Kevin E Hunter

US Patent:

7277691, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Mar 24, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/090346

Inventors:

Michael T. Lundy - Olathe KS, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

H04M 9/00

US Classification:

455401, 37920101, 37920713, 345827

Abstract:

A method for management of call tones (tones that a caller hears when they call a party) is described which is particularly suitable for use by wireless telephones. The management of call tones can by performed off line. The method includes a step of: a) downloading a call tone and associated identification data to the wireless telephone (e. g. , downloaded from a call tone website); b) establishing, on the wireless telephone a correlation between the call tone identification data and a contact entry stored in memory on the wireless telephone; and c) transmitting a message from the phone to a network server that includes the correlation established in step b). Subsequently, when a telephone associated with the contact entry calls the wireless telephone the call tone is provided to the calling telephone.

US Patent:

7437772, Oct 14, 2008

Filed:

Sep 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/943599

Inventors:

Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US
Scott A. Papineau - Leawood KS, US
R. Brian Landers - Leawood KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

H04L 9/00

US Classification:

726 30, 713153, 705 52, 725 28

Abstract:

A method and system provides for restricting access to particular network content. In one embodiment, a gateway can receive, from a client device, a content request that includes a rating-allowance for the requested content. The gateway can also receive, from a content provider, a content-rating for the requested content. The gateway can then compare the content-rating to the rating-allowance and, in response, either allow or block the delivery of that content to the client device.

US Patent:

7711806, May 4, 2010

Filed:

May 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/432930

Inventors:

Pujan K. Roka - Olathe KS, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709223, 709224, 709217

Abstract:

A method for dynamically adjusting the frequency of content-transmissions to a communication device is disclosed. The device logs and reports to a network entity, such as a content server, how often content-related user-interaction has occurred on the device, such as simply when the last such interaction occurred. The network entity then determines a frequency at which to transmit content to the device, based on how often the content-related user-interaction has occurred on the device. And the network entity then transmits content to the device at the determined frequency. The invention can be usefully employed to adjust the frequency at which content-channel updates or content-catalog updates are transmitted to communication devices such as cellular wireless devices for instance.

US Patent:

7770174, Aug 3, 2010

Filed:

Jun 13, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/151387

Inventors:

Geoff S. Martin - Overland Park KS, US
Jonathan R. Kindred - Gardner KS, US
Brian R. Landers - Leawood KS, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

G06F 9/46
G06F 15/173
G06F 21/00
H04L 9/32

US Classification:

718104, 713168, 713182, 709226

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for managing data resources on a computing device. One or more data resources are pre-loaded on the device but are not accessible to application programs on the device. A resource manager sits on the device as an intermediary or gatekeeper to manage the data resources. The resource manager maintains a set of access-rights data that indicates for each of the data resources whether a right exists to access the data resource. In response to a request to access or add a given one of the pre-loaded but not yet accessible data resources, the resource manager invokes a network-based rights-acquisition session through which the device acquires a right to access the data resource. The access-rights data is then updated to reflect that an access-right exists, and access is thereafter allowed.

US Patent:

7891011, Feb 15, 2011

Filed:

May 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/126729

Inventors:

Jeffery Mau - Kansas City MO, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

G06F 7/04
G06F 12/14
G06F 21/24

US Classification:

726 30, 726 17, 705 51, 705 57, 705 58, 705 59

Abstract:

A digital content management system is provided in which a user's rights to access content are independent of the format in which the content is stored. A user receives a file containing electronic content, such as music or a ring tone, encoded in a particular format. The system determines the identity of that content, independent of the format in which the content is encoded. The system then determines whether the user has rights to that content. If so, the user is permitted to play the content. If the user later receives a different file that contains the same content but in a different format, the system determines that the different file encodes content that the user already has the right to play, and it allows the user to play the content in the second format.

US Patent:

8005897, Aug 23, 2011

Filed:

Mar 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/053485

Inventors:

Pujan K. Roka - Olathe KS, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Del Mar CA, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709205, 709206

Abstract:

A contact list client application running on a client device operates to request and receive contact lists over a network from a plurality of different contact list servers, and the application stores the contacts from these lists in a merged contact list. When a user selects a contact in the merged list, the contact list client application identifies one out of a plurality of communication applications on the client device and causes the identified communication application to initiate communications with the contact. Contact lists that relate to different communications formats, such as voice communications, SMS (short message service) messages, and email can be integrated into a single client view on the client device.

US Patent:

8010107, Aug 30, 2011

Filed:

Sep 1, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/217652

Inventors:

Michael T. Lundy - Olathe KS, US
Benjamin P. Blinn - Leawood KS, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US
Louie E. Wingo - Liberty MO, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

H04W 36/00

US Classification:

455436, 455437, 455438, 455439, 455442, 455443, 455444, 4555521, 4555531, 370328, 370331, 370332, 370334

Abstract:

While a mobile node is engaged in a communication session via a first air interface channel, the user of the mobile node requests a vertical handoff. In response to the user's handoff request, the mobile node goes into a dormant mode to release the first air interface channel. The mobile node then acquires a second air interface channel, which may have a higher data rate than the first air interface channel, and continues the communication session via the second air interface channel. The mobile node may also determine that a vertical handoff may be available, e. g. , by checking a preferred roaming list (PRL), and then indicate to the user that a vertical handoff may be available.

US Patent:

8095642, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Nov 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/280031

Inventors:

Geoff S. Martin - Overland Park KS, US
Jonathan R. Kindred - Gardner KS, US
Kevin E. Hunter - Olathe KS, US
Brian R. Landers - Leawood KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709224, 709225

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the frequency of content background-downloading. An apparatus such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or computer, will be set to perform background-downloads of content at a particular frequency. The apparatus will then determine the frequency with which a user accesses background-downloaded content on the device, and the apparatus will use the determined frequency as a basis to automatically adjust the background-download frequency. For instance, if the user-access frequency is greater than the background-download frequency, then the apparatus may increase the background-download frequency, whereas, if the user-access frequency is less than the background-download frequency, then the apparatus may decrease the background-download frequency.