Prior art

As a senior US patent analyst, I have conducted a thorough review of US Patent 10,468,047, titled "Wireless digital audio music system." Below is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited during the patent's examination, with an assessment of which claims each reference could potentially anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Analysis of Prior Art for US Patent 10,468,047

Subject Patent:

• Patent Number: 10,468,047
• Title: Wireless digital audio music system
• Filing Date: November 9, 2018
• Issue Date: November 5, 2019
• Assignee: ONE-E-WAY Inc.

The invention of US Patent 10,468,047 generally pertains to a portable spread spectrum audio receiver and transmitter system. The receiver is configured to store a unique user code and communicate with a specific transmitter using code division multiple access (CDMA). Key features claimed include the use of a direct conversion module, processing for reduction of intersymbol interference, performing differential phase shift keying (DPSK) and non-DPSK demodulation, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to produce an audio signal.

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Prior Art Analysis:

Below are the most relevant prior art references cited against US Patent 10,468,047 and their potential impact on the patent's claims.

1. US Patent 5,946,343: "Digital wireless speaker system"

• Full Citation: US Patent 5,946,343
• Publication Date: August 31, 1999
• Filing Date: November 22, 1994
• Assignee: L. S. Research, Inc.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a digital wireless speaker system that uses spread spectrum technology to transmit audio signals from a transmitter to one or more receivers connected to speakers. The system is designed to provide high-quality audio transmission with resistance to interference. It describes the use of digital modulation and error correction techniques.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is highly relevant as it describes a digital wireless audio system using spread spectrum technology.
  • Claim 1 & 8: The ‘343 patent discloses a portable spread spectrum audio receiver and the transmission of wireless modulation representative of an audio signal. It teaches the core concepts of receiving a spread spectrum signal and converting it to audio. While it may not explicitly detail a "direct conversion module" or the specific combination of DPSK and non-DPSK demodulation in the same manner, the broader elements of a wireless audio receiver using spread spectrum are present.
  • Claim 17: The transmitter described in the ‘343 patent performs modulation of an audio signal for wireless transmission, which aligns with the initial elements of this claim. The specifics of encoding to reduce intersymbol interference and the combination of modulation types would be key differentiators.

2. US Patent 5,771,441: "Small, battery operated RF transmitter for portable audio devices for use with headphones with RF receiver"

• Full Citation: US Patent 5,771,441
• Publication Date: June 23, 1998
• Filing Date: April 10, 1996
• Inventor: John E. Altstatt
• Brief Description: This patent describes a small, battery-powered RF transmitter designed to plug into the headphone jack of a portable audio device. It transmits the audio signal to a corresponding RF receiver integrated into a pair of headphones. The focus is on the portability and convenience of creating a wireless connection for existing audio players.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is particularly relevant to the portability and connectivity aspects of the invention.
  • Claim 1 & 8: The ‘441 patent discloses a portable receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions from a transmitter coupled to a music audio source, which aligns with the preamble of these claims. It describes a complete system for wireless audio listening with headphones.
  • Claim 17: The transmitter in the ‘441 patent is directly coupled to a music audio source and wirelessly transmits an audio signal, which is a core aspect of this claim. However, it may not explicitly disclose the use of spread spectrum, CDMA, or the specific modulation and encoding techniques recited in the claims of the '047 patent.

3. US Patent Application Publication 2001/0033621 A1: "Method of differential coding and modulation"

• Full Citation: US 2001/0033621 A1
• Publication Date: October 25, 2001
• Filing Date: February 7, 2000
• Inventor: Ali S. Khayrallah
• Brief Description: This patent application details methods of differential coding and modulation, including differential phase shift keying (DPSK), for use in wireless communication systems. It discusses techniques to improve signal robustness and reduce errors in transmission.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is significant for its detailed disclosure of modulation techniques mentioned in the claims.
  • Claim 1, 8, & 17: This reference provides a detailed technical basis for the "differential phase shift keying (DPSK) demodulation" and "DPSK modulation" recited in these claims. An examiner could argue that the use of DPSK in a wireless audio system would have been obvious to a person skilled in the art, and this reference provides the technical "how-to." The anticipation argument would depend on whether this reference, in combination with another that teaches the overall system, would render the claimed invention obvious. On its own, it likely does not anticipate the full system but is strong for the specific modulation element.

4. US Patent 6,563,892 B1: "Method and system for detection of binary information in the presence of slowly varying disturbances"

• Full Citation: US Patent 6,563,892 B1
• Publication Date: May 13, 2003
• Filing Date: June 15, 1999
• Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods and systems for detecting binary information in a communication system, which can be applied to reducing interference. It addresses the challenges of signal detection in the presence of noise and disturbances.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is relevant to the signal processing aspects of the claims, particularly the reduction of interference.
  • Claim 1, 8, 10 & 13: These claims recite processing the received wireless modulation transmissions for the "reduction of intersymbol interference." The ‘892 patent teaches techniques for improving signal detection in the presence of disturbances, which is conceptually similar to mitigating intersymbol interference. An argument could be made that the methods disclosed in the ‘892 patent could be applied to a wireless audio system to achieve the claimed interference reduction.

5. US Patent Application Publication 2002/0065043 A1: "Radio transmission device and method, radio receiving device and method, radio transmitting/receiving system, and storage medium"

• Full Citation: US 2002/0065043 A1
• Publication Date: May 30, 2002
• Filing Date: August 28, 2000
• Inventor: Osamu Hamada
• Brief Description: This application describes a radio communication system that includes a transmitter and a receiver. It covers various aspects of wireless data transmission, including modulation and demodulation techniques, and aims to provide a reliable wireless link.
• Potential Anticipation: This is a general reference for wireless communication systems.
  • Claim 1, 8 & 17: The ‘043 application discloses a general architecture for a wireless transmitter and receiver system. It would likely be used by an examiner to show that the basic components of such a system (e.g., converters, modulators, antennas) were well-known in the art. While not anticipating the specific combination of features in the '047 patent's claims, it establishes the technological background.

Disclaimer: This analysis is based on the provided information and represents a professional opinion on potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. A definitive determination of patent validity can only be made by a court of law or the USPTO.