least one associated location indicator (116), and a location server (108) operable to communicate with the at least one proxy location server to receive a notification of the location of the at least one mobile station (118) when detected to be within communication range of the associated location indicator (116).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edwards, Raul R. Carpio, Nanna Svane Theisen, Valerie Jean Wright, Anneke Bremner, Georgina Redican
  • Publication number: 20140018061
    Abstract: A utility within a mobile device or other device computes and provides an optimal mobile coverage route. The device receives a stating point/location and a destination point/location. The mobile device downloads a provider's mobile coverage information, accesses historical data stored by the mobile device, and obtains user feedback from the provider. The optimal mobile coverage route is then computed at the device, and the optimal mobile coverage route is provided via one of the following: a web site, or a text message (SMS) to, a voice operated feed, or any direct feed to the user of the mobile device. The computed optimal mobile coverage route is then used by the user of the mobile device when communicating with another mobile device while travelling from the starting point to the end point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martinianus B. Hadinata, Charles S. Lingafelt, John E. Moore, JR., Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 8630261
    Abstract: A notification unit conveys a transmit timing of a signal to a target radio apparatus. A receiver receives the signal transmitted from the target radio apparatus with a neighborhood of the transmit timing conveyed. A demodulation unit derives a difference between the receive timing and an estimated timing. A determining unit determines a new transmit timing for the target radio apparatus, based on the difference and outputs the new transmit timing determined to the notification unit. When a state in which the receive timing lags the estimated receive timing occurs more than a predetermined frequency, the determining unit instructs the target radio apparatus to start a handover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Makita
  • Patent number: 8626148
    Abstract: An originating communications device is configured to transmit a text message to a recipient mobile device when the originating device determines that the recipient device has failed to connect with a call that was initiated by the originating device. The text message is designed to indicate that the recipient device has failed to connect with the call; in addition or as an alternative, the text message includes a code that indicates to the recipient device that it is potentially in a poor RF coverage area. The recipient mobile device, upon receiving and displaying the text message, may determine that it is indeed in an area with poor coverage and will in response store its current geographic location as a poor coverage area. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Han Lee, Anand Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 8626187
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for monitoring geofence exits using wireless access points are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a mobile device can detect one or more entry gateways that are wireless access points selected for monitoring a geofence. The mobile device can determine that the mobile device is located in the geofence based on the detection. The mobile device can monitor the entry gateways and one or more exit gateways, which can be wireless access points observable by the mobile device when the mobile device is in the geofence. When the mobile device determines, after a number of scans using a wireless processor, that the entry gateways and exit gateways are unobservable, the mobile device can use an application processor to determine whether the mobile device has exited from the geofence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yefim Grosman, Lukas M. Marti, Morgan Grainger, Robert Mayor, Ronald K. Huang
  • Patent number: 8620377
    Abstract: A hybrid phone to acquire channels has a first communication mode supporting voice/low-rate data communications and a second communication mode supporting high-rate data communication, and includes a phone control unit having a communication processor controlling voice/data communications according to programs stored in a memory. The communication processor includes a channel acquisition processor attempting to acquire channels for the first and second communication modes. If the channel acquisition processor cannot acquire a channel for the second communication mode within a predetermined time, the channel acquisition processor stops attempting to acquire the channel for the second communication mode and reattempts to acquire the channel for the first communication mode. If the channel acquisition processor acquires the channel for the first communication mode, the channel acquisition processor reattempts to acquire the channel for the second communication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Pantech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-Suk Choi
  • Patent number: 8619743
    Abstract: A radio communication terminal that performs data communication by selecting either one of a first data communication protocol and a second data communication protocol that has a lower level of priority than that of the first data communication protocol, comprising: a communication protocol determining part (6c) that determines whether or not a base station that is performing a communication is compatible with the first data communication protocol; a session status determining part (6f) that determines whether or not the establishment of communication session layers that perform the exchanging of the parameters required for communication with the base station has been completed; and a communication control part (6a) that selects either one of the first data communication protocol and the second data communication protocol based on a determination of the communication protocol determining part, and performs data communication on a selected protocol, wherein when the communication control part (6a) begins data
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Furumi
  • Patent number: 8611932
    Abstract: A method for automatic powering on and turning off of a communications device, comprising: defining a critical zone to be one of within or outside a range of a base station transceiver; sending a location message from one of the communications device and the base station transceiver; responding to the location message if the communications device is within the range; defining a location of the communications device to be within the range if the responding occurs; and triggering the communications device to one of powering on and turning off using the critical zone and the location of the communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Recherche et Developpement Everon CA Inc.
    Inventors: Geneviève Bouchard, Jonathan Gagne, Alain Moisan, Jean-François Montplaisir
  • Patent number: 8611840
    Abstract: In a mobile communication terminal, a communication control section controls communication on the basis of a selected radio communication system or frequency band and manages the state of communication. A signal-strength-indicator acquiring and storing section acquires signal-strength indicators and stores it. A communication-state acquiring section acquires the state of communication. A signal-strength-indication displaying control section determines whether a radio communication system or a frequency band is being searched for from the communication state. When it is being searched for, antenna bars indicative of signal strength are not shown or flashed when the signal-strength indicator is indicated on a display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Kitani, Hidenori Sakaniwa
  • Patent number: 8606235
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods notifying a recipient of use of a communications device. A communications device is configured to include a parameter that indicates a condition for generating a notification. A state of the communications device is determined. The state of the communications device and the condition are compared. The notification is provided from the communications device to the recipient in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Erb
  • Patent number: 8594745
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques for alerting a user of a mobile communications device of an event using a radio frequency transmitter. The techniques may include determining that an event has occurred. The event may relate to an incoming communication received by the mobile communications device. The techniques also may include determining that an approximate speed of the mobile communications device exceeds a defined threshold speed. The techniques further may include transmitting, using a radio frequency transmitter, an audible alert that provides notification of the event in response to the mobile communications device determining that the approximate speed exceeds the predefined threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Lantian Zheng, Zhi Dennis Weng
  • Patent number: 8594701
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatuses and systems for tracking a location of a mobile device based, at least in part, on measurements over time. In response to measurements, particles in a motion model may be propagated in a first routing graph covering an area. Propagated particles may be indicative of a direction of movement along a second routing graph covering the same area or a larger area in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Payam Pakzad
  • Patent number: 8588769
    Abstract: To make it easy to specify a terminal (wireless communication device) connected to an access point (wireless connection device) by performing display corresponding to the access point to which the terminal is connected. A wireless connection device reads, from a storage unit, specified information for designating a display mode for specifying a connection of the wireless connection device itself, performs wireless communications with a wireless communication device, and notifies the wireless communication device of the specified information read from the storage unit. On the other hand, the wireless communication device performs the wireless communications with the wireless connection device, receives the specified information from the wireless connection device, and conducts the display in the display mode designated in the specified information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tomoharu Saitou
  • Patent number: 8588776
    Abstract: A communication system for controlling with which base station a mobile station exchanges user communications. A first base station of a plurality of base stations with which the mobile station communicates is configured to receive a user selection from a user. The user selection indicates that the mobile station is near the first base station. In response to the user selection, the first base station transfers a notification message indicating that the mobile station is nearby the first base station. A communication control system receives the notification message from the first base station. In response to receiving the notification message, the communication control system transfers a control message for delivery to the mobile station to limit the mobile station to exchanging user communications only with the first base station. The first base station exchanges user communications with the mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Gary Francis Vaughan
  • Patent number: RE45126
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus and a radio communications method, a radio communication system, a recording medium, and a computer program in which a response signal to an inquiry is returned to a master only when instructions to perform radio communications are issued. A CPU 51 blinks LED 56 when an inquiry signal is received, and transmits a response to the inquiry signal when a user who has referred to lighting of the LED 56 operates a connection response button 53. The connection response button 53 is operated when the user issues radio communications instructions with respect to the inquiry signal. In other words, even when wireless headphones 2 are within an area capable of radio communications with the master, only if the connection response button 53 is operated by the user, it sends to the master a response to the inquiry, and establishes connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Hamada, Hiroshi Kakuda, Koji Nishimura, Takashi Sasai, Kazuya Odagiri