Prior art — US Patent 10129627

In my capacity as a senior US patent analyst, I have conducted a thorough review of US Patent No. 10,129,627, issued on November 13, 2018. The following analysis details the most relevant prior art cited against this patent and discusses the potential for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The analysis is based on the patent's own cited references.

The core of patent 10,129,627 revolves around a wireless digital audio system using spread spectrum and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to ensure private communication between a transmitter (connected to a portable audio source) and a receiver (headphones). Key features recited in the independent claims (1, 3, and 5) include the use of a unique user code for a dedicated connection, the transmission of high-quality audio (20 Hz to 20 kHz), encoding to reduce intersymbol interference, and a combination of Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) and non-DPSK modulation/demodulation.

Analysis of Most Relevant Prior Art

Based on a review of the sixteen patent citations listed in US 10,129,627, the following references are identified as most pertinent to the claims of the patent.

1. US Patent 5,771,441 A

Full Citation: Altstatt; John E., "Small, battery operated RF transmitter for portable audio devices for use with headphones with RF receiver."
Publication Date: June 23, 1998
Filing Date: April 10, 1996
Brief Description: This patent describes a compact, battery-powered RF transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack of a portable audio device (like a CD player). It transmits the audio signal wirelessly to a corresponding RF receiver integrated into a pair of headphones. The system is designed for personal, wire-free listening.
Potential Anticipation Analysis:
- Claim 5 (Transmitter): Altstatt '441 discloses a "wireless...transmitter operatively coupled to a portable audio player" and that is "configured to be moved in any direction during operation." It describes transmitting an audio signal to a receiver. However, Altstatt appears to transmit an analog FM signal, not a digital coded audio spread spectrum signal. It does not teach the use of a unique user code, CDMA, an encoder to reduce intersymbol interference, or the specific combination of DPSK and non-DPSK modulation. Therefore, Altstatt '441 does not anticipate claim 5.
- Claims 1 & 3 (Receiver): Similarly, the receiver in Altstatt is designed for analog FM reception, not digital spread spectrum. It does not disclose a direct conversion module for spread spectrum signals, the use of a unique user code for CDMA, a decoder for intersymbol interference, or the claimed demodulation techniques. Thus, claims 1 and 3 are not anticipated by this reference.

2. US Patent 5,946,343 A

Full Citation: Schotz; Lawrence, "Digital wireless speaker system."
Publication Date: August 31, 1999
Filing Date: November 22, 1994
Brief Description: Schotz '343 discloses a system for wirelessly transmitting digital audio to speakers. It details a transmitter that converts an analog audio signal to a digital format and uses spread spectrum techniques (specifically direct sequence spread spectrum) to transmit the digital audio data. The receiver then converts the signal back to analog for playback. The system includes features to minimize interference.
Potential Anticipation Analysis:
- Claim 5 (Transmitter): Schotz '343 teaches a "digital coded audio spread spectrum transmitter" that transmits a "representation of an audio signal." It also teaches using spread spectrum. However, the reference does not explicitly teach the use of independent CDMA with a transmitted unique user code to distinguish its signal from other similar systems for private communication in the manner claimed. Furthermore, it does not appear to disclose the specific modulation scheme of using both DPSK and a non-DPSK modulation as required by the claim.
- Claims 1 & 3 (Receiver): The receiver in Schotz '343 is a digital audio spread spectrum receiver. It processes a spread spectrum signal and converts it to audio. However, it does not explicitly teach using a received unique user code for independent CDMA communication with only one specific transmitter. It also does not appear to disclose performing both DPSK and non-DPSK demodulation. Therefore, Schotz '343 does not appear to anticipate the receiver claims.

3. US Patent Application Publication 2002/0065043 A1

Full Citation: Hamada; Osamu, "Radio transmission device and method, radio receiving device and method, radio transmitting/receiving system, and storage medium."
Publication Date: May 30, 2002
Filing Date: August 28, 2000
Brief Description: Hamada describes a radio communication system that uses direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS). It discusses methods for transmitting and receiving digital data, including audio, and mentions various modulation techniques. The system uses spreading codes to differentiate signals.
Potential Anticipation Analysis:
- Claims 1, 3, & 5 (Transmitter and Receiver): Hamada discloses a digital spread spectrum communication system. It teaches the use of spreading codes, which are a fundamental component of CDMA. It also discusses various modulation schemes. However, a key aspect of the '627 patent claims is the combination of all the specific elements in a single system: a portable audio application, high-quality audio (20 Hz-20 kHz), encoding specifically to reduce intersymbol interference, the use of a unique user code for independent private communication for the duration of a connection, and the specific combination of DPSK and non-DPSK modulation/demodulation. It is not apparent that Hamada discloses all of these elements together in a single, cohesive system as claimed. For instance, the specific combination of DPSK and another non-DPSK modulation for transmitting high-quality audio from a portable player is a detailed feature not clearly taught by Hamada.

Conclusion

While the cited prior art references disclose various elements of the invention claimed in US Patent 10,129,627, none of the individual references appear to disclose every element of any of the independent claims. Altstatt '441 describes the general physical configuration but lacks the digital and spread spectrum specifics. Schotz '343 and Hamada '043 teach digital spread spectrum audio but do not appear to disclose the specific combination of independent CDMA with a unique user code for private listening and the dual-mode modulation/demodulation (DPSK and non-DPSK) as recited in the claims. Therefore, based on this analysis of the cited art, there is no clear anticipation of the independent claims of US Patent 10,129,627 by a single reference.