Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10237757, I will examine the "Patent citations" section, which lists documents cited against the patent during its prosecution. I'll focus on the references that appear to directly address the core inventive concept of wireless network offloading using device-assisted data and prioritized lists.

Based on the provided snippets, here's an analysis of relevant prior art, considering a priority date of January 28, 2009, for US10237757:

Directly Cited Patent within US10237757 Description (Cross-Referenced Applications)

1. U.S. Ser. No. 13/134,005

   • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/134,005, filed May 25, 2011, entitled “System and Method for Wireless Network Offloading”
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed May 25, 2011 (This is a later filing date than US10237757's priority date, meaning it would likely not be prior art, but a related application with shared subject matter).
   • Brief Description: This is a related application titled "System and Method for Wireless Network Offloading," indicating it covers similar subject matter. Given its later filing date, it is likely a continuation or divisional application, and its content would be part of the same inventive family rather than prior art.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Not applicable as prior art due to its later filing date relative to the priority date of US10237757. It is incorporated by reference, suggesting it contributes to the background or further detailed aspects of the invention rather than representing an anticipatory prior art reference.

2. U.S. Ser. No. 12/380,778

   • Full Citation: U.S. Ser. No. 12/380,778 filed Mar. 2, 2009, entitled “Verifiable Device Assisted Service Usage Billing with Integrated Accounting, Mediation Accounting, and Multi-Account”
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 2, 2009.
   • Brief Description: This application describes verifiable device-assisted service usage billing, including integrated accounting and multi-account features. While related to device-assisted services, its primary focus is on billing and accounting rather than the core offloading mechanism.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate the core offloading claims of US10237757 directly, as its emphasis is on billing. However, elements related to "device assisted services (DAS)" and reporting of usage for billing purposes could be considered relevant for establishing that the concept of devices aiding in service management was known around the priority date.

3. U.S. Ser. No. 12/380,780

   • Full Citation: U.S. Ser. No. 12/380,780 filed Mar. 2, 2009, entitled “Automated Device Provisioning and Activation”
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed March 2, 2009.
   • Brief Description: This application concerns automated device provisioning and activation. While devices are central to US10237757, this reference focuses on initial setup rather than ongoing network selection and offloading.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate the core offloading claims of US10237757 directly. It may contribute to the understanding of device management in a network context around the priority date.

Cited Patent (from Google Patents "Patent citations" section)

1. US8559369B2 (Wireless internet system and method)

   • Full Citation: US8559369B2, "Wireless internet system and method", Inventors: Moked, et al., Publication Date: October 15, 2013, Filing Date: July 29, 2009.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing Date: July 29, 2009 (This is a later filing date than US10237757's priority date of January 28, 2009).
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a wireless internet system and method. Key aspects include using existing standards (or modifications), reporting to users for approval, interaction with firewalls/antivirus, targeted banners based on user location, and using wireless internet coverage obtained by laptops for other devices like wireless IP phones or cellular phones with built-in WiFi. It also mentions incentives for users to allow their computers to connect others.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Despite the later filing date, the concepts within US8559369B2 are highly relevant to the general field of wireless network usage and offloading. For instance, the idea of using a device (like a laptop) to provide internet coverage for other devices (cellular phones with Wi-Fi) touches upon the core of offloading traffic to alternative networks. The concept of "incentives for a user to allow his computer to connect others" directly relates to the incentivized network selection in US10237757. If the priority date of US8559369B2 predates US10237757's priority date, or if it represents public knowledge prior to January 28, 2009, then these concepts, particularly regarding device-to-device sharing and incentives, could be relevant to the inventive concept of US10237757. Specifically, claims relating to incentivizing users to offload or to connect to certain networks (as described in the abstract of US10237757) could be potentially anticipated by, or rendered obvious in light of, the general knowledge embodied by such disclosures, assuming an earlier effective date.

2. US10785319B2 (IP device discovery systems and methods)

   • Full Citation: US10785319B2, "IP device discovery systems and methods", Inventors: Dawson, et al., Publication Date: September 22, 2020, Filing Date: January 20, 2014.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing Date: January 20, 2014 (This is a later filing date than US10237757's priority date). The earliest priority date for this patent is June 12, 2006, from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/804,550.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes systems and methods for Internet Protocol (IP) device discovery implemented in a control network, including a gateway device, a router, and an IP device at a location. It also discusses a location management system and premises management services (energy, security, safety).
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Although this patent has a much later publication date, its earliest priority date (June 12, 2006) precedes the priority date of US10237757 (January 28, 2009). Therefore, its disclosure could be considered prior art. Elements relating to "location management systems" and "IP device discovery" at a location are relevant to US10237757's use of device location and network scanning to identify available networks. While its primary focus isn't network offloading, the underlying mechanisms for identifying and locating devices and managing their connections could potentially anticipate aspects of how US10237757 obtains wireless network data and generates prioritized lists based on location. For instance, if Claim 1 of US10237757 involves obtaining location-aware network data, this reference could be highly relevant.

General Observations on Prior Art:

The explicit incorporation by reference of IEEE 802.11k-2008 in US10237757 itself (as mentioned in the Obviousness section) is significant. This standard enables wireless devices to measure and report radio environment information, which directly supports the "obtaining wireless network data from a plurality of wireless devices" aspect of US10237757's independent claims. While it's a standard and not a patent, it represents publicly available technical knowledge at or before the priority date.

Given the priority date of US10237757 (January 28, 2009), any patent or publication with an effective date before this date would be considered prior art. The "Related U.S. Publications" cited within US10237757, while filed slightly after, generally describe concepts that were either already known or being developed around the priority date by the same inventors, which could also be relevant for an obviousness analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103.

For the independent claims (1, 11, and 19), which all center on obtaining wireless network data, generating a prioritized network list based on available capacity, and receiving updated performance characterization, the prior art references would be scrutinized for disclosures related to:

• Device-assisted data collection: Devices actively scanning and reporting network performance.
• Network characterization: Determining available capacity, data rates, latency, etc.
• Prioritization/Selection: Using collected data to create a ranked list of networks and guide device connection.
• Continuous monitoring: Receiving updated performance data from the connected network.

US10785319B2, with its earlier priority date, and the general concepts in US8559369B2 (assuming the underlying concepts were public before Jan 28, 2009), along with the explicitly incorporated IEEE 802.11 standards (especially 802.11k), are the most promising avenues for prior art challenges against US10237757.