Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

David A Welch

Farni B Weaver

Warren Bruce Cope

Wen Xue

Konstantin Othmer

Arun Santharam

Baoquan Zhang

Piyush Jethwa

Thomas M Sladek

Andrew Devron Stadler

Jesse H Grindeland

Christopher M Doran

Mike P McMullen

Edward Ross

A system and method for a next generation network service infrastructure to support VoIP services is disclosed. The services are partitioned between locally based services and nationally based services. Locally based services are handled in call processing systems in regional/local service centers based at the edge of the system. Nationally based services are handled by national service centers.

System and method for providing local services within a consolidated network architecture

A method and system for maintaining a radio link during absence of packet-based real-time media communication, such as RTP packet flow for instance. A wireless device determines that there has been an absence of packet-based real-time media flow for a threshold period of time and responsively sends a keepalive signal into the network to prevent its radio link from timing out. Further, the device may then periodically continue to send keepalive signals into the network to continue maintaining its radio link. By maintaining the radio link, the wireless device can then engage in further packet-based real-time media communication or associated packet-based signaling without the need to re-acquire a radio link.

Method and system for maintaining a radio link connection during absence of real-time packet data communication

A method and system for reducing latency in initiation of a real-time data session between wireless communication stations. In order to initiate a session with one or more target parties, an originating station will send a voice call origination message to a network switch, providing in the origination message (i) a session-initiation feature code and (ii) a target code indicative of the one or more target parties. The switch will then detect the session-initiation feature code as an intelligent-network trigger and responsively signal to a service controller, which will in turn signal to a communication server. The communication server will then invite the originating station and each of the one or more target parties to participate in the session, setting up a conference leg with each and bridging the legs together to allow the session to proceed.

Method and system for use of intelligent network processing to prematurely wake up a terminating mobile station

A method and system for buffering media at an initiating station. In response to a user request to initiate a packet-based real-time media session, such as a 'push-to-talk' session for instance, the initiating station acquires a data connection. The station then determines that it has acquired a data connection, such as by determining that it has received incoming packet-data, and responsively begins receiving and buffering media, such as voice, from a user. Once the station successfully establishes the requested media session, or a leg of the session, the station then begins transmitting the buffered media to a remote endpoint.

Method and system for buffering media to reduce apparent latency in initiating a packet-based real-time media session

A method and system that helps to reduce delay in initiating communication sessions. A network entity operates as a signaling agent on behalf of a terminating node and positively acknowledges a session initiation request on behalf of the terminating node without first receiving a positive acknowledgement from the terminating node. For example, the network entity may first send an alert message to the terminating node and then positively respond to the session initiation request before receiving from the terminating node a response to the alert message. As another example, the network entity may first positively respond to the session initiation request and then send an alert message to the terminating node. This arrangement can advantageously allow the session setup process to continue, without first waiting for an actual positive acknowledgement from the terminating node.

Method and system for advanced termination of communication sessions

A method and system for location-based group conference initiation is provided. A server will receive a request from a user to initiate a media conference, and the server will then initiate a conference with members of a group who are located in a designated location. The request may indicate a group of users who are candidates to be invited to the conference, and the location at issue. Given the request, the server will determine which of the candidate users are currently located within the zone at issue. And the server will then invite each of those candidate users to participate in the conference.

Growing community of inventors

Shawnee, KS, United States of America

David A Welch