At System Equipment (i.e., Base Station) Patents (Class 455/456.5)
  • Patent number: 8600403
    Abstract: Techniques for configuring a Home evolved Node B (HeNB) in a location server and positioning the HeNB are disclosed. In one aspect, location for a HeNB is supported based on LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) messages. The HeNB communicates LPP messages with a location server. These LPP messages are terminated at the HeNB instead of a UE. At least one location transaction for the HeNB can be performed to configure in the location server and/or locate the HeNB based on the LPP messages. In another aspect, location for a HeNB is supported based on an embedded UE in the HeNB. The HeNB establishes a location session with a location server based on an embedded UE ID, which is assigned to the HeNB and recognized by the location server as being for a HeNB instead of a UE. At least one location transaction for the HeNB is performed during the location session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen W. Edge
  • Patent number: 8600340
    Abstract: An unintentional dialing event is detected by characterizing some action of a portable phone, e.g., its movement or its surroundings. The action can be characterized by a sensor, and that sensor can be for example an accelerometer, a camera in the phone, or a microphone in the phone, or some other way. The movement can be characterized to see if it is synchronous with entries on the keyboard, which would likely represent the unintentional dialing event or “but dialing”. The environment can also be characterized other ways, for example by using a microphone in the phone to text sound profiles or to detect sounds in sync with the entries, or can be characterized using a camera in the phone to detect a light profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Scott C. Harris
  • Patent number: 8600410
    Abstract: A method of providing location-based services includes transmitting a first location criterion from a wireless network server to a wireless device. The method also includes evaluating whether a physical location of the wireless device satisfies the first location criterion. The process of evaluating is performed in part using the wireless device. When the first location criteria is satisfied, the method further includes transmitting an indication from the wireless device to the server that the first location criterion has been satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Unwired Planet, LLC
    Inventor: Garrick Wager
  • Patent number: 8600361
    Abstract: A wireless communications network comprises a server in a central location storing matching profiles for a plurality of users of the network. The matching profile for each user is stored in the server through the user's mobile unit or a secure page on the Internet. Each matching profile is corresponded with a respective mobile unit using the same identification information (ID) of the respective mobile unit utilized for carrying out phone calls. The server has a customizable variable matching algorithm and probes the matching profiles corresponding to the respective mobile units in a cell or group of cells for a match every time a new mobile unit subscribes into the cell or group of cells. When there is a match of matching profiles, the two persons are put in contact or advised of each other through a phone call or other communications method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Federico Fraccaroli
  • Patent number: 8600401
    Abstract: In a method for approximating a location of a user equipment in a wireless network, a mobile location signature is determined based on a measurement report received from the user equipment, and a location of the user equipment is approximated based on the mobile location signature. The mobile location signature being indicative of a region of the wireless network in which the user equipment is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Gopal Kumar
  • Publication number: 20130316741
    Abstract: It comprises defining the residential location of one or more users according to his mobile phone activity during a time pattern comprising at least one specific period of time. It also comprises carrying out said residential localization by automatically carrying out the next steps: a) determining said time pattern, or residential calling pattern, from mobile phone-call data (such as that included in CDRs) of a plurality of users whose residential locations are known a priori, such as users with a contract, and b) applying said determined residential calling pattern to mobile phone-call data (such as that included in CDR) of one or more users whose residential location is unknown, such as anonymized users or pre-paid customers, in order to determine their residential location as that at which at least one call has been made with their mobile phone within said specific period included in said residential calling pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TELEFONICA S.A.
    Inventors: Vanessa Frias Martinez, Enrique Frias Martinez
  • Publication number: 20130316740
    Abstract: A process for indoor location of a mobile cellular terminal (3) equipped with a transceiver apparatus capable of communicating with a mobile cellular telecommunication network (2), through a system including at least one transmitter apparatus (5a-5g), present inside an indoor environment (6;A-G), and at least one of the mobile terminals (3) equipped with at least one receiver apparatus (4), capable of receiving data transmitted by at least one of the transmitter apparatuses (5a-5g) present inside the indoor environment (6;A-G) and of relaying them to a locating station (7) through the transceiver apparatus over the mobile cellular telecommunication network (2), including the following steps, wherein: at least one of the transmitter apparatuses (5a-5g) present in the indoor environment (6;A-G) transmits at least one identifier (ID;<A>-<G>) of the indoor environment (6;A-G) where the transmitter apparatus (5a-5g) is situated; the receiver apparatus (4) of the mobile terminal (3) receives the identif
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: SISVEL TECHNOLOGY S.R.L.
    Inventors: Simone Scarafia, Alessandro Striuli
  • Patent number: 8594703
    Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to systems and methods for gathering information about wireless transceiver devices in a defined boundary region. To this end, the disclosure is more particularly directed to gathering movement information (e.g., via detection and location) about two-way end-user wireless terminals within three-dimensional boundaries of defined local space (“DLS”) to allow for selective control of the terminals and other subsystems, as desired. Additionally, the data collected can be used to improve accuracy and precision regarding the prediction of behavior characteristics and tendencies of populations based on a sampling of observed terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Prima Research, LLC.
    Inventors: Christopher Price, Gregory J. Beveridge
  • Patent number: 8588841
    Abstract: A base station apparatus that estimates whether or not each terminal device belonging to a communication cell of the present apparatus is present in an end area of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hironori Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 8588811
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to utilize a set of measurements (either partial or compete) to improve the accuracy of an initial position estimate for a wireless terminal. The initial position estimate for the terminal is first obtained (e.g., based on a cell-ID or an enhanced cell-ID solution). Measurements are obtained for the terminal. The initial position estimate is then updated with the measurements to obtain a revised position estimate for the terminal. The updating may be performed by (1) deriving a measurement vector based on the initial position estimate and the measurements, (2) forming an observation matrix for the measurements, (3) determining a matrix of weights, (4) deriving a correction vector based on the measurement vector, the observation matrix, and the weight matrix, and (5) updating the initial position estimate with the correction vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonid Sheynblat, Wyatt Thomas Riley
  • Patent number: 8588853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a first cellular base station such as a femtocell to operate in a digital cellular telecommunications network includes: placing the first cellular base station in the digital cellular telecommunications network; detecting with a radio receiver at least one second operating cellular base station within the digital cellular telecommunications network; demodulating a first transmission of the at least one second cellular base station transmitter to obtain a first data stream; predictively modifying the first data stream to create a modified first data stream; correlating at least one periodic portion of the modified first data stream to form an enhanced data signal; decoding the enhanced data signal to obtain information; and configuring the first cellular base station with the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Applied Signal Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Sabol
  • 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: 8588220
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for mitigating port swapping during signal tracking. The method and apparatus generally include acquiring a first signal characteristic corresponding to a signal assigned to a first port, comparing the first signal characteristic to a second previously acquired signal characteristic, and assigning the signal to a second port if the first and second signal characteristics vary. Such a configuration mitigates port swapping without requiring signals to include identification information, thereby enabling assignment of signals corresponding to any format or source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Thornton, John A. Adams, Brian Holden
  • Patent number: 8588822
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for triggering location estimation of mobile stations in a geographic region of interest. The disclosed system includes a list of International Mobile Subscriber Identities (“IMSI”) used to track which mobile stations are to have location estimates generated, a database of Network Measurement Reports (“NMR”) used for generating the location estimates, and a location engine. The system operates as a group of concurrently executing processes that i) process IMSIs and NMRs that are extracted by and received from probes that monitor communication links; ii) generate location estimates of mobile stations in the region of interest, based on a sequential indexing of the IMSI list; iii) maintain the freshness of the NMR database; and iv) maintain the freshness of the IMSI list. These processes operate such that the triggering of the location estimations occurs asynchronously with respect to the detection of information on the communication links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarun Kumar Bhattacharya, Mahesh B. Patel
  • Patent number: 8588815
    Abstract: A method of delivering location-specific information to a wireless subscriber includes receiving one or more rules from an information distribution entity. The one or more rules define a geographic area related to the information distribution entity and define information to be distributed to the wireless subscriber when a wireless device of the wireless subscriber is in the geographic area. The method also includes receiving a registration message from the wireless subscriber, determining that the wireless device of the subscriber is in the geographic area, and delivering the information to the wireless device of the wireless subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Kenyon
  • Patent number: 8589488
    Abstract: A system and method for creating content such as artificial reality (AR) messages at an event, particularly among members on a social network, thereby enhancing and expanding the event experience. Typically, a participant shares an event with spectators, such as friends or a subset of friends in the participant's social network. The AR message may include geo-referenced artificial reality words, products or symbols and appear in a perspective view of the event to the participant or spectators. In addition to creating an active gallery for an event, messages, audio and video can be exchanged among participants and spectators, and virtual goods, money, bets, applause, other feedback, and donations exchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Charles D. Huston, Chris Coleman
  • Publication number: 20130303198
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to infer a context associated with a mobile device based on aggregated data from a set of other mobile devices. The set of mobile devices can include mobile devices currently or previously near a location of the mobile device. Each mobile device in the set of other mobile devices can collect sensor data and infer a low-level context (e.g., “sitting” or “standing”). The low-level contexts can be aggregated. Based on the aggregated low-level contexts, a high-level context (e.g., “at a party” or “watching television”) associated with the mobile device can be inferred or a low-level context associated with the mobile device can be refined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Shankar Sadasivam, Leonard Henry Grokop, Vidya Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20130303199
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhancing network positioning measurement performance, wherein uplink measurement is a measurement performed on radio signals configured for a wireless device by a first network node, and wherein the first network node is different from a measuring node. Information is obtained about a plurality of measurement occasions in which the wireless device is scheduled to transmit one or more configured radio signals, wherein a measurement occasion comprises one or more time and/or frequency resources. Information is also obtained about uncertain measurement occasions, wherein an uncertain measurement occasion comprises one of the plurality of measurement occasions in which the wireless device may or may not transmit the one or more configured radio signals. A radio signal measurement is selectively performed based on the obtained information and the radio signals received from the wireless device, and is used for determining positioning of the wireless device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Iana SIOMINA
  • Publication number: 20130303200
    Abstract: A location server (2) for a mobile telecommunications network (1), the location server (2) comprising at least one network interface (3) through which it is arranged to communicate with network nodes (4) of the mobile telecommunications network (1), and a processor (5) arranged to: receive a message containing information from which the position of a mobile device (6) of the telecommunications network (1) can be estimated; process the information to produce a mobile device (6) position estimate; send to at least one of the network nodes (4, 6) an output message containing the estimate; and quantize the information to have one of a plurality of indicative values, each of the values indicating a range of distances having upper and lower bounds, wherein, for at least some successive pairs of the indicative values, for indicative values indicating increasing distance, the difference between the upper and lower bounds increases, typically exponentially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Andreas Hansson, Liang Shi, Torbjörn Wigren
  • Patent number: 8583140
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to utilize a set of measurements (either partial or compete) to improve the accuracy of an initial position estimate for a wireless terminal. The initial position estimate for the terminal is first obtained (e.g., based on a cell-ID or an enhanced cell-ID solution). Measurements are obtained for the terminal. The initial position estimate is then updated with the measurements to obtain a revised position estimate for the terminal. The updating may be performed by (1) deriving a measurement vector based on the initial position estimate and the measurements, (2) forming an observation matrix for the measurements, (3) determining a matrix of weights, (4) deriving a correction vector based on the measurement vector, the observation matrix, and the weight matrix, and (5) updating the initial position estimate with the correction vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonid Sheynblat, Wyatt Thomas Riley
  • Patent number: 8582724
    Abstract: A system including a location server configured to receive registration data from an IP device and a location database configured to store location information of the IP device, wherein the location server queries the location database to determine whether the registration data matches the location information stored at the location database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC
    Inventors: Robert Olshansky, Elliot G. Eichen, Derek Mitsumori, Eric R. Sporel
  • Patent number: 8583088
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is configured to display screen information supplied from a portable information terminal, and includes a connection unit configured to confirm if the portable information terminal is connected to the electronic apparatus. Also included is a notification unit configured to notify the portable information terminal of setting information concerning setting of the screen information supplied from the portable information terminal. A receiving unit is configured to receive the screen information that is set on the basis of the setting information from the portable information terminal, and a display unit is configured to display the screen information received by the receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Yoshikawa, Koichi Uno
  • Patent number: 8583145
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to location and communication systems that can be utilized for locating people, pets and other objects with a software defined radio set. A personal electronic device (PED) such as a cellular telephone, personal data assistant (PDA) or other device that include a software defined radio set can be configured for operation as a locator device. The PED transmits a signal A transponder or micro-transponder (MT) that is tagged to an object is arranged to reply to a transmission received from the PED. The PED based locator is arranged to calculate a distance between the PED and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission and the receipt of a reply. The absolute geographic position of the PED can be determined using satellite navigation information, while the position of the MT relative to the PED can be determined from the TOF information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: RoundTrip LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Karr, Roy J. Mankovitz
  • Patent number: 8583118
    Abstract: A mobility management control method and system that can redress the uneven loads on base stations in a mobile communications network are provided. Multiple base stations in a tracking area each have a mobile station mobility management function. A base station positioned at an edge of the tracking area monitors its own load state. Depending on its own load state, the base station relocates to another base station a location management function with respect to a new location management request, or a location management function as a mobility management serving base station with which location management has been already performed for a mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Jinsock Lee
  • Patent number: 8583181
    Abstract: A method of managing registration requests from unauthorized user equipments in a cellular communications network includes monitoring such further registration requests and maintaining a count of the total number of registration requests from said user equipment. Based on the counted number of unsuccessful registration requests, different mechanisms can be used to reject the registration request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ubiquisys Limited
    Inventors: Justin Johnstone, Andrea Giustina, Peter Keevill, Richard Byrne
  • Patent number: 8583142
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided that selectively distribute location based service content for use by mobile devices with regard to certain indoor environment(s). In one example implementation, one or more computing devices generate data files that collectively represent an initial content for use by a mobile device with regard to an indoor environment, wherein at least one of the data files is generated based, at least in part, on one or more distribution schemes relating to the indoor environment. The one or more computing devices selectively initiates transmission of an indication to one or more mobile devices identifying that a shared data file corresponding to a seeded data file may be obtained from a first mobile device. The first mobile device and/or one or more of the other mobile devices may be identified based, at least in part, on the one or more distribution schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Saumitra Mohan Das, Behrooz Khorashadi, Rajarshi Gupta
  • Patent number: 8583141
    Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region is disclosed. The technique is based on the recognition that there are traits of electromagnetic signals that are dependent on topography, the receiver, the location of the transmitter, and other factors. For example, if a particular radio station is known to be received strongly at a first location and weakly at a second location, and a given wireless terminal at an unknown location is receiving the radio station weakly, it is more likely that the wireless terminal is at the second location than at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarun Kumar Bhattacharya, Martin Feuerstein, Scot Douglas Gordon, David Stevenson Spain, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8577283
    Abstract: A repeater that facilitates communication in a wireless environment comprises a scheduling component that analyzes a schedule relating to when communications are active in the forward link direction and when communications are active in the reverse link direction, the communications are subject to time division duplexing. An amplifier that amplifies received communications as a function of the schedule. The repeater can further comprise a configuration component that configures the amplifier to amplify the received communications in one or more of a forward link direction and a reverse link direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Finch Dean, Kenneth Robert Baker
  • Patent number: 8577387
    Abstract: A method of determining a distance estimate between a mobile device and a wireless transceiver communicating with the mobile device on at least one multi-carrier signal including: receiving at least one multi-carrier signal; selecting at least two carrier signals from the at least one multi-carrier signal; measuring a signal characteristic of each of the at least two carrier signals; and determining the distance estimate between the mobile device and the wireless transceiver based at least partially upon the signal characteristic of each of the at least two carrier signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Danlu Zhang, Aziz Gholmieh, Jilei Hou, Arnold J. Gum
  • Patent number: 8577388
    Abstract: Provided is a wireless position determining method and apparatus. The wireless position determining includes: a measuring unit that measures a propagation delay tap of a signal received from a transmitting end through a channel; and extractor that extracts delay spread information having various forms based on the propagation delay tap; and an obtaining and calculating unit that obtains a distance between transmission and reception ends based on the delay spread information and calculates a position of a receiving end based on the obtained distance between the transmission and reception ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kanghee Kim, Geon Min Yeo, Byung-Han Ryu, Jee Hwan Ahn, Jae Kyun Kwon, Youngsuk Suh, Kyungsu Yun, Kang-Il Ahn
  • Patent number: 8577383
    Abstract: A method for exchanging system information via a broadcast control channel (BCCH), which is a logical channel between a radio link control (RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer, and a broadcast channel (BCH) and a downlink shared channel (DL_SCH), which are transport channels between the MAC layer and a physical layer. The method includes: receiving a block of first system information from the base station via the BCH; after the block is received, receiving a first block of second system information from the base station via the DL_SCH configured to carry system information and other data, the first block including schedule information; and after the first block is received, receiving a second block of second system information from the base station via the DL_SCH in accordance with the schedule information included in the first block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Dae Lee, Sung-Duck Chun, Sung-Jun Park, Seung-June Yi
  • Patent number: 8577384
    Abstract: A method for exchanging, between a mobile terminal and a base station, system information via a broadcast control channel (BCCH), which is a logical channel between a radio link control (RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer, and a broadcast channel (BCH) and a downlink shared channel (DL_SCH), which are transport channels between the MAC layer and a physical layer. The method includes: receiving a block of first system information from the base station in a predetermined frame of the BCH; and after the block of first system information is received, receiving a first block of second system information from the base station in a predetermined frame of the DL_SCH configured to carry system information and other data, the first block of second system information including schedule information relating to a second block of second system information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Dae Lee, Sung-Duck Chun, Sung-Jun Park, Seung-June Yi
  • Patent number: 8577390
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for dynamic route estimation and prediction using discrete sampled location updates from various mobile devices for the purpose of providing a graphical representation of a mobile device's route along a known network path of map data. The embodiments also provide supplemental route metrics, such as traveled distance, elapsed time, etc., and the capability to assign destination points for the purpose of providing the ability to modify location update points in an application, such as a route planner, and/or to store the dynamically generated route based on various preferences for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Sheha, Angie Sheha, Stephen Petilli, Arun Yarlagadda
  • Patent number: 8571577
    Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region is disclosed. The technique is based on the recognition that there are traits of electromagnetic signals that are dependent on topography, the receiver, the location of the transmitter, and other factors. For example, if a particular radio station is known to be received strongly at a first location and weakly at a second location, and a given wireless terminal at an unknown location is receiving the radio station weakly, it is more likely that the wireless terminal is at the second location than at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarun Kumar Bhattacharya, Martin Feuerstein, Scot Douglas Gordon, David Stevenson Spain, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8571580
    Abstract: Embodiments of a location-based social network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. The user can build a database of friends among the one or more other users whose location can be displayed on each respective mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Loopt LLC.
    Inventors: Samuel H. Altman, Nicholas T. Sivo
  • Patent number: 8565787
    Abstract: A method of estimation of a location of a terminal within an area of coverage of a wireless network comprising at least one fixed node. The method comprises estimating the location of the terminal on the basis of at least a comparison between data representing a first metric of a complex frequency response of a radio channel between the terminal and one of the at least one fixed node and data representing a plurality of stored metrics. Each of the plurality of stored metrics being related to one of a plurality of different locations within the network and each stored metric being of a complex frequency response measured between the one of the fixed nodes and the location within the network to which the metric relates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: David Damian Bevan, Ilya Averin, Denis Lysyakov
  • Patent number: 8565704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating an oscillator in a location-enabled wireless device is described. In an example, a mobile device includes a wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals and a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals. The mobile device also includes an oscillator having an associated temperature model. A frequency error is derived from a wireless signal. The temperature model is adjusted in response to the frequency error and a temperature proximate the oscillator. Frequency error of the oscillator is compensated using the adjusted temperature model. In another example, a frequency error is derived using a second oscillator within the wireless receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Global Locate, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Abraham
  • Patent number: 8565786
    Abstract: A technique for estimating the location of a wireless terminal at an unknown location in a geographic region is disclosed. The technique is based on the recognition that there are traits of electromagnetic signals that are dependent on topography, the receiver, the location of the transmitter, and other factors. For example, if a particular radio station is known to be received strongly at a first location and weakly at a second location, and a given wireless terminal at an unknown location is receiving the radio station weakly, it is more likely that the wireless terminal is at the second location than at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Polaris Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarun Kumar Bhattacharya, Martin Feuerstein, Scot Douglas Gordon, David Stevenson Spain, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8565788
    Abstract: Method and platform for providing the location of a first mobile device to a second device in which the second device generates a query for the location of the first device which is in the form of an SMS or push e-mail message and which is directed to the first device. Upon receipt of the query, the first device initiates a determination of its location, either by itself or by providing information to a central server, and the determined location of the first device is then directed to the second device, either directly from the central server or via the first device. The central server may direct a transmission of the location of the first device to the second device in an SMS message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mexens Intellectual Property Holding LLC
    Inventor: Cyril Houri
  • Patent number: 8558693
    Abstract: A system and method are described for processing location-based reminders. For example, a system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: a location database to store a plurality of different locations including event facilities, points of interest, and one or more personal locations specified by an end user, the location database associating each of the different locations with a Global Positioning System (GPS) location or range of GPS locations; a location-based reminder application to receive user input related to one or more location-based reminders, each location-based reminder associating a particular location from the location database with reminder data input by the user; and wherein, in response to detecting the user's mobile device arriving within a particular location associated with the reminder data, the location-based reminder application triggering the reminder using a visual and/or audible notification on the user's mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tribal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Jeffrey Martin, Steve Hales, Joseph Vierra, Eugene Han, Alberto Moriondo
  • Patent number: 8559982
    Abstract: A method for calculating the geographical position of a user equipment (UE) unit includes collecting position parameters conveying the relative position of the UE unit from two or more base stations using technologies mandated for the modern wireless networks. Particularly, know (predetermined) signals embedded in the downlink and uplink subframes, such as preambles, pilots, ranging codes are used for determining the coordinates of the UE unit. In addition, the methods and systems proposed here take advantage of the multiple antennas systems mandated at both the UE and BTS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Wi-Lan, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiquan Wu, Jung Yee
  • Patent number: 8561138
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention involves protecting a platform using locality-based data and, more specifically, to using the locality-based data to ensure that the platform has not been stolen or subject to unauthorized access. In some embodiments, a second level of security, such as a key fob, badge or other source device having an identifying RFID is used for added security. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Rothman, Vincent Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20130267258
    Abstract: A method for wireless positioning is provided. The method for wireless positioning includes: acquiring synchronization with base stations; collecting a plurality of propagation delay taps for the base stations; determining a final propagation delay tap among the plurality of propagation delay taps; calculating a time difference of arrival (TDOA) value using the final propagation delay value; and deriving locations of the terminals using the calculated TDOA value. By this configuration, the positioning accuracy can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Geon Min YEO, Young Il KIM, Won RYU
  • Publication number: 20130267257
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for position determination, including altering or generating at least one radio heatmap value in a collection of radio heatmap values, the altering or generating based, at least in part, on a measurement of one or more characteristics of wireless signals received by a receiver at a first wireless network access point and transmitted by a transmitter at a second wireless network access point; and transmitting at least a portion of the collection of radio heatmap values including the altered or generated radio heatmap value to a mobile station as positioning assistance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ravi Palanki, Ayman Fawzy Naguib, Vinay Sridhara, Saumitra Mohan Das, Sameera Poduri
  • Patent number: 8554245
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Behemoth Development Co. L.L.C.
    Inventor: Brett B. Stewart
  • Patent number: 8554172
    Abstract: A system and method to automatically provide a location estimate of a mobile station in communication with a mobile wireless network to an appropriate law enforcement agency in response to detecting an electronic surveillance event within a mobile wireless network. A surveillance location server extracts pertinent information from a surveillance event message and sends a request for a location estimate to network components that generate and return the location estimate. The surveillance location server forwards to the location estimate to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: John Mark Dammrose
  • Patent number: 8554173
    Abstract: A position locating device comprises a position determining unit for periodically determining the position of the device and storing position data in a memory. On activation of the device, a position transmitting unit periodically transmits a terminal identifier and position data, to a base station via a satellite. A power management unit controls the periodicity of the transmission by the position transmitting means. A position determining system includes the position determining device and a base station for receiving the terminal identifier and position data and relaying the information to a first responder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Paradigm Services Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Hope, Reece Pitts, Robert Clements
  • Publication number: 20130260799
    Abstract: According to certain aspects, the invention provides a method of achieving near-fingerprinting accuracy without fingerprinting database costs, via parametric representation of training data. In embodiments, this is achieved by using a parametric representation for the training data and limiting the region of applicability of the parametric model in order to mimic fingerprinting. According to certain additional aspects, an algorithm according to principles of the invention includes two separate parts, training and positioning. Training encompasses the derivation of the parametric model and region of applicability. This comprises access point position, propagation model and the window of applicability. Positioning covers the use of the derived model along with a set of fresh observations to generate a position estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Tarlow, Murray Jarvis
  • Publication number: 20130260798
    Abstract: A mobile device receives signals from base stations each with multiple distributed transceivers. Each distributed transceiver may operate at different carrier frequencies. Each distributed transceiver is equipped with an independently configurable antenna array handling transmissions of the radio frequency signals to the mobile device. The mobile device generates channel measurements for the received signals, and subsequently receives a position estimate from a remote location server. The location server determines corresponding transmit diversity configurations applied to the base stations for conducting the channel measurements for the mobile device, and channel measurements at scanned locations in a location scanning region. The location server selects and utilize a signature function to calculate the position estimate for the mobile device over the transmit diversity configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 8548488
    Abstract: In an overlay, network-based Wireless Location System, Location Measurement Units (LMUs) are used to collect radio signaling both in the forward and reverse channels for use in TDOA and/or AoA positioning methods. Information broadcast from the radio network and by global satellite navigation system constellations can be received by the LMUs and used to reduce the difficulty of initial system configuration and reconfiguration due to radio network changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: TruePosition, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Anderson, Rashidus S. Mia, Robert Binion, II, Benjamin H. Cohen