US 10153886

The initial search for "US patent 10153886 USPTO" and "US patent 10153886 CAFC 2026 dockets" did not return a direct hit for "10153886" in the CAFC 2026 dockets. The search results for CAFC cases show other patent numbers being litigated in 2026, but not 10153886 specifically. This indicates that there might not be any CAFC docket activity directly linked to this patent in 2026 based on the provided snippets. I will proceed with gathering the patent information from the provided patent text, which is authoritative.

Here's the information extracted from the provided patent text (US10153886B2):

• Title: Apparatus and method for downlink and uplink multi-user transmissions
• Assignee: Atlas Global Technologies LLC (Current Assignee), Newracom Inc (Original Assignee)
• Inventors: Young Hoon Kwon, Ahmad Reza HEDAYAT
• Filing date: 2016-11-15
• Issue date: 2018-12-11 (Publication date for the granted patent is the issue date)
• Abstract: Methods and devices are described that facilitate uplink multi-user acknowledgment transmissions. In particular, acknowledgment information may be located in a media access control (MAC) header of a payload section of a MAC Protocol Data Unit within a downlink multi-user frame. The acknowledgment information may be present in each resource unit of the downlink multi-user frame to indicate to each corresponding station properties/characteristics of a subsequent acknowledgment transmission. The properties may include one or more of (1) whether the acknowledgement transmission is multi-user or single user, (2) whether the acknowledgement transmission is transmitted immediately following receipt of the downlink multi-user frame or upon receipt of a multi-user block acknowledgement request frame, and (3) resource scheduling information for an uplink multi-user acknowledgement transmission.

Now, I will proceed to summarize the independent claims in plain language.
The patent text contains three independent claims. I will paraphrase each one.

Claim 1 (Method by a network device):

This claim describes a method performed by a network device (like an access point) for coordinating uplink multi-user (MU) acknowledgment transmissions in response to a downlink (DL) MU transmission.
The method involves:

1. Generating a DL MU frame: The network device creates a DL MU frame for multiple stations. This frame includes several resource units, with each unit assigned to a specific station.
   • Including MPDUs: Within each resource unit, the frame contains MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs). At least one MPDU in each resource unit has acknowledgment information. This information tells each station how it should transmit a MU acknowledgment in response to receiving the DL MU frame.
2. Transmitting the DL MU frame: The network device sends this frame to the stations over a wireless channel.

Claim 9 (Method by a first station - immediate acknowledgment scenario):

This claim describes a method performed by a first station in a wireless network to send an uplink (UL) acknowledgment.
The method involves:

1. Receiving a DL MU frame: The first station receives a DL MU frame from an access point, which is addressed to multiple stations, including itself.
2. Processing a first MPDU: The station processes an MPDU within the DL MU frame to find acknowledgment information. This information indicates how a first MU acknowledgment frame should be transmitted by two or more stations to acknowledge the DL MU frame.
3. Generating the first MU acknowledgment frame: Based on the acknowledgment information, the first station creates its part of the MU acknowledgment frame.
4. Transmitting the first MU acknowledgment frame: The first station sends this generated acknowledgment frame to the access point, following the determined acknowledgment information.

Claim 17 (Method by a first station - delayed acknowledgment scenario):

This claim describes another method performed by a first station in a wireless network for transmitting an uplink acknowledgment, specifically when a multi-user block acknowledgment request is used.
The method involves:

1. Receiving a DL MU frame: The first station receives a DL MU frame addressed to multiple stations, including itself, from an access point.
2. Receiving a multi-user block acknowledgment request frame: The station then receives a separate multi-user block acknowledgment request frame. This frame asks for acknowledgments from two or more stations and contains acknowledgment information for the first station's MU acknowledgment frame.
3. Generating the first MU acknowledgment frame: The first station generates its MU acknowledgment frame based on the information from the multi-user block acknowledgment request frame.
4. Transmitting the first MU acknowledgment frame: The first station transmits its MU acknowledgment frame to the access point based on this acknowledgment information.

Regarding litigation, the Google Patents page for US10153886B2 indicates that "Family has litigation" with several US cases filed in Texas Western and Eastern District Courts, and a first worldwide family litigation filed. These entries have dates from 2021 and 2022. While these indicate past litigation, the direct search for CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield specific cases for patent 10153886 for the year 2026. Therefore, I cannot confirm any ongoing CAFC 2026 docket activity specifically for patent 10153886 based on the provided search results.The user asked me to analyze US patent 10153886. I have already performed the initial search for USPTO and CAFC 2026 dockets. The CAFC search did not yield specific 2026 docket entries for this patent. I have also extracted the requested patent details (title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, abstract) from the provided patent text.

The next step is to provide a plain-language overview of each independent claim. I will carefully read the independent claims in the provided patent text and summarize them concisely.

After that, I will consolidate all the information and present the final summary.

Therefore, I have all the necessary information to complete the request based on the provided patent text and the search results. I will now generate the response.US Patent 10153886, titled "Apparatus and method for downlink and uplink multi-user transmissions," was filed on November 15, 2016, and issued on December 11, 2018. The original assignee was Newracom Inc, and the current assignee is Atlas Global Technologies LLC. The inventors are Young Hoon Kwon and Ahmad Reza Hedayat.

Abstract:
The patent describes methods and devices designed to improve uplink multi-user (MU) acknowledgment transmissions. It details how acknowledgment information can be embedded within a Media Access Control (MAC) header in the payload section of a MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) within a downlink (DL) multi-user frame. This information is present in each resource unit of the DL MU frame, informing each receiving station about the characteristics of its subsequent acknowledgment transmission. These characteristics may include whether the acknowledgment will be multi-user or single-user, whether it's an immediate or non-immediate transmission after receiving the DL MU frame (or upon receiving a separate multi-user block acknowledgment request frame), and resource scheduling details for the uplink multi-user acknowledgment transmission.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method by a Network Device): This claim describes a method for a network device (such as an access point) to manage MU acknowledgment responses to its DL MU transmissions. The method involves the network device creating a DL MU frame, which is sent to several stations. This frame is designed with individual resource units for each station, and within these units, specific MPDUs contain instructions (acknowledgment information) on how each station should transmit its MU acknowledgment for the received DL MU frame. After generating this frame, the network device transmits it.
• Independent Claim 9 (Method by a First Station - Immediate Acknowledgment): This claim outlines a method for a first station to send an uplink acknowledgment. The first station receives a DL MU frame from an access point, intended for multiple stations including itself. It then processes a specific MPDU within this frame to extract acknowledgment information. This information dictates how the first station should generate and transmit its portion of a MU acknowledgment frame, alongside other stations, to confirm receipt of the DL MU frame to the access point.
• Independent Claim 17 (Method by a First Station - Delayed Acknowledgment): This claim describes an alternative method for a first station to transmit an uplink acknowledgment, particularly when the acknowledgment is not immediate. The first station first receives a DL MU frame. Subsequently, it receives a separate multi-user block acknowledgment request frame, which specifically asks for acknowledgments from multiple stations. This request frame includes the necessary acknowledgment information for the first station to generate and transmit its MU acknowledgment frame back to the access point.

No specific cases pertaining to US10153886 were found in the CAFC 2026 dockets based on the provided search results. However, the Google Patents page indicates that the patent family has been involved in litigation in Texas Western and Eastern District Courts in prior years (2021-2022).