US 10651992

Here is a concise summary of US patent 10651992:

• Title: Wireless communication method and wireless communication terminal for coexistence with legacy wireless communication terminal
• Current Assignee: Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc [cite: From the provided patent text, under "Current Assignee"]
• Inventors: Geonjung KO, Jinsam Kwak, Juhyung Son [cite: From the provided patent text, under "Inventor"]
• Filing Date: 2019-04-27 [cite: From the provided patent text, under "Filing date"]
• Issue Date: 2020-05-12 [cite: From the provided patent text, under "Publication date" and "Application granted"]
• Abstract: A wireless communication method and a wireless communication terminal are provided for efficient wireless communication in an environment where both legacy and non-legacy wireless communication terminals coexist. This involves receiving a non-legacy physical layer frame, extracting a legacy signaling field (L-SIG) decodable by legacy terminals to get length information about the non-legacy frame's duration. The terminal then obtains other information from the L-SIG's remaining value after division by a symbol's data size, and calculates the number of data symbols in the non-legacy frame using a specific equation involving the length information, a derived 'm' value, a PE_Disambiguity field, non-legacy preamble duration, and non-legacy data symbol duration. [cite: From the provided patent text, under "Abstract" and "Definitions"]

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent includes multiple independent claims. Below is an overview of the first independent claim for a wireless communication terminal and the first independent claim for an operation method.

Independent Claim 1 (Wireless communication terminal):
This claim describes a wireless communication terminal designed to work in an environment with older (legacy) and newer (non-legacy) devices. The terminal includes a transceiver (for sending/receiving signals) and a processor that performs several key steps:

1. Receiving Non-Legacy Frames: It receives a "non-legacy physical layer frame" (a data packet from a newer device).
2. Extracting Legacy Information: From this non-legacy frame, it finds a "legacy signaling field" (L-SIG) which older devices can understand. This L-SIG contains "length information" about the duration of the non-legacy frame.
3. Obtaining Additional Information: It then calculates a "remaining value" by dividing the length information by the amount of data a single symbol of a legacy frame can carry (specifically, 3 octets for a 6 Mbps data rate). This remaining value is used to get other information not directly related to the duration.
4. Determining Data Symbol Count: Finally, it determines the number of data symbols in the non-legacy frame using a specific mathematical equation. This equation incorporates the length information (L_LENGTH), the derived 'm' value (which relates to the remaining value), a "PE_Disambiguity" field (which helps resolve ambiguity about packet extensions), the duration of the non-legacy preamble (T_HE_PREAMBLE), and the duration of a non-legacy data symbol (T_SYM). The PE_Disambiguity field itself is set based on the non-legacy data symbol duration and a duration increment used to calculate L_LENGTH. [cite: From the provided patent text, specifically Claim 1 and its associated definitions]

Independent Claim 9 (Operation method of a wireless communication terminal):
This claim describes a method (a series of steps) for a wireless communication terminal to operate, essentially mirroring the functions of the terminal described in independent claim 1. The method comprises:

1. Receiving and Obtaining L-SIG: Receiving a non-legacy physical layer frame and obtaining a legacy signaling field (L-SIG) from it, which includes information decodable by a legacy wireless communication terminal.
2. Obtaining Length Information: Extracting length information from the L-SIG, which indicates the duration of the non-legacy physical layer frame after the legacy signaling field.
3. Obtaining Other Information: Deriving other information (besides the duration) by using a remaining value. This remaining value is obtained by dividing the length information by the data size transmittable by a symbol of a legacy physical layer frame (again, 3 octets at 6 Mbps).
4. Determining Number of Symbols: Determining the number of symbols of data of the non-legacy physical layer frame using the same mathematical equation as described in Claim 1. Similar to Claim 1, the PE Disambiguity field is also defined in relation to the non-legacy and legacy symbol durations and a duration increment. [cite: From the provided patent text, specifically Claim 9 and its associated definitions]

Uncertainty Regarding CAFC 2026 Dockets:
I was unable to find any specific dockets or cases for US patent 10651992 in the CAFC 2026 dockets based on the provided search results. The search results indicated general CAFC activity and cases related to other patent numbers, but not 10651992 directly. Therefore, I do not have authoritative information regarding any current litigation involving this specific patent in the CAFC for 2026.

Known litigation involving US patent 10651992 is listed below, based on information from the patent text and recent search results.

1. Case 1: Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc. v. [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.)

   • Plaintiff(s): Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.
   • Defendant(s): Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: From the provided patent text, 7, 9, 10, 14]
   • Case Number: 2:24-cv-00753-JRG (This is a member case, consolidated for pretrial issues with lead case 2:24-cv-00752-JRG)
   • Filing Date: Filed in 2024, prior to the consolidation order dated October 23, 2024.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Active. The case is consolidated for all pretrial issues with the lead case (2:24-cv-00752-JRG), but individual cases remain active for trial. As of April 23, 2026, an opposed motion to stay pending Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) was terminated.

2. Case 2:

   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: From the provided patent text]
   • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00290 [cite: From the provided patent text]
   • Plaintiff(s), Defendant(s), Filing Date, Outcome or Current Status: Specific details regarding the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), filing date, and current status for this particular case in direct connection with US patent 10651992 were not found in the provided search results. While the Google Patent page lists this case, the detailed search results for this specific case number did not confirm its relation to US10651992 or provide the requested parties and dates.Known Litigation Involving US Patent 10651992

Based on the provided patent text and search results, the following litigation involving US patent 10651992 is known:

1. Case: Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

   • Plaintiff(s): Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.
   • Defendant(s): Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: From the provided patent text, 7, 9, 10, 14]
   • Case Number: 2:24-cv-00753-JRG. This case is a member case consolidated for pretrial issues with a lead case, 2:24-cv-00752-JRG.
   • Filing Date: The case was filed in 2024, prior to the consolidation order dated October 23, 2024.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Active. The individual cases remain active for trial despite consolidation for pretrial matters. As of April 23, 2026, an opposed motion to stay pending Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. was terminated.

2. Case: A US case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court.

   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: From the provided patent text]
   • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00290 [cite: From the provided patent text]
   • Plaintiff(s), Defendant(s), Filing Date, Outcome or Current Status: The specific plaintiff(s), defendant(s), filing date, and current status for this particular case, directly linking it to US patent 10651992, could not be definitively determined from the provided search results.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method) on file for US patent 10651992 as of the most recent ingest from the USPTO Open Data Portal, and no additional proceedings were surfaced by web search. This means the patent has not been challenged at the PTAB, offering a defendant no direct benefit from prior invalidations or claim narrowing via these administrative proceedings.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims of US patent 10651992 are UNTESTED in AIA trial proceedings at the PTAB. Since no IPR, PGR, or CBM proceedings have been initiated or concluded against this patent, there are no claims that have been canceled or sustained by the PTAB.

The estoppel landscape is entirely open. Because there are no concluded AIA trial proceedings, no petitioner (or their privies) is barred under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from raising any ground that they raised or reasonably could have raised. This implies that all prior-art grounds, including those under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, are still available for potential challenge should a defendant choose to pursue an IPR or other AIA trial. There is no pattern of PTAB activity to analyze, such as repeated filings by the same petitioner or aggressive appeals by the patent owner.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US patent 10651992, a defendant facing assertion of this patent has the full range of PTAB challenge options available. If considering a PTAB challenge, it would be prudent to:

• Conduct a thorough prior art search to identify strong invalidity grounds under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and/or 103 against the asserted claims.
• Analyze the claims in conjunction with the identified prior art to determine the likelihood of institution and ultimately, invalidation.
• Develop a petition for Inter Partes Review (IPR), which is the most common form of AIA trial, focusing on novelty and obviousness grounds.
• Given the litigation in the Texas Eastern District Court (case numbers 2:24-cv-00753 and 2:26-cv-00290), filing an IPR could potentially lead to a stay of the district court litigation, though this is not guaranteed and requires a separate motion to the district court.

Inventors

• Geonjung KO
• Jinsam Kwak
• Juhyung Son

The employer of the inventors at the time of filing is not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, SK Telecom Co Ltd and Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc are listed as "Original Assignee," suggesting a possible affiliation.

Original assignee

SK Telecom Co Ltd and Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc. [cite: From the provided patent text, under "Original Assignee"]
It is not determinable from the provided patent text whether SK Telecom Co Ltd or Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc shipped a product embodying the claims. SK Telecom Co Ltd is a major South Korean telecommunications company. Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc is an institute related to standards and technology. Both are currently operating companies.

Assignment timeline

• 2019-12-24 (executed) / recorded 2019-12-24 — Reel 050608/0055
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: KO, GEONJUNG; KWAK, JINSAM; SON, JUHYUNG
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, WHAN SUK, 410, BAUMOO-RO, SEOCHO-GU SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
  • Context: Transfer from inventors to one of the original co-assignees.
• 2020-01-08 (executed) / recorded 2020-01-08 — Reel 050630/0179
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC., SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: SUH, WHAN SUK, 410, BAUMOO-RO, SEOCHO-GU SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA. This correspondent also appears on reel 050608/0055.
  • Context: Appears to be an internal reorg or clarification of ownership, potentially establishing co-ownership with SK Telecom.
• 2022-12-18 (executed) / recorded 2022-12-19 — Reel 062152/0001
  • Conveyance: License
  • Assignor: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, WHAN SUK, 410, BAUMOO-RO, SEOCHO-GU SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA. This correspondent also appears on reels 050608/0055 and 050630/0179.
  • Context: SK Telecom grants a license to Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.
• 2024-06-20 (executed) / recorded 2024-06-21 — Reel 066708/0748
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, WHAN SUK, 410, BAUMOO-RO, SEOCHO-GU SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA. This correspondent also appears on reels 050608/0055, 050630/0179, and 062152/0001.
  • Context: SK Telecom assigns its interest to Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.
• 2025-02-26 (executed) / recorded 2025-02-27 — Reel 067824/0270
  • Conveyance: Corrective Assignment
  • Assignor: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, WHAN SUK, 410, BAUMOO-RO, SEOCHO-GU SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA. This correspondent also appears on reels 050608/0055, 050630/0179, 062152/0001, and 066708/0748.
  • Context: Corrective assignment to amend the agreement date of a previously recorded exclusive license.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10651992
    2019 : Inventors assigned to Wilus
    2020 : Assigned to Wilus, SK Telecom
         : Issued
    2022 : SK Telecom licensed to Wilus
    2024 : SK Telecom assigned to Wilus
    2025 : Corrective assignment

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The assignees, Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc and SK Telecom Co Ltd, appear to be operating entities.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. None of the named assignees or licensors appear on public NPE lists based on the provided data.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. SUH, WHAN SUK, 410, BAUMOO-RO, SEOCHO-GU SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA is listed as the correspondent on all recorded assignments (Reels 050608/0055, 050630/0179, 062152/0001, 066708/0748, and 067824/0270). This indicates a single legal representative handling all the ownership transfers for this patent.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. While there are multiple assignments, they occur over several years and primarily involve the original co-assignees, rather than rapid transfers through numerous unrelated LLCs.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The case 2:24-cv-00753 was filed in 2024, and the assignment on reel 066708/0748 from SK Telecom to Wilus occurred on 2024-06-20, which is within 6 months of the litigation filing (before October 23, 2024). This could potentially be a pre-litigation transfer, however the 2025 corrective assignment on reel 067824/0270 further complicates the exact timing of relevant agreements.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. No indication of bankruptcy for the original assignees.
7. Privateering — unclear. There is no information in the provided text or search results to suggest an operating company transferred the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence
The primary signal is the consistent use of the same correspondent, SUH, WHAN SUK, across all recorded assignments (Reels 050608/0055, 050630/0179, 062152/0001, 066708/0748, and 067824/0270). This, combined with the 2024 assignment from SK Telecom to Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc being close to the litigation filing date (2:24-cv-00753), suggests a possible pre-litigation transfer, although the exact nature of Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc's assertion strategy is not fully clear from the available data. Further verification can be done at the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10651992, I need to access the patent's citations. Unfortunately, I cannot directly browse the USPTO database in real-time to extract citation details. The provided search results indicate how to use the USPTO Patent Public Search and Google Patents to find such information. However, I cannot execute live searches within the USPTO database myself.

Therefore, I cannot provide a detailed list of each prior art reference with its full citation, publication/filing date, brief description, and specific claim(s) it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

To complete this task, you would need to manually access a patent database (like USPTO Patent Public Search or Google Patents) and review the "Cited By" or "References Cited" section of US patent 10651992.

I cannot perform an obviousness analysis of US patent 10651992 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, nor can I identify combinations of prior art references or motivations to combine them.

The "Prior art" section explicitly states that the necessary prior art references, including their full citations, publication/filing dates, and descriptions, are not available in the provided context. To conduct such an analysis, I would need access to the "Cited By" or "References Cited" section of US patent 10651992 from a patent database like USPTO Patent Public Search or Google Patents, which I cannot access in real-time.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) and Patent Term Extensions (PTE) for US10651992

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) is granted to compensate patent applicants for administrative delays incurred during the prosecution of a patent application before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It can add days, months, or even years to the standard 20-year patent term, which starts from the earliest non-provisional filing date. The USPTO automatically calculates and issues a notice of PTA on or before the patent's issuance date.

To determine the exact PTA awarded for US10651992, access to the USPTO Public PAIR system would be necessary, as it provides details on the calculation, including A-, B-, and C-delays, and any applicant delays. Without this direct access, the precise number of PTA days cannot be confirmed here.

Patent Term Extension (PTE)

Patent Term Extension (PTE) is a separate statutory provision that extends the term of a patent covering certain products, primarily pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food/color additives, to compensate for time lost during the regulatory review process by agencies like the FDA.

There is no information in the provided patent text or search results to indicate that US10651992 is for a product that underwent regulatory review by the FDA. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that US10651992 has been granted a Patent Term Extension (PTE).

Continuation Applications, Divisional Applications, and Related Family Members

A continuation application is a patent application filed by an applicant to pursue additional claims to an invention disclosed in an earlier, still-pending "parent" application. It uses the same specification as the parent and claims priority from the parent's filing date, but cannot introduce new subject matter.

A divisional application is a type of continuing application that claims a distinct or independent invention "carved out" of a parent application, often filed in response to a USPTO restriction requirement where the parent application claims more than one invention. Like a continuation, it retains the priority date of the parent application and cannot contain new subject matter.

The provided patent text for US10651992 lists "Priority to US16/396,635" with a date of 2019-04-27, which is its own application number. It also lists the following priority dates to other applications:

• 2020-03-31: Priority to US16/835,305 (patent/US11128421B2/en)
• 2021-08-20: Priority to US17/408,296 (patent/US11700084B2/en)
• 2023-06-06: Priority to US18/206,081 (patent/US12149354B2/en)
• 2024-10-11: Priority to US18/913,806 (patent/US20250119240A1/en)

These entries indicate that US10651992 is part of a patent family and claims priority to several later-filed applications. However, the exact nature of these relationships (i.e., whether they are continuations, divisionals, or continuation-in-parts of US10651992, or if US10651992 is a child of an earlier application) cannot be definitively determined without examining the full prosecution history of each application. Typically, continuations and divisionals claim priority from an earlier application, making the earlier application the "parent" and the later application the "child." In this case, US10651992 has a filing date of 2019-04-27 and claims priority to later-dated applications, which is an unusual listing for "priority to." It would be more common for these to be applications that claim priority from US10651992, making them child applications.

Based on the provided information, the identified related family members that claim priority from or to US10651992 include:

• US16/396,635 (which is the application number for US10651992 itself).
• US16/835,305 (patent/US11128421B2/en), with a priority date of 2020-03-31.
• US17/408,296 (patent/US11700084B2/en), with a priority date of 2021-08-20.
• US18/206,081 (patent/US12149354B2/en), with a priority date of 2023-06-06.
• US18/913,806 (patent/US20250119240A1/en), with a priority date of 2024-10-11.

To precisely categorize each of these as a continuation or divisional, one would need to review the "Relationship Data" section in the Public PAIR records for each patent application.

Projected Expiration Date

For utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the standard patent term is 20 years from the filing date of the earliest U.S. non-provisional or PCT application to which priority is claimed. This 20-year term can be extended by Patent Term Adjustment (PTA).

The original filing date for US10651992 is 2019-04-27.
The anticipated expiration date listed in the patent document is 2036-06-29.

Calculating 20 years from the filing date (2019-04-27) results in an unadjusted expiration date of 2039-04-27.

The discrepancy between the calculated 20-year term (2039-04-27) and the "Anticipated expiration" date of 2036-06-29 strongly suggests that a terminal disclaimer has been filed. A terminal disclaimer shortens the life of a patent when it claims subject matter similar to, but not patentably distinct from, an earlier-expiring patent, often to overcome obviousness-type double patenting rejections. If a terminal disclaimer has been filed, the patent's term is limited to the expiration date of the earlier patent, regardless of any PTA.

Without access to the USPTO Public PAIR system to review the specific terminal disclaimer (if any) and the PTA calculation, it is not possible to independently verify the "Anticipated expiration" date of 2036-06-29. However, based on the explicit mention in the patent document, this is the current projected expiration date.

Here are derivative variations and combination prior art scenarios for US Patent 10651992, generated from the perspective of a Senior Patent Strategist and Research Engineer specializing in Defensive Publishing. The goal is to create prior art that renders future incremental improvements by competitors obvious or non-novel, focusing on the core claim of a wireless communication terminal and its method for handling coexistence with legacy devices via the L-SIG, length information, remaining value 'm', PE_Disambiguity field, and symbol calculation.

---

Defensive Disclosure for US Patent 10651992

Derivative Variations

1. Material & Component Substitution: Terahertz Transceiver with Quantum-Dot-Enhanced Processing

• Axis: Material & Component Substitution
• Enabling Description: This derivative describes a wireless communication terminal configured for terahertz (THz) frequency operation (e.g., 0.1 THz to 10 THz band), employing a transceiver utilizing photomixing or quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology for THz signal generation and detection. The processor functionality, specifically the decoding of the legacy signaling field (L-SIG), calculation of L_LENGTH, derivation of the 'm' value, and the N_SYM determination equation, is implemented on a quantum-dot (QD) enhanced neuromorphic computing array. This array is designed to accelerate the parallel processing required for rapid parsing of THz-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, especially given the potentially much finer symbol durations (T_SYM) in THz communications. The QD-enhanced processing unit executes the N_SYM = floor(((L_LENGTH + m + (3 * 3 / 4) - T_HE_PREAMBLE) / T_SYM) - PE_Disambiguity) computation, where T_HE_PREAMBLE and T_SYM are adapted for THz numerology, and the PE_Disambiguity field is dynamically adjusted by the neuromorphic array based on observed channel conditions (e.g., atmospheric absorption, scattering) and predicted packet extension requirements in the THz domain. The 'remaining value' calculation (dividing L_LENGTH by legacy symbol data size) is performed by dedicated, energy-efficient digital signal processing (DSP) blocks integrated within the neuromorphic architecture, optimized for high-speed integer arithmetic.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  flowchart TD
      A[THz Transceiver (Photomixing/QCL)] --> B{Receive Non-Legacy THz Frame}
      B --> C[Quantum-Dot Enhanced Neuromorphic Processor]
      C --> D{Extract L-SIG}
      D --> E{Obtain L_LENGTH}
      E --> F{Calculate 'm' via DSP Block}
      F --> G{Dynamically Adjust PE_Disambiguity}
      G --> H{Compute N_SYM Equation}
      H --> I[Parse Non-Legacy THz Data Symbols]
      I --> J[Output Decoded Data]
  

2. Material & Component Substitution: Acoustic Underwater Transceiver with Reconfigurable Logic Processor

• Axis: Material & Component Substitution
• Enabling Description: This variation describes a wireless communication terminal adapted for underwater acoustic communication. The "transceiver" comprises an array of piezoelectric transducers for emitting and receiving acoustic signals, coupled with a wideband hydrophone. The processor functions, including receiving and parsing acoustic "non-legacy physical layer frames" (e.g., using Chirp Spread Spectrum or OFDM over acoustic channels), are implemented on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other reconfigurable logic. The FPGA's reconfigurable nature allows for dynamic adaptation of the "legacy" (e.g., simpler acoustic protocols) and "non-legacy" (e.g., advanced multi-carrier acoustic protocols) signaling field decoders. The L_LENGTH is derived from an acoustic L-SIG equivalent, representing the total duration of the non-legacy acoustic packet. The 'remaining value' is calculated based on acoustic legacy symbol data size (e.g., specific number of bits per acoustic symbol at a base acoustic rate). The core N_SYM = floor(((L_LENGTH + m + (3 * 3 / 4) - T_HE_PREAMBLE) / T_SYM) - PE_Disambiguity) equation is instantiated within the FPGA's logic fabric, with T_HE_PREAMBLE and T_SYM being acoustic preamble and data symbol durations, respectively. The PE_Disambiguity field is interpreted to compensate for varying sound propagation delays and multipath effects inherent in underwater channels, allowing for more robust determination of acoustic packet boundaries and data symbol counts.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  flowchart LR
      A[Piezoelectric Transducer Array] -- Acoustic Signal --> B{FPGA Processor}
      B -- Input --> C[Acoustic Frame Receiver]
      C --> D{Acoustic L-SIG Decoder}
      D --> E[L_LENGTH Extraction]
      E --> F[Calculate 'm' (Acoustic Legacy)]
      F --> G[PE_Disambiguity Resolver (Acoustic)]
      G --> H{N_SYM Calculation Engine}
      H --> I[Acoustic Data Symbol Parser]
      I --> J[Decoded Acoustic Data Output]
  

3. Operational Parameter Expansion: Ultra-Low Frequency (ULF) Satellite Communication

• Axis: Operational Parameter Expansion
• Enabling Description: This derivative details a communication terminal operating in the Ultra-Low Frequency (ULF) band (3 Hz to 30 Hz), primarily for long-distance, subterranean, or underwater satellite communication with extremely slow data rates and very long symbol durations. The "non-legacy physical layer frame" uses ULF waveforms, while "legacy" might refer to simpler, even lower frequency signaling. The terminal’s processor is optimized for integration over extended periods to detect and decode these ULF signals, leveraging advanced statistical signal processing and long-duration matched filtering due to high noise and interference levels. The L_LENGTH value obtained from the ULF L-SIG indicates durations that could span seconds or even minutes. The 'remaining value' calculation takes into account the extremely small "data size transmittable by a symbol of a legacy physical layer frame" in the ULF domain (e.g., a fraction of a bit per legacy symbol over minutes). The T_HE_PREAMBLE and T_SYM for non-legacy ULF data symbols are accordingly in the order of seconds. The PE_Disambiguity field is critical in this environment, as ULF signals are highly susceptible to variations in propagation medium, and precise packet boundary determination is challenging. This field is used to account for long-tail propagation effects or environmentally induced variations in apparent packet duration. The N_SYM calculation is adapted for these dramatically expanded time scales, allowing the ULF receiver to accurately delineate the ULF data payload.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  sequenceDiagram
      participant ULF_SAT as ULF Satellite
      participant ULF_TERM as ULF Terminal
      ULF_SAT->>ULF_TERM: Transmit Non-Legacy ULF Frame (long duration)
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Detect and Filter ULF Signal
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Extract ULF L-SIG
      activate ULF_TERM
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Obtain L_LENGTH (seconds/minutes)
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Calculate 'm' (ULF bits/symbol)
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Apply PE_Disambiguity (propagation compensation)
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Compute N_SYM = floor(((L_LENGTH + m + (3 * 3 / 4) - T_HE_PREAMBLE) / T_SYM) - PE_Disambiguity)
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_TERM: Demodulate N_SYM ULF Data Symbols
      deactivate ULF_TERM
      ULF_TERM->>ULF_SAT: Acknowledge (if applicable)
  

4. Operational Parameter Expansion: Femto-scale Inter-chip Communication

• Axis: Operational Parameter Expansion
• Enabling Description: This derivative focuses on a wireless communication terminal integrated within a System-on-Chip (SoC) for femto-scale (10^-15 meters) inter-chip communication, where the "wireless" medium might be localized electromagnetic fields or phonon propagation. Here, "non-legacy physical layer frames" represent high-speed, very short-duration bursts of data between chiplets, while "legacy" refers to slower, more traditional on-chip interconnects. The data rates are in the Tbps range, and symbol durations (T_SYM) are in femtoseconds or picoseconds. The terminal's processor, a dedicated logic block on the SoC, receives these frames. The "legacy signaling field" (L-SIG) is a very short preamble sequence, and L_LENGTH indicates the entire burst duration in picoseconds. The 'remaining value' is calculated based on the maximum data size per legacy symbol, which might be a single bit or a few bits due to the extremely short durations and local nature of the communication. T_HE_PREAMBLE and T_SYM are similarly minuscule. The PE_Disambiguity field is crucial for distinguishing actual data symbols from noise or residual energy from previous bursts, especially in a highly integrated, tightly-timed environment where interference is localized. The N_SYM calculation precisely determines the number of data units, enabling ultra-fast, efficient inter-chip communication without misinterpreting padding or noise.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      A[Chiplet 1 (Transmitter)] -- High-Speed Burst (Femto-scale Wireless) --> B[Chiplet 2 (Receiver)]
      B --> C{Processor Logic Block}
      C -- Receives Non-Legacy Frame --> D[L-SIG Extraction Module]
      D -- L_LENGTH --> E[Remaining Value Calculator]
      E -- 'm' --> F[PE_Disambiguity Unit (Noise/Residual Filter)]
      F --> G[N_SYM Computation Unit]
      G -- N_SYM --> H[Inter-Chip Data Parser]
      H --> I[High-Speed Data Bus]
  

5. Cross-Domain Application: Precision Agriculture (AgTech)

• Axis: Cross-Domain Application
• Enabling Description: This derivative applies the wireless communication terminal and method to precision agriculture. Specifically, it describes a sensor node (the "wireless communication terminal") deployed in a field, communicating wirelessly with a central gateway. "Non-legacy physical layer frames" are advanced telemetry packets from high-efficiency sensors (ee.g., hyper-spectral imaging, soil moisture profiles), while "legacy wireless communication terminals" are older, simpler sensors (e.g., basic temperature, humidity) using simpler protocols like LoRaWAN (legacy mode) or proprietary low-power radio protocols. The non-legacy sensor node transmits its complex data within a non-legacy frame that includes a compatible L-SIG. This L-SIG allows legacy nodes within range to correctly infer channel occupancy, preventing collisions. The sensor node's embedded processor obtains L_LENGTH for the non-legacy data, and uses the 'remaining value' calculation and the N_SYM equation to determine the exact number of advanced data symbols (N_SYM) in its transmission. The PE_Disambiguity field can be used to signal sensor-specific padding for environmental factors (e.g., variable data rates due to dynamic plant growth, weather conditions affecting transmission length). This ensures that even heterogeneous sensor networks can coexist and utilize shared spectrum efficiently, allowing for precise resource allocation and data collection without interference.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  stateDiagram
      direction LR
      Legacy_Idle : Monitor L-SIG
      Legacy_Defer : Defer Tx (based on L_LENGTH)
      NonLegacy_Tx_Init : Assemble Non-Legacy Frame
      NonLegacy_Tx_Init --> NonLegacy_Tx_LSIG : Transmit L-SIG (with L_LENGTH)
      NonLegacy_Tx_LSIG --> NonLegacy_Tx_Preamble : Transmit HE_PREAMBLE
      NonLegacy_Tx_Preamble --> NonLegacy_Tx_Data : Transmit N_SYM Data
      NonLegacy_Tx_Data --> NonLegacy_Tx_PE : Transmit Packet Extension (if any)
      NonLegacy_Tx_PE --> NonLegacy_Tx_Complete : Frame Complete
      NonLegacy_Rx_LSIG : Receive L-SIG
      NonLegacy_Rx_LSIG --> NonLegacy_Rx_Info : Obtain L_LENGTH, calculate 'm'
      NonLegacy_Rx_Info --> NonLegacy_Rx_NSYM : Determine N_SYM (using PE_Disambiguity)
      NonLegacy_Rx_NSYM --> NonLegacy_Rx_Data : Receive N_SYM Data
      NonLegacy_Rx_Data --> NonLegacy_Rx_Complete : Decode Complete
  
      [*] --> Legacy_Idle
      Legacy_Idle --> Legacy_Defer: L-SIG detected
      NonLegacy_Tx_Complete --> [*]
      [*] --> NonLegacy_Rx_LSIG
      NonLegacy_Rx_Complete --> [*]
  

6. Cross-Domain Application: Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Robotics

• Axis: Cross-Domain Application
• Enabling Description: This derivative describes a communication system for maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, involving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) acting as "wireless communication terminals." The "non-legacy physical layer frame" carries high-bandwidth sonar imaging data, video feeds, or complex navigational updates, while "legacy wireless communication terminals" are older SAR beacons or basic acoustic modems transmitting low-rate position updates. The AUV/USV is equipped with a processor that receives non-legacy frames, ensuring interoperability. The L-SIG embedded in the non-legacy frame communicates its duration to legacy systems, preventing them from transmitting during critical data bursts. The processor obtains the L_LENGTH from the L-SIG and uses the 'remaining value' calculation and the N_SYM equation to precisely determine the number of data symbols in the non-legacy SAR transmission. The PE_Disambiguity field is particularly useful here for adapting to variable acoustic channel conditions (e.g., temperature gradients, salinity changes, marine life interference) that can cause effective packet duration to fluctuate, allowing for robust data recovery even in dynamic underwater environments.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  flowchart TD
      SAR_Sensor[SAR Sensor Data (Sonar/Video)] --> AUV_Tx[AUV/USV Transmitter]
      AUV_Tx -- Non-Legacy Acoustic Frame --> AUV_Rx[AUV/USV Receiver]
      AUV_Rx -- Legacy Acoustic Frame --> Legacy_Rx[Legacy SAR Beacon/Modem]
      AUV_Rx --> Processor[Processor: Decode Non-Legacy Frame]
      Processor --> L_SIG_Obtain[Obtain L-SIG (Acoustic)]
      L_SIG_Obtain --> Length_Info[Extract L_LENGTH]
      Length_Info --> Rem_Val[Calculate 'm' (Acoustic Legacy Rate)]
      Rem_Val --> PE_Disamb[Resolve PE_Disambiguity (Channel Adapt)]
      PE_Disamb --> NSYM_Calc[Calculate N_SYM]
      NSYM_Calc --> Data_Parse[Parse N_SYM Acoustic Data Symbols]
      Legacy_Rx -- Defer Transmit --> AUV_Rx
  

7. Integration with Emerging Tech: AI-Driven Adaptive L-SIG Parameterization

• Axis: Integration with Emerging Tech
• Enabling Description: This derivative integrates AI-driven optimization into the core coexistence mechanism. The wireless communication terminal's processor incorporates a Machine Learning (ML) model (e.g., a Reinforcement Learning agent) that dynamically adjusts the PE_Disambiguity field and potentially modifies the effective L_LENGTH value within the L-SIG to optimize coexistence performance. The ML agent observes real-time channel conditions (e.g., interference levels, packet error rates, latency metrics from legacy and non-legacy transmissions), network congestion, and the behavior of both legacy and non-legacy terminals. Based on these observations, the AI model predicts the optimal PE_Disambiguity value that minimizes packet loss or maximizes throughput in heterogeneous environments. For instance, in highly congested areas, the AI might increase PE_Disambiguity to ensure legacy terminals defer for slightly longer, or decrease it in sparse environments to minimize unnecessary deferrals. This dynamic adjustment is passed to the physical layer frame generation module, directly influencing the interpretation by both legacy and non-legacy receivers. The AI also learns optimal strategies for signaling "other information" embedded in the 'remaining value' of L_LENGTH, improving the overall efficiency of information transfer while maintaining backward compatibility.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  flowchart TD
      Input[Real-time Channel/Network Metrics] --> AI_Engine{AI/ML Optimization Engine}
      AI_Engine -- Optimal PE_Disambiguity, L_LENGTH Offset --> Frame_Gen[Non-Legacy Frame Generation]
      Frame_Gen --> L_SIG_Embed[Embed L-SIG (with AI-tuned L_LENGTH)]
      Frame_Gen --> HE_Preamble_Embed[Embed HE_PREAMBLE]
      Frame_Gen --> Data_Embed[Embed Data]
      Frame_Gen --> PE_Embed[Embed Packet Extension (with AI-tuned PE_Disambiguity)]
      Frame_Gen --> Tx[Transmit Non-Legacy Frame]
      Tx --> Legacy_Rx[Legacy Receiver (Defers)]
      Tx --> NonLegacy_Rx[Non-Legacy Receiver]
      NonLegacy_Rx --> Proc[Processor]
      Proc --> L_SIG_Decode[Decode L-SIG]
      Proc --> Len_Info[Extract L_LENGTH]
      Proc --> Rem_Calc[Calculate 'm']
      Proc --> NSYM_Calc[Compute N_SYM (using AI-tuned PE_Disambiguity)]
      NSYM_Calc --> Data_Decode[Decode Data]
      Data_Decode --> AI_Engine
  

8. Integration with Emerging Tech: IoT Sensor Feedback for Adaptive Frame Parsing

• Axis: Integration with Emerging Tech
• Enabling Description: This derivative describes a wireless communication terminal where the frame parsing logic adapts dynamically based on real-time feedback from integrated IoT sensors. For example, in a smart factory environment, the "wireless communication terminal" might be an industrial IoT gateway. Environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, vibration) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) sensors provide real-time data to the gateway's processor. This sensor data directly influences the interpretation of the "non-legacy physical layer frame" and the calculation of N_SYM. Specifically, if EMI sensors detect high interference, the processor might intelligently increase the perceived PE_Disambiguity value (or use an alternative calculation model for it) to account for potential corruption of the end-of-packet or padding fields, thereby improving the reliability of N_SYM determination. Conversely, in stable environments, PE_Disambiguity might be reduced to optimize throughput. The 'other information' derived from the 'remaining value' of L_LENGTH could include directives for error correction intensity or retransmission policies, adaptively chosen based on the live sensor feedback regarding channel quality. This allows the system to be highly resilient and performant in unpredictable industrial settings.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph LR
      subgraph IoT Gateway (Wireless Communication Terminal)
          Sensor_Data[Environmental/EMI Sensor Data] --> Processor
          Processor --> A[Receive Non-Legacy Frame]
          A --> B[Obtain L-SIG]
          B --> C[Extract L_LENGTH]
          C --> D[Calculate 'm']
          Processor -- Adaptive Adjustment Logic --> E[PE_Disambiguity Filter]
          D -- 'm' --> E
          E --> F[Compute N_SYM]
          F --> G[Parse Data Symbols]
          G --> Output[Decoded IoT Data]
      end
      IoT_Network[IoT Network] --> IoT Gateway
  

9. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode: L-SIG Corruption and Low-Power Fail-Safe Mode

• Axis: The "Inverse" or Failure Mode
• Enabling Description: This derivative focuses on a fail-safe mode triggered by L-SIG corruption. The wireless communication terminal, upon detecting uncorrectable errors in the received L-SIG of a non-legacy physical layer frame (e.g., CRC failure on the L-SIG field), transitions into a "low-power fail-safe mode." In this mode, instead of attempting to parse the full non-legacy frame or calculate N_SYM, the terminal performs a minimum duration channel deferral. This deferral is based on a pre-configured, conservative "default legacy packet duration" (a fixed, safe L_LENGTH value for general legacy compatibility) rather than the corrupted L_LENGTH value. It explicitly bypasses the m calculation, the N_SYM equation, and the PE_Disambiguity field processing. This prevents the terminal from indefinitely sensing the channel or attempting to decode a non-existent frame, conserving battery life in IoT devices or preventing system stalls in critical applications. Furthermore, the "other information" derived from 'm' is instead interpreted as a "fail-safe mode indicator" in subsequent, limited transmissions from the terminal, signaling its degraded state to other non-legacy nodes.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  stateDiagram
      direction LR
      [*] --> Idle
      Idle --> Receive_Frame: Receive Wireless Signal
      Receive_Frame --> Decode_LSIG: Attempt L-SIG Decode
      Decode_LSIG --> Success_LSIG: L-SIG CRC Pass
      Decode_LSIG --> Fail_LSIG: L-SIG CRC Fail
      Success_LSIG --> Normal_Operation: Proceed with L_LENGTH, 'm', PE_Disambiguity, N_SYM calc
      Fail_LSIG --> Low_Power_Fail_Safe: Enter Low-Power Mode
      Low_Power_Fail_Safe --> Default_Deferral: Perform Default Channel Deferral
      Default_Deferral --> Idle: After Default Duration
      Low_Power_Fail_Safe --> Signal_Fail_State: Transmit Limited Fail-Safe Indicator
      Signal_Fail_State --> Idle
  

10. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode: Limited-Functionality "Listen-Only" Mode

• Axis: The "Inverse" or Failure Mode
• Enabling Description: This derivative describes a wireless communication terminal operating in a "limited-functionality" mode, specifically a "listen-only" mode, under severely degraded channel conditions or when resource constraints are extreme (e.g., critically low battery). In this mode, the terminal's processor only partially processes received "non-legacy physical layer frames." It prioritizes the detection and decoding of the basic L-SIG to extract only the L_LENGTH information, and then ceases further active decoding of the non-legacy preamble, data, or packet extension fields. The calculation of m, the determination of N_SYM, and the use of PE_Disambiguity are bypassed entirely. The purpose is not to decode the non-legacy data, but simply to ascertain the channel occupancy duration indicated by the non-legacy transmission, allowing the terminal to "respect" the ongoing transmission and avoid interference without expending computational resources on full data recovery. The "other information" typically derived from the 'remaining value' is ignored. This mode is particularly useful for maximizing battery life or maintaining minimal channel awareness in hostile RF environments, enabling passive coexistence rather than active data reception.
• Mermaid Diagram:

  graph TD
      A[Receive Non-Legacy Frame (Degraded Channel)] --> B{Processor (Limited-Functionality Mode)}
      B --> C[L-SIG Decoder (Priority)]
      C -- L-SIG Valid --> D[Extract L_LENGTH]
      C -- L-SIG Invalid --> E[Return to Listen-Only (Ignore Frame)]
      D --> F[Start Channel Occupancy Timer]
      F --> G[Do NOT Calculate 'm', PE_Disambiguity, N_SYM]
      G --> H[End Channel Occupancy Timer]
      H --> I[Return to Listen-Only Idle]
      E --> I
  

---

Combination Prior Art Scenarios

Here are at least 3 "Combination Prior Art" scenarios where the principles of US Patent 10651992 (specifically the L-SIG parsing, length information, 'm' value, PE_Disambiguity, and N_SYM calculation for coexistence) are combined with existing open-source standards.

1. US10651992 + Open-Source IEEE 802.11ax/be Firmware (e.g., OpenWrt with ath11k/ath12k drivers):

   • Description: An open-source implementation of an IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) or 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) compliant wireless access point or station (running on platforms like OpenWrt with ath11k or future ath12k drivers for Qualcomm chipsets, or equivalent drivers for Mediatek/Intel Wi-Fi 6/7 hardware). This firmware is modified to explicitly implement the L-SIG generation and parsing mechanism as described in US10651992. This includes setting the L_LENGTH field in the legacy portion of the 802.11ax/be physical layer frame based on the total duration of the non-legacy frame (HE/EHT Preamble + Data + Packet Extension), calculating the m value for embedding additional information, and implementing the N_SYM = floor(((L_LENGTH + m + (3 * 3 / 4) - T_HE_PREAMBLE) / T_SYM) - PE_Disambiguity) equation within the firmware's PHY/MAC layer for robust determination of data symbols. The PE_Disambiguity field could be dynamically configured via sysfs parameters in the Linux kernel or through a network configuration utility, allowing users to tune coexistence behavior in mixed 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be environments. This demonstrates the core patent claims implemented within a widely used open-source Wi-Fi ecosystem.

2. US10651992 + GNU Radio Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Framework:

   • Description: A custom GNU Radio flowgraph developed to emulate a non-legacy wireless communication system that coexists with legacy (e.g., 802.11a-like) transmissions. The GNU Radio blocks implement a software-defined "transceiver" capable of transmitting and receiving both legacy 802.11a-style OFDM frames and new "non-legacy" frames. The non-legacy frame generation block explicitly constructs a physical layer frame that includes a standard 802.11a L-SIG field, where L_LENGTH is computed according to the patent's principles to encompass the full non-legacy packet duration. A dedicated block calculates the 'm' value, embedding additional signaling parameters into the L-SIG's remaining bits (after accounting for L_LENGTH and legacy data size). On the receiver side, a GNU Radio block acts as the "processor," extracting the L-SIG, obtaining L_LENGTH, deriving 'm', and then executing the N_SYM = floor(((L_LENGTH + m + (3 * 3 / 4) - T_HE_PREAMBLE) / T_SYM) - PE_Disambiguity) calculation to correctly determine the number of data symbols in the emulated non-legacy payload. The PE_Disambiguity value is configurable within the flowgraph parameters, allowing real-time experimentation with different packet extension ambiguity resolution strategies. This setup fully demonstrates the patent's core claims in a flexible, open-source SDR environment.

3. US10651992 + MQTT over an Experimental Low-Power Wireless Mesh Network (e.g., Zigbee-like using Contiki-NG OS):

   • Description: An experimental low-power wireless mesh network using a custom physical layer, implemented on embedded devices running an open-source operating system like Contiki-NG. These devices act as "wireless communication terminals." The network includes both "legacy" nodes using simple, fixed-length packet structures and "non-legacy" nodes using more complex, variable-length frames to carry MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) messages. The non-legacy nodes encapsulate their MQTT payloads within frames that include a specially designed "legacy signaling field" equivalent to L-SIG. This field provides a basic L_LENGTH (duration information) that legacy nodes can interpret to perform Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) deferral. The non-legacy nodes' firmware implements the L_LENGTH setting, the 'remaining value' (m) calculation (e.g., using L_LENGTH mod legacy_symbol_octet_size to signal QoS or priority for the MQTT message), and the N_SYM determination equation. The PE_Disambiguity field is implemented to compensate for variations in channel access delays or acknowledgments in the mesh network. This allows a robust determination of the N_SYM for the variable MQTT payload, ensuring efficient and reliable message delivery across a heterogeneous low-power mesh network using an open-source messaging protocol standard.