US 10959123

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 10959123:

Title: Low latency wireless messaging

Current Assignee: SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Inventor: Jeffrey C. Adams

Filing Date: 2017-02-18

Issue Date: 2021-03-23

Abstract:
The patent discloses technology for wireless transmission of messages to remote receiving devices. This technology involves receiving a message, determining transmission parameters, and transmitting the message based on these parameters. It may also include encoding the message to manage message latency and can be used for transmissions via the ionosphere or other atmospheric layers in the Medium Frequency (MF), High Frequency (HF), or Very High Frequency (VHF) spectrum. The disclosed technology is specifically applicable to achieving low latency in financial transaction execution, such as high-speed high-frequency trading.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for transmitting messages wirelessly over High Frequency (HF) bands using the ionosphere. The method involves receiving a request for a specific action, then encoding a particular value (which the receiving device already understands as corresponding to that action) into a shorter message format designed to reduce transmission delay (message latency). It then determines the best transmission settings (parameters) for this encoded message, considering both the message latency and any government-mandated limits on the communication channel's bandwidth. Finally, the system transmits this specially encoded message using the determined settings to a distant receiving device.

• Independent Claim 8 (System): This claim describes a system designed for low-latency wireless communication. It includes components (means) for:

  1. Receiving a request for a specific action and encoding a value representing that action into a low-latency message format, where the receiving device already knows what this value means.
  2. Determining the transmission settings for sending this message through the ionosphere or troposphere, based on the desired low message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth.
  3. Transmitting the message to the remote receiving device using these determined settings, again through the ionosphere or troposphere.

• Independent Claim 16 (Device): This claim describes a device for sending messages to a remote receiver. The device contains a memory and a processing circuit that are set up to carry out the following steps:

  1. Receive a request to perform a particular action.
  2. Encode a specific value (known beforehand by the receiving device to mean that particular action) into a message format designed to minimize transmission delay when sent over an ionospheric High Frequency (HF) band.
  3. Determine the transmission settings for sending this encoded message, taking into account both message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth.
  4. Control a transmitter to send the encoded message to the remote receiving device using these determined transmission settings.

USPTO Database Search:
The patent US10959123B1 is "Active" and has an "Anticipated expiration" date of 2033-07-22. It shows an assignment to SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC on 2024-11-13. Maintenance fees have been paid (4th year, small entity) on 2024-09-23.

CAFC 2026 Dockets Search:
A search for US10959123 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any specific results, indicating no active litigation directly naming this patent in the CAFC dockets for 2026 as of the current date.Here's a concise summary of US Patent 10959123:

Title: Low latency wireless messaging

Current Assignee: SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Inventor: Jeffrey C. Adams

Filing Date: 2017-02-18

Issue Date: 2021-03-23

Abstract:
The patent discloses technology for wireless transmission of messages to remote receiving devices. The technology involves receiving a message for transmission, determining transmission parameters for that message, and transmitting it according to those determined parameters. It may also include encoding the message to reduce message latency and can be used for transmission via the ionosphere or other atmospheric layers at frequencies in the Medium Frequency (MF), High Frequency (HF), or Very High Frequency (VHF) spectrum. This technology is particularly suited for low-latency financial transaction execution, such as high-speed high-frequency trading.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for sending messages wirelessly over High Frequency (HF) bands via the ionosphere. The method comprises: receiving a request for a specific action; encoding a particular value (which the receiving device already knows corresponds to that action) into a message format designed to reduce transmission delay; determining the transmission settings for this encoded message based on both message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth; and finally, transmitting the encoded message in the HF band using the determined settings to a distant receiving device.

• Independent Claim 8 (System): This claim describes a system for low-latency wireless message transmission to a remote device. The system includes components (referred to as "means") for: receiving a request for an action and encoding a corresponding value into a low-latency message format known to the receiver; determining transmission parameters for this low-latency wireless transmission through ionospheric or tropospheric layers, based on message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth; and transmitting the message according to these determined parameters through those atmospheric layers.

• Independent Claim 16 (Device): This claim describes a device for transmitting messages, comprising at least one memory and at least one processing circuit. These are configured to perform operations including: receiving a request for a particular action; encoding a specific value (known a priori to the receiving device as corresponding to that action) into an encoded message format designed to reduce message latency for transmission in an ionospheric HF band; determining transmission parameters for sending this encoded message based on message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth; and controlling a transmitter to send the encoded message according to the determined parameters.

USPTO Database and CAFC 2026 Dockets Search:
US Patent 10959123B1 is currently Active, with an anticipated expiration date of 2033-07-22. The current assignee is SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC, following an assignment on 2024-11-13. Maintenance fees for the 4th year (small entity) were paid on 2024-09-23.

A search of the CAFC 2026 dockets, including scheduled cases for April, May, and June 2026, did not yield any results specifically naming US10959123. Therefore, there is no public record of active litigation involving this patent in the CAFC dockets for 2026 at this time.

A search for litigation involving US Patent 10959123 indicates no direct litigation cases filed in federal courts.

Unified Patents, an organization that seeks to deter unsubstantiated or invalid patent assertions, does not list US10959123 in its database as a patent it has challenged in PTAB cases, ex-parte reexams, or litigation cases. While Unified Patents is involved in numerous patent challenges, none of the publicly available information directly links them to US10959123.

Therefore, as of April 26, 2026, there is no known litigation directly involving US Patent 10959123.

Proceedings overview

A search for AIA trial proceedings for US Patent 10959123 via the USPTO Open Data Portal (ODP) API and web search did not identify any active or past Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings.

Strategic summary

As of May 22, 2026, there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US10959123. This means that all claims (1-20) of the patent are currently UNTESTED in the context of AIA trial proceedings. There are no claims that have been canceled, sustained, or settled through PTAB review.

The absence of PTAB activity suggests that the patent has not yet faced validity challenges in this forum. Therefore, there is no estoppel landscape established under § 315(e)(2) for potential petitioners, and all prior-art grounds remain available for challenge. No pattern signals, such as repeated filings by the same petitioner or aggressive appeals by the patent owner, can be observed.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US10959123, a defendant facing assertion of this patent would find that all claims are currently unchallenged in this forum. The absence of IPRs or other AIA trials indicates that the patent's validity has not been tested before the PTAB.

Therefore, for a defendant considering an invalidity challenge:

• Consider filing an IPR/PGR: If strong prior art exists, an IPR (for § 102/103 challenges) or PGR (if eligible, for a broader range of challenges including § 112) could be a viable strategy to challenge the patent's validity.
• Conduct thorough prior art search: A comprehensive search for prior art would be crucial to identify strong grounds for a potential PTAB petition, as no prior art has been adjudicated in this forum for this patent.

Inventors

The sole named inventor for US Patent 10959123 is Jeffrey C. Adams. At the time of the original assignee's filing, it is determinable that Jeffrey C. Adams was associated with Spectranet Inc., as the patent was originally assigned by him to Spectranet, Inc. on 2017-05-31 [cite: 039750/0942].

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Spectranet Inc. The patent abstract and description indicate their primary line of business was developing "low latency wireless messaging" technology, particularly for applications like "High Frequency Trading (HFT) transactions." The patent does not explicitly state whether Spectranet Inc. shipped a product embodying the claims. Based on the assignment record, Spectranet, Inc. transferred its interest in this patent to SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC on 2024-11-12 [cite: 064321/0456], suggesting that its current status as an operating entity related to this patent has changed.

Assignment timeline

• 2017-05-31 (executed) / recorded 2017-06-01 — Reel 039750/0942

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: ADAMS, JEFFREY C.
  • Assignee: SPECTRANET, INC.
  • Correspondent: ROBERT M. WASSON, ESQ., K&L GATES LLP, 920 FIFTH AVENUE SUITE 3900, SEATTLE, WA 98104.
  • Context: Inventor assigned patent rights to the original operating company.

• 2024-11-12 (executed) / recorded 2024-11-13 — Reel 064321/0456

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SPECTRANET, INC.
  • Assignee: SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: STEVEN L. PERDUE, LUMINADVISOR PLLC, 1000 N WEST STREET SUITE 1200, WILMINGTON, DE 19801. This correspondent is unique in this assignment chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent assets from the original assignee to an LLC, potentially for intellectual property management or assertion.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10959123
    2017 : Inventor assigned to Spectranet Inc
    2021 : Patent issued
    2024 : Assigned to Spectranet Technologies LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The patent was transferred from "Spectranet, Inc." to "SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC" on 2024-11-12 [cite: 064321/0456]. The assignee's name, "SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC," and the correspondent's address in Wilmington, DE [cite: 064321/0456] are common indicators of an entity primarily focused on IP holding or licensing rather than product development.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Unclear. SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC is not listed among the commonly recognized high-frequency patent asserters. Further research beyond the scope of this task would be required to definitively classify them.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. The correspondent for the first assignment was Robert M. Wasson of K&L Gates LLP [cite: 039750/0942], while the second assignment was handled by Steven L. Perdue of Luminadvisor PLLC [cite: 064321/0456]. There is no recurrence of the same correspondent within this patent's assignment chain.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There are only two recorded assignments, executed approximately seven years apart, which does not constitute multiple consecutive transfers within a short period.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The last assignment occurred on 2024-11-12 [cite: 064321/0456], and no litigation directly involving US10959123 has been identified as of 2026-05-22.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No evidence of bankruptcy proceedings for Spectranet, Inc. was found in the patent records or Google Patents legal events.
7. Privateering — Unclear. There is no publicly available information in the patent record or from typical external sources (like SEC filings) to indicate a privateering arrangement for this patent.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The current assignee, SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC, is not a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence. The transfer of the patent from "Spectranet, Inc." to "SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC" on 2024-11-12 [cite: 064321/0456], along with the correspondent's registered agent address in Wilmington, DE, strongly suggests a shell-entity transfer for intellectual property management or assertion purposes. While SPECTRANET TECHNOLOGIES LLC is not a widely known high-frequency plaintiff, the structuring of the transfer indicates a move towards an entity likely focused on monetizing the patent rather than manufacturing or selling products.

For verification, see the USPTO Patent Assignment Search results for US10959123. [cite: 039750/0942, 064321/0456]

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 10959123, I will analyze the patent citations listed within the patent itself. The USPTO's Patent Public Search is the authoritative source for this information.

Here's an analysis of the patent citations, focusing on those that potentially anticipate claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Anticipation under § 102 means that every element of a claim is found, either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference.

Patent Citations:

1. US6104712A

   • Full Citation: US6104712A, Robert; Bruno G., "Wireless communication network including plural migratory access nodes"
   • Publication Date: 2000-08-15
   • Priority Date: 1999-02-22
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a wireless communication network that includes multiple migratory access nodes. It focuses on aspects of network infrastructure and mobility rather than low-latency messaging via ionospheric propagation.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US10959123 (Claims 1, 8, 16) as it does not appear to disclose the specific combination of encoding for message latency, determining transmission parameters based on both message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and ionospheric HF transmission for low latency, particularly in the context of financial transactions. Its focus on migratory access nodes suggests a different technical problem and solution space.

2. US20020184645A1

   • Full Citation: US20020184645A1, Austin Phillip G., "Measurement of quality of service"
   • Publication Date: 2002-12-05
   • Priority Date: 2001-05-30
   • Brief Description: This application relates to the measurement of quality of service (QoS) in communication networks. While QoS might involve latency considerations, the patent focuses on measurement and reporting rather than active reduction of latency through specific transmission parameter determination and message encoding for ionospheric communication in the HF band.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. While "message latency" is a component of QoS, this reference does not appear to teach the specific methods of encoding messages for low latency in HF ionospheric transmission, nor the determination of transmission parameters (carrier frequency, modulation type, power) based on both message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth as claimed in US10959123.

3. US20020198657A1

   • Full Citation: US20020198657A1, Robbins James E., "GPS correction methods, apparatus and signals"
   • Publication Date: 2002-12-26
   • Priority Date: 2000-12-15
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes methods, apparatus, and signals for GPS correction. The subject matter is focused on GPS technology, which is distinct from the low-latency wireless messaging system described in US10959123.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. The technical domain is unrelated to low-latency financial messaging via HF ionospheric transmission.

4. US20030012153A1

   • Full Citation: US20030012153A1, Fm Bay, "System and method for individualized broadcasts on a general use broadcast frequency"
   • Publication Date: 2003-01-16
   • Priority Date: 2001-07-16
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for individualized broadcasts on a general use broadcast frequency. The focus appears to be on addressing individual users within a broadcast system, not specifically on ultra-low latency, encoded messages, or ionospheric HF transmission.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. It lacks the specific elements of encoding for message latency, determination of transmission parameters based on message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and ionospheric HF transmission as described in US10959123.

5. US20030072467A1

   • Full Citation: US20030072467A1, Brundage Trent J., "Progressive watermark decoding on a distributed computing platform"
   • Publication Date: 2003-04-17
   • Priority Date: 2001-10-16
   • Brief Description: This patent application is about progressive watermark decoding on a distributed computing platform. This field is unrelated to wireless communication and low-latency messaging.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

6. US20030126545A1

   • Full Citation: US20030126545A1, Tan Alfred Keng Tiong, "Non-linear code-division multiple access technology with improved detection algorithms and error correction coding"
   • Publication Date: 2003-07-03
   • Priority Date: 2001-10-05
   • Brief Description: This patent application relates to non-linear code-division multiple access (CDMA) technology, focusing on detection algorithms and error correction coding. While it deals with wireless communication and coding, it emphasizes error correction, which US10959123 explicitly minimizes or omits for latency reduction.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate the core claims. While it involves encoding and wireless communication, its focus on error correction coding directly contrasts with US10959123's approach of encoding messages with fewer bits, often without error correction, to reduce message latency (Claim 6, Description).

7. US20050283715A1

   • Full Citation: US20050283715A1, Arak Sutivong, "Robust erasure detection and erasure-rate-based closed loop power control"
   • Publication Date: 2005-12-22
   • Priority Date: 2004-06-18
   • Brief Description: This application describes robust erasure detection and erasure-rate-based closed loop power control for wireless communication. It deals with power control and error handling, but not necessarily the combination of low-latency encoding, channel bandwidth considerations, and ionospheric HF transmission for financial transactions.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. While it touches on power control (a transmission parameter) and error handling, it does not disclose the unique combination of message encoding for minimal latency, determination of transmission parameters based on message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and ionospheric HF transmission for specific applications like financial trading.

8. US20070147251A1

   • Full Citation: US20070147251A1, Monsen Peter, "Technique for adaptive data rate communication over fading dispersive channels"
   • Publication Date: 2007-06-28
   • Priority Date: 2005-09-23
   • Brief Description: This application describes techniques for adaptive data rate communication over fading dispersive channels. It focuses on adapting data rates to channel conditions, which may indirectly influence latency, but it doesn't describe the specific low-latency encoding, parameter determination for ionospheric HF, or financial transaction context of US10959123.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. While it discusses adaptive data rates (a form of transmission parameter), it lacks the explicit teaching of encoding a particular value in a format derived to effect message latency, determining parameters based on both message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth, and the use of the ionospheric HF band for low-latency financial transactions.

9. US20080002882A1

   • Full Citation: US20080002882A1, Voloshynovskyy Svyatoslav, "Brand protection and product autentication using portable devices"
   • Publication Date: 2008-01-03
   • Priority Date: 2006-06-30
   • Brief Description: This patent application concerns brand protection and product authentication using portable devices. This is a distinct technical area from low-latency wireless messaging.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

10. US20080129591A1

    • Full Citation: US20080129591A1, Lamance James, "System and Method for Providing Assistance Data Within a Location Network"
    • Publication Date: 2008-06-05
    • Priority Date: 2003-08-05
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for providing assistance data within a location network. This pertains to location-based services and is not directly related to the low-latency messaging of US10959123.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

11. US20080161050A1

    • Full Citation: US20080161050A1, Shudark Jeffrey B, "Method for configuring a wireless communication device to operate in a wireless communication system through automatic SIM pairing and associated wireless communication device"
    • Publication Date: 2008-07-03
    • Priority Date: 2006-12-29
    • Brief Description: This application details a method for configuring a wireless communication device via automatic SIM pairing. Its focus is on device configuration and network access, not low-latency messaging or ionospheric propagation.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to different technical subject matter.

12. US20090074155A1

    • Full Citation: US20090074155A1, Wang Jin, "Methods and apparatus to test a subscriber line for a broadband access service"
    • Publication Date: 2009-03-19
    • Priority Date: 2007-09-19
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes methods and apparatus for testing subscriber lines for broadband access services. This is a network testing and maintenance focus, not low-latency wireless messaging.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

13. US20090300469A1

    • Full Citation: US20090300469A1, Broadcom Corporation, "System and method for inter-packet channel coding and decoding"
    • Publication Date: 2009-12-03
    • Priority Date: 2008-05-29
    • Brief Description: This patent application focuses on inter-packet channel coding and decoding. Similar to US20030126545A1, this reference deals with coding for reliability, which is generally contrary to the low-bit, no-error-correction approach of US10959123 to minimize latency.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. While it discusses coding, its emphasis on channel coding for redundancy or error correction goes against the low-bit, no-error-correction approach for minimizing latency in US10959123.

14. US20100245172A1

    • Full Citation: US20100245172A1, Thales Alenia Space Italia S.P.A, "Method of Synchronising Nodes of a Network, and System and Device Therefor"
    • Publication Date: 2010-09-30
    • Priority Date: 2007-12-18
    • Brief Description: This application describes methods and systems for synchronizing nodes in a network. While synchronization is important in communication, it does not specifically address low-latency message encoding or ionospheric HF transmission with channel bandwidth constraints.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. It lacks the specific combination of low-latency message encoding, determination of transmission parameters based on message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and ionospheric HF transmission for low-latency financial transactions.

15. US20120201192A1

    • Full Citation: US20120201192A1, Pantech Co., Ltd., "Method and apparatus for relaying uplink signals"
    • Publication Date: 2012-08-09
    • Priority Date: 2009-10-06
    • Brief Description: This application describes methods and apparatus for relaying uplink signals. The focus is on signal relaying in a cellular context, which differs from the direct ionospheric HF transmission of US10959123.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. The context of relaying uplink signals in a typical wireless network does not align with the specialized ionospheric HF transmission and low-latency encoding for financial transactions taught by US10959123.

16. US20130091214A1

    • Full Citation: US20130091214A1, Broadcom Corporation, "Media social network"
    • Publication Date: 2013-04-11
    • Priority Date: 2011-10-08
    • Brief Description: This patent application relates to media social networks. This is a distinct technical field.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

17. US20130132796A1

    • Full Citation: US20130132796A1, Broadcom Corporation, "Accelerated Cyclical Redundancy Check"
    • Publication Date: 2013-05-23
    • Priority Date: 2011-11-21
    • Brief Description: This patent application focuses on accelerating Cyclical Redundancy Check (CRC). CRC is a form of error detection, which US10959123 explicitly avoids or minimizes to reduce latency.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. The focus on error detection for data integrity, while important in communications, is counter to the approach in US10959123 where error correction/detection is minimized for ultra-low latency.

18. US20130132795A1

    • Full Citation: US20130132795A1, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, "Semiconductor storage device, method of controlling the same, and error correction system"
    • Publication Date: 2013-05-23
    • Priority Date: 2008-02-29
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a semiconductor storage device and an error correction system. The focus on storage and error correction, again, is contrary to the low-latency goals of US10959123.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to different technical subject matter and a conflicting approach to error correction.

19. US8542763B2

    • Full Citation: US8542763B2, Rearden, Llc, "Systems and methods to coordinate transmissions in distributed wireless systems via user clustering"
    • Publication Date: 2013-09-24
    • Priority Date: 2004-04-02
    • Brief Description: This patent describes systems and methods for coordinating transmissions in distributed wireless systems using user clustering. The emphasis is on distributed systems and user management, not specific low-latency encoding or ionospheric HF transmission.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. It does not disclose the unique combination of low-latency message encoding, determination of transmission parameters based on message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and ionospheric HF transmission for low-latency financial transactions.

20. US20130283126A1

    • Full Citation: US20130283126A1, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., "Error detection within a memory"
    • Publication Date: 2013-10-24
    • Priority Date: 2012-04-20
    • Brief Description: This patent application relates to error detection within a memory. This is a specific memory technology focus, unrelated to wireless transmission parameters for low latency.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

21. US8654815B1

    • Full Citation: US8654815B1, Rearden, Llc, "System and method for distributed antenna wireless communications"
    • Publication Date: 2014-02-18
    • Priority Date: 2004-04-02
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for distributed antenna wireless communications. Its focus is on antenna configurations for wireless communication, not specifically low-latency messaging via ionospheric HF or financial transactions.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate. While related to wireless communication, it does not disclose the specific elements of encoding for message latency, determining transmission parameters based on message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and ionospheric HF transmission for financial transactions as claimed in US10959123.

22. US20140281625A1

    • Full Citation: US20140281625A1, Seagatetechnology Llc, "Storing System Data During Low Power Mode Operation"
    • Publication Date: 2014-09-18
    • Priority Date: 2013-03-15
    • Brief Description: This patent application concerns storing system data during low power mode operation. This is a memory and power management focus, distinct from low-latency wireless communication.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate due to entirely different technical subject matter.

23. US9215726B1

    • Full Citation: US9215726B1, Spectranet, Inc., "Low latency wireless messaging"
    • Publication Date: 2015-12-15
    • Priority Date: 2012-07-24
    • Brief Description: This patent is a direct parent (continuation) of US10959123, sharing the same priority date and title. It describes core aspects of the low latency wireless messaging technology, including encoding messages for low latency, determining transmission parameters based on message latency and predefined channel bandwidth, and transmitting in the HF band via the ionosphere, particularly for financial transactions.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is a continuation of US9215726B1. As such, it is not considered prior art against itself in the anticipation sense for the common subject matter. However, any distinct subject matter claimed in US10959123 that is not present in US9215726B1 (and not entitled to its priority date) could potentially be anticipated by US9215726B1 if it were by a different inventor or lacked common ownership. Given they share the same priority date and are part of the same patent family, it's highly unlikely to be anticipatory under § 102. It serves as essential background for understanding the evolution of the claimed invention.

24. US9578540B1

    • Full Citation: US9578540B1, Spectranet, Inc., "Low latency wireless messaging"
    • Publication Date: 2017-02-21
    • Priority Date: 2012-07-24
    • Brief Description: This patent is also a direct parent (continuation) of US10959123, sharing the same priority date and title. It further elaborates on the low latency wireless messaging technology.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US9215726B1, this patent is a continuation and thus not considered prior art against itself for common subject matter. It is part of the same patent family and shares the same priority date, making anticipation under § 102 unlikely. It provides further context for the invention.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the analysis, the patents US9215726B1 and US9578540B1 are the most relevant as they are direct parent applications (continuations) of US10959123 and share the same priority date. They describe the same underlying inventive concept of low latency wireless messaging via ionospheric HF transmission. However, as continuation patents, they would typically not be used to anticipate the claims of US10959123 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, as the later patent claims subject matter that is disclosed in the earlier applications and benefits from their priority date. They represent the progression of the same invention through the patent system.

Among the other cited patents, none appear to directly anticipate the specific combination of features central to US10959123's independent claims (Claims 1, 8, and 16):

• Encoding a particular value into a format derived to effect message latency, where the value is known a priori to the remote receiving device as corresponding to a particular action (e.g., financial transaction).
• Determining transmission parameters (carrier frequency, modulation type, transmission power, sampling rate, buffer size) based on both message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth.
• Transmitting the encoded message in the ionospheric High Frequency (HF) band.

Many of the other cited references deal with general wireless communication, QoS measurement, error correction (which is often counter to the low-latency approach of US10959123), or entirely unrelated technical fields. Therefore, none of them stand out as directly anticipatory under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for the unique combination of elements claimed in US10959123.

To establish obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103, it must be shown that the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA). This typically involves identifying a primary prior art reference and then combining it with other secondary references and/or general knowledge, along with a clear motivation for doing so. The priority date for US10959123 is July 24, 2012.

The core inventive concept of US Patent 10959123, as outlined in its independent claims (Claims 1, 8, and 16), can be summarized as:

1. Receiving a request for a particular action (e.g., a financial transaction).
2. Encoding a particular value into a compact message format to reduce message latency, where the receiving device already knows the meaning of this value.
3. Determining transmission parameters (such as carrier frequency, modulation type, transmission power, sampling rate, or buffer size) for wireless transmission in the ionospheric High Frequency (HF) band, based on both message latency and a predefined channel bandwidth.
4. Transmitting the encoded message using these determined parameters.

Identified Prior Art for Obviousness:

Based on the provided prior art analysis, the following references and general knowledge are most pertinent for an obviousness analysis:

• General Knowledge of High-Frequency (HF) Radio Communication: This encompasses the understanding of transmitting messages over HF bands, including via ionospheric propagation (skywave), and the fundamental components of an HF communication system (transmitters, receivers, antennas). It also includes the awareness of regulatory constraints such as predefined channel bandwidths (e.g., the FCC's 2.8 KHz limit for HF, as mentioned in US10959123's description).
• Phillips, Matthew, "High-Speed Trading: My Laser is Faster Than Your Laser," Bloomberg Businessweek, Apr. 23, 2012: This non-patent literature (NPL) reference is crucial as it was published before the priority date of US10959123 and clearly highlights the intense demand for ultra-low latency in high-frequency trading (HFT), noting that "tens of microseconds of latency difference" could be worth "millions of dollars" to traders [cite: Phillips, NPL]. This provides a strong "problem to be solved" and a motivation for a PHOSITA to reduce communication latency.
• ITU-R P.533-10, "Method for the prediction of the performance of HF circuits, Oct. 2009": This NPL demonstrates the knowledge in the art for calculating HF propagation characteristics, including "time-of-flight" (propagation delay), which is a key component of message latency in the patent [cite: ITU-R, NPL].
• General Knowledge of Data Compression and Efficient Coding: The principle of encoding frequently transmitted information into a shorter, predefined format, known to both the sender and receiver, to reduce message size and thus transmission time, is a fundamental and well-established technique in communication engineering (e.g., telegraph codes, specialized communication protocols).
• General Principles of Wireless Communication Engineering: This includes the routine practice of selecting and optimizing transmission parameters (carrier frequency, modulation type, power, data rate) to meet specific performance objectives (e.g., low latency, reliability) while adhering to regulatory or system constraints (e.g., channel bandwidth limits).

Obviousness Analysis of Representative Claim 1:

Consider a Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (PHOSITA) in wireless communication engineering, with knowledge of financial trading systems, at the priority date of US10959123 (July 24, 2012).

Claim 1: "A method for ionospheric Radio Frequency (RF) transmission of a message in a High Frequency (HF) band to a remote receiving device, the method comprising: receiving a request for a particular action to be performed; encoding a particular value using a format derived to effect message latency into an encoded message for transmission to the remote receiving device over a frequency in an ionospheric HF frequency band, wherein the particular value is known a priori to the remote receiving device as corresponding to the particular action; determining transmission parameters for transmission of the encoded message in the ionospheric HF frequency band based at least on (a) message latency and on (b) a predefined channel bandwidth; and transmitting the encoded message in the ionospheric HF frequency band according to the determined transmission parameters to the remote receiving device."

1. "receiving a request for a particular action to be performed;": This is a basic operation in any communication system designed to facilitate requests and actions. In the context of financial transactions, the Phillips NPL establishes the critical nature of such requests and the need for speed [cite: Phillips, NPL].

2. "encoding a particular value using a format derived to effect message latency into an encoded message for transmission to the remote receiving device over a frequency in an ionospheric HF frequency band, wherein the particular value is known a priori to the remote receiving device as corresponding to the particular action;":

   • Ionospheric HF frequency band: General knowledge of HF radio communication systems readily teaches transmitting over this band.
   • Encoding a particular value... to effect message latency... known a priori: Given the intense motivation to reduce latency in HFT as highlighted by Phillips [cite: Phillips, NPL], a PHOSITA would naturally seek to reduce "message size latency" by minimizing the number of bits in a transmitted message. It is a fundamental and well-known concept in data compression and efficient communication (e.g., short codes, predefined abbreviations) to represent frequently communicated or critical information with the shortest possible unique bit sequences, leveraging a priori knowledge at the receiver. Applying this general principle of efficient coding to the specific domain of financial transaction messages would be an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA driven by latency concerns.

3. "determining transmission parameters for transmission of the encoded message in the ionospheric HF frequency band based at least on (a) message latency and on (b) a predefined channel bandwidth;":

   • Ionospheric HF frequency band: As mentioned, this is part of general HF communication knowledge.
   • Determining transmission parameters: Standard practice in wireless communication involves setting parameters like carrier frequency, modulation type, and transmission power.
   • Based at least on (a) message latency: The Phillips NPL unequivocally provides the motivation to minimize latency in HFT [cite: Phillips, NPL]. A PHOSITA, aware of propagation delay calculation methods (e.g., from ITU-R P.533-10 for HF circuits [cite: ITU-R, NPL]) and having shortened the message size (as discussed above), would routinely select and optimize transmission parameters (such as carrier frequency for optimal propagation path, or modulation type/data rate for faster bit transmission) to reduce overall message latency.
   • Based at least on (b) a predefined channel bandwidth: It is a fundamental engineering requirement to operate within regulatory or system-imposed channel bandwidth limits. The patent itself explicitly mentions the FCC's 2.8 KHz limit for HF transmissions as a constraint. A PHOSITA would routinely perform the trade-off analysis of selecting transmission parameters (e.g., a modulation type like MSK, OOK, PSK, as mentioned in the patent, which produces spectral emissions within the allowed bandwidth) to achieve low latency while complying with these known bandwidth restrictions. This balancing act is a standard design problem in telecommunications.

4. "transmitting the encoded message in the ionospheric HF frequency band according to the determined transmission parameters to the remote receiving device.": This is the logical final step after the message is encoded and transmission parameters are determined.

Motivation for Combination:

A PHOSITA would be strongly motivated to combine these elements due to the extremely high value placed on speed and latency reduction in the high-frequency trading (HFT) industry, as explicitly taught by Phillips (2012) [cite: Phillips, NPL]. Recognizing the need for long-distance communication links, and considering HF ionospheric transmission as a viable (albeit often slower) option, a PHOSITA would strive to optimize this link for the lowest possible latency. This optimization would naturally lead to:

• Employing efficient, bit-reduced encoding for repetitive financial messages, a standard data compression technique.
• Consciously optimizing all adjustable transmission parameters (frequency, modulation, power, etc.) with the explicit goal of minimizing message latency.
• Performing this optimization strictly within the bounds of known regulatory constraints, such as predefined channel bandwidths, which is a routine engineering task.

Conclusion:

The combination of the general knowledge of HF radio communication, the critical need for ultra-low latency in HFT (as evidenced by Phillips, 2012 [cite: Phillips, NPL]), well-known principles of efficient data encoding/compression, and standard wireless communication engineering practices for parameter optimization under constraints (including propagation delay calculations from references like ITU-R P.533-10 [cite: ITU-R, NPL]), would have rendered the claims of US10959123 obvious to a PHOSITA at the time of the invention. The invention primarily applies known communication and optimization techniques to a specific problem (low-latency HFT over HF ionospheric links) where there was a clear, high-value motivation to do so.

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

A specific value for Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) or Patent Term Extensions (PTE) for US Patent 10959123 is not directly available in the provided text or through a basic search of public USPTO databases without direct access to the patent's full prosecution history (file wrapper).

PTA is granted to compensate for certain administrative delays by the USPTO during the prosecution of a utility or plant patent application. These delays are defined by specific timeframes for USPTO actions, such as issuing an office action within 14 months of filing or issuing a patent within 4 months of the issue fee payment.

PTE, conversely, is typically associated with delays due to regulatory review periods, most commonly for pharmaceutical patents, under 35 U.S.C. § 156. There is no indication that US10959123 falls under the categories for PTE.

To definitively determine any PTA or PTE, one would generally need to consult the "Patent Term Adjustments" tab in the patent's file wrapper on the USPTO website.

Continuation and Divisional Applications

US Patent 10959123 is a continuation of earlier applications within the same patent family. The patent states: "This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/664,255 filed on Mar. 20, 2015, entitled “Low Latency Wireless Messaging,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,578,540, issued Feb. 21, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/948,081 filed on Jul. 22, 2013, entitled “Low Latency Wireless Messaging,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,215,726, issued Dec. 15, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/675,288 filed on Jul. 24, 2012, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Low Latency Wireless Messaging”."

This establishes a clear chain of priority:

• Provisional Application: U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/675,288, filed on 2012-07-24.
• Parent Application 1 (Non-Provisional): U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/948,081, filed on 2013-07-22, which issued as US9215726B1 on 2015-12-15.
• Parent Application 2 (Continuation): U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/664,255, filed on 2015-03-20, which issued as US9578540B1 on 2017-02-21.
• This Patent (Continuation): U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/436,779 (US10959123B1), filed on 2017-02-18, which issued as US10959123B1 on 2021-03-23.

Related Family Members

The family of US10959123 includes the following applications and patents, all stemming from the same priority date of 2012-07-24:

• US13/948,081 (US9215726B1): Parent application, issued 2015-12-15. [cite: US10959123B1]
• US14/664,255 (US9578540B1): Parent continuation application, issued 2017-02-21. [cite: US10959123B1]
• US15/436,779 (US10959123B1): This patent, issued 2021-03-23. [cite: US10959123B1]
• US17/205,898 (US11516694B1): Continuation application, filed 2021-03-18, issued 2022-11-29. [cite: US10959123B1]
• US17/992,410 (US12414002B1): Continuation application, filed 2022-11-22, anticipated publication date 2025-09-09. [cite: US10959123B1]

There are no divisional applications explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Projected Expiration Date

The anticipated expiration date for US10959123B1 is 2033-07-22. This date is calculated as 20 years from the earliest priority date, which is 2012-07-24 (the filing date of U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/675,288). [cite: US10959123B1]

According to U.S. patent law, for applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally ends 20 years from the filing date of the earliest application for which a benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c). Since US10959123 claims priority back to a provisional application filed on July 24, 2012, its 20-year term would typically run from that date. The stated anticipated expiration date of 2033-07-22 aligns with this principle.

Defensive Disclosure: Derivatives of US Patent 10959123

This document outlines derivative variations of the technology disclosed in US Patent 10959123, "Low latency wireless messaging," for the purpose of defensive publishing. The aim is to establish prior art that renders future incremental improvements or alternative implementations of similar low-latency wireless messaging systems obvious or non-novel to a Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (PHOSITA). The focus remains on encoding messages for latency reduction, dynamically determining transmission parameters based on latency and channel bandwidth, and utilizing ionospheric High Frequency (HF) bands.

---

Derivative Variations

1. Material & Component Substitution

Derivative 1.1: Software-Defined Radio (SDR) with Gallium Nitride (GaN) Power Amplifiers

• Enabling Description: The transmitting device, instead of discrete hardware components, employs a fully Software-Defined Radio (SDR) architecture where the carrier signal generation, modulation, and filtering are implemented as software modules executing on a high-performance FPGA or ASIC. The RF front-end integrates Gallium Nitride (GaN) high-power amplifiers (HPAs) for increased power efficiency and linearity over the HF spectrum (3-30 MHz) while maintaining the determined transmission power. The antenna may be a configurable log-periodic dipole array or an active loop antenna, selected dynamically based on determined elevation angle and frequency. The controller's determinators (frequency, modulation, power) directly configure the SDR's digital signal processing (DSP) blocks and the GaN HPA bias and gain settings to achieve precise control over spectral emission, ensuring compliance with the predefined channel bandwidth (e.g., 2.8 KHz FCC limit). The encoding logic is implemented in the SDR's baseband processing unit.

graph TD
    A[Request for Action] --> B(SDR Baseband Processing)
    B -- Encoded Message --> C{SDR Controller - FPGA/ASIC}
    C -- Param. Determ. (Latency, Bandwidth) --> D[SDR Digital Front-End]
    D -- RF Signal --> E(GaN High Power Amplifier)
    E -- Amplified RF --> F[Configurable Antenna Array]
    F --> G[Ionosphere HF Transmission]
    C -- Control --> D
    C -- Control --> E
    C -- Control --> F

Derivative 1.2: Metamaterial Antennas and Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) Transceivers

• Enabling Description: The system incorporates reconfigurable metamaterial antennas whose radiation patterns and impedance characteristics can be dynamically altered to optimize gain and directivity for varying ionospheric conditions (e.g., different elevation angles, hop counts) determined by the frequency determinator. The transceiver unit utilizes Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS technology for the RF mixer and synthesizer stages, offering superior noise performance and higher integration density, thereby reducing latency associated with component interconnects and signal processing overhead. The buffer determinator specifically considers the reduced sampling and processing latency capabilities of the SiGe transceiver for real-time adjustment of message buffering.

graph TD
    A[Controller (Param. Determ.)] --> B{SiGe Transceiver}
    B -- Modulated Signal --> C[Reconfigurable Metamaterial Antenna]
    C --> D[Ionospheric HF Transmission]
    A -- Control --> C
    A -- Data --> B
    B -- Low Latency RF --> C

Derivative 1.3: Cryogenically Cooled Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) with Superconducting Filters

• Enabling Description: For applications demanding extreme signal integrity and minimal noise contribution to maximize SNR with reduced transmission power (e.g., when foregoing error correction), the receiving device incorporates cryogenically cooled Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) for the HF band. Furthermore, the receiver front-end integrates high-Q superconducting filters (e.g., using YBCO thin films) to provide extremely sharp bandpass characteristics within the predefined channel bandwidth, thereby improving selectivity and further reducing noise. The transmitter may also utilize cryogenically cooled components in its output stage to improve efficiency and reduce harmonic distortion, allowing for more aggressive modulation schemes within the bandwidth constraints. The power determinator accounts for the enhanced SNR characteristics afforded by these components, potentially allowing for even lower transmission power for a given reliability target, further minimizing spectral footprint.

graph TD
    A[RF Signal (Weak)] --> B(Superconducting Filter)
    B --> C(Cryogenic LNA)
    C --> D[Demodulator/Decoder]
    D --> E[Processed Message]
    F[Transmitting Device] --> G[Cryogenic HPA (Optional)]
    G --> H[Antenna]
    H --> A

2. Operational Parameter Expansion

Derivative 2.1: Ultra-Long-Haul, Multi-Hop Ionospheric Relay for Intercontinental HFT

• Enabling Description: The system is configured for transcontinental or intercontinental low-latency financial messaging, involving multiple ionospheric hops (n > 2) and intermediate relay stations. The frequency determinator, in conjunction with a sophisticated ionospheric propagation model (e.g., using real-time solar flux data and ionosonde measurements), dynamically selects optimal carrier frequencies and elevation angles for each hop to minimize aggregate time-of-flight (τ). The power determinator adjusts transmission power at each relay to ensure adequate Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) over each segment, compensating for path loss variations, while the modulation determinator selects robust yet spectrally efficient modulation (e.g., coherent PSK with minimal symbol constellation) that remains within the predefined channel bandwidth across all hops, accounting for cumulative spectral spreading. Message encoding for latency is paramount, and each relay station performs rapid re-buffering and re-transmission with minimal processing delay.

graph TD
    A[Tx Device] -->|Hop 1| B[Relay 1]
    B -->|Hop 2| C[Relay 2]
    C -->|Hop 3| D[Rx Device]
    A -- Param. Determ. --> B
    B -- Param. Determ. --> C
    C -- Param. Determ. --> D
    subgraph Ionosphere
        I1(Ionospheric Layer)
        I2(Ionospheric Layer)
        I3(Ionospheric Layer)
    end
    A -- Via --> I1
    B -- Via --> I2
    C -- Via --> I3

Derivative 2.2: Hyperspectral Bandwidth Utilization with Dynamic Channel Bonding

• Enabling Description: To maximize effective data rate for latency-critical messages within a highly restrictive regulatory environment, the system employs hyperspectral analysis and dynamic channel bonding. Instead of a single predefined 2.8 KHz channel, the system identifies and utilizes multiple non-contiguous narrow sub-channels within a broader allocated HF band, dynamically bonding them to form a virtual wider channel. The frequency determinator, informed by real-time spectral occupancy sensors, identifies available sub-channels that meet predefined interference criteria. The modulation determinator then applies a spread spectrum technique (e.g., direct-sequence spread spectrum or frequency hopping spread spectrum) across these bonded sub-channels, ensuring the overall spectral emission of the combined transmission still adheres to the total allocated bandwidth, and the power determinator adjusts power per sub-channel. Message encoding is further optimized for parallel transmission across these bonded channels. This allows higher effective data rates than a single narrow channel, reducing message size latency.

graph TD
    A[Controller] --> B{Spectral Analyzer}
    B -- Available Sub-channels --> C[Frequency Determinator]
    C -- Channel Assignment --> D[Modulation Determinator]
    D -- Param. per Sub-channel --> E[Transmitter Array]
    E -- Sub-channel 1 --> F1(HF Tx 1)
    E -- Sub-channel 2 --> F2(HF Tx 2)
    E -- Sub-channel N --> FN(HF Tx N)
    F1 & F2 & FN --> G[Dynamic Channel Bonded Transmission]
    A -- Constraint --> C
    A -- Constraint --> D
    A -- Data --> E

Derivative 2.3: Extremely Low Data Rate, High-Reliability "Beacon" Mode

• Enabling Description: For scenarios where minimal latency is still critical but the message is exceptionally small (e.g., a single-bit "event" trigger) and reliability over vast distances is paramount under adverse ionospheric conditions (e.g., during solar flares), the system operates in an "extremely low data rate, high-reliability beacon" mode. The encoding scheme reduces the message to its absolute minimum (e.g., 1-2 bits representing a specific predefined event). The modulation determinator selects a highly robust, low-bandwidth modulation type (e.g., CW or very slow FSK), potentially with significant temporal redundancy (e.g., transmitting the same short sequence multiple times over an extended period) without explicit error correction bits, relying on comparison of redundant transmissions at the receiver. The power determinator maximizes transmission power within regulatory limits, compensating for lack of error correction. This mode prioritizes successful transmission of minimal information over achieving high throughput, with message latency being the time from event occurrence to first successful reception, not total message delivery.

graph TD
    A[Event Trigger] --> B(Encode 1-2 Bits)
    B --> C[Modulation Determinator (Slow FSK/CW)]
    C --> D[Power Determinator (Max Power)]
    D --> E[Repetitive Transmission Engine]
    E --> F[Ionosphere (Adverse Conditions)]
    F --> G[Remote Receiver (Compares Redundancies)]
    C -- Set Modulation --> E
    D -- Set Power --> E

3. Cross-Domain Application

Derivative 3.1: Disaster Relief and Emergency Communications Network

• Enabling Description: In the event of catastrophic failure of conventional communication infrastructure (e.g., after an earthquake or hurricane), this low-latency HF messaging system is repurposed to transmit critical, coded emergency alerts and essential command & control messages over damaged regions. Remote ground stations or mobile units receive requests (e.g., "send medical team to grid X," "status report Y"). The system encodes these high-priority messages into minimal bit sequences (e.g., "01001" for "medical team needed," where '010' is location code and '01' is resource type), known a priori by all deployed relief units. Transmission parameters are dynamically determined based on predicted ionospheric conditions for the affected area (derived from local sensor data or satellite imagery) to achieve the fastest possible message delivery (low latency) within emergency-band HF channel bandwidths, even if these are wider or more flexible during declared emergencies.

graph TD
    A[Emergency Request (Mobile Unit)] --> B(Encode Critical Message)
    B --> C[Controller (Disaster Mode)]
    C -- Param. Determ. (Emergency Bandwidth) --> D[HF Transmitter]
    D --> E[Damaged Area Ionosphere]
    E --> F[Remote Relief Units (A priori codes)]
    C -- Control --> D

Derivative 3.2: Remote Environmental Monitoring for Arctic/Antarctic Research

• Enabling Description: Autonomous sensor platforms deployed in remote Arctic or Antarctic regions collect critical environmental data (e.g., ice thickness, temperature, seismic activity). These platforms generate requests to transmit urgent anomaly alerts (e.g., "rapid ice melt detected," "seismic event"). The system encodes these specific alerts into ultra-low-latency messages, with predefined bit sequences for each anomaly type and location ID, known to central research stations thousands of kilometers away. The transmission parameters are determined based on prevailing polar ionospheric propagation conditions (which are highly dynamic due to geomagnetic activity) to minimize latency, balancing against the limited channel bandwidths available for scientific data transmission. The system dynamically adjusts frequency and power to penetrate auroral absorption zones or utilize optimal polar cap propagation paths.

graph TD
    A[Autonomous Sensor (Arctic/Antarctic)] --> B(Anomaly Detection)
    B --> C{Encode Alert (Low Latency)}
    C --> D[Controller (Polar HF Optimization)]
    D -- Param. Determ. (Polar Ionosphere) --> E[HF Transmitter (Robust)]
    E --> F[Polar Ionosphere / Aurora]
    F --> G[Central Research Station]
    D -- Control --> E

Derivative 3.3: Maritime Asset Tracking and Critical Status Reporting

• Enabling Description: For tracking commercial shipping fleets or remote naval assets operating globally, beyond satellite communication range or in regions with unreliable service, the system provides low-latency critical status updates. A vessel's onboard system receives a request to report an urgent status (e.g., "engine failure," "piracy threat," "man overboard"). This status and location are encoded into a compact, latency-optimized message (e.g., a few bits representing status, a few for coded location grid), known to shore-based operations centers. Transmission parameters are determined, taking into account the real-time ionospheric conditions over the vessel's current ocean region and the fixed HF maritime communication channel bandwidths (e.g., ITU-R bands). The system adjusts carrier frequency, modulation, and power to overcome sea-state clutter and achieve rapid, reliable transmission to the nearest shore station, minimizing the delay in critical incident response.

graph TD
    A[Vessel Onboard System] --> B(Critical Status Report)
    B --> C{Encode Status/Location}
    C --> D[Controller (Maritime HF)]
    D -- Param. Determ. (Oceanic Ionosphere, Maritime Band) --> E[HF Transceiver (Vessel)]
    E --> F[Oceanic Ionosphere]
    F --> G[Shore Operations Center]
    D -- Control --> E

4. Integration with Emerging Tech

Derivative 4.1: AI-Driven Predictive Ionospheric Optimization

• Enabling Description: The controller's determinators are augmented with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) module, specifically a deep learning neural network, trained on historical and real-time ionospheric data (solar activity, geomagnetic indices, ionosonde readings, past HF propagation successes/failures). This AI module continuously predicts optimal carrier frequencies, elevation angles, and expected hop counts with microsecond-level precision, minimizing propagation latency. It processes the message size and predefined channel bandwidth, then recommends a complete set of transmission parameters (modulation type, power, sample rate, buffer size) that collectively minimize total message latency. The AI system can adapt to rapidly changing space weather conditions, providing dynamic adjustments to the determinators, far exceeding human or simple algorithmic capabilities.

graph TD
    A[Real-time Ionospheric Data] --> B(AI Predictive Model)
    B -- Optimal HF Paths --> C[Controller Determinators]
    C -- Tuned Parameters --> D[HF Transmitter]
    D --> E[Ionospheric Transmission]
    F[Message for Tx] --> C
    G[Predefined Bandwidth] --> C
    C -- Control --> D

Derivative 4.2: IoT-Enabled Real-time Local Environmental Sensing for Adaptive HF

• Enabling Description: The transmitting device is integrated with or directly influences a local network of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. These sensors provide hyper-local, real-time data on atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, pressure, ground conductivity, local RF interference) that significantly impact ground wave and near-field skywave propagation. The IoT sensor data is fed into the frequency and power determinators. This allows for fine-grained adjustments to the transmission parameters, optimizing for localized environmental effects, particularly for the first hop of an ionospheric transmission or for tropospheric transmissions. The IoT data helps refine the calculation of d (length of a hop) and Δ (elevation angle) in the time-of-flight equation, improving overall propagation latency estimation.

graph TD
    A[IoT Sensor Network (Local Env.)] --> B(Data Aggregation)
    B --> C[Controller Determinators]
    C -- Refined Parameters --> D[HF Transmitter]
    D --> E[Local Propagation Path (HF)]
    F[Message for Tx] --> C
    G[Predefined Bandwidth] --> C
    C -- Control --> D

Derivative 4.3: Blockchain for Secure, Authenticated Low-Latency Messaging

• Enabling Description: For financial transactions or other critical messages where integrity and authenticity are paramount, the encoded message is cryptographically signed and hash-chained onto a private or consortium blockchain before transmission. The "particular value" within the encoded message includes a transaction ID and a hash of the previous valid transaction block. The receiving device, which also participates in the blockchain, uses this information to quickly verify the message's authenticity and integrity upon reception without adding significant latency to the critical message content itself. The encoding scheme is extended to include a minimal, yet secure, blockchain validation element. The latency consideration includes the cryptographic overhead, which is minimized by using efficient hashing algorithms and concise block structures, ensuring the overall process remains low-latency within the predefined channel bandwidth. This provides a non-repudiable record of critical message transmission.

graph TD
    A[Request for Action] --> B(Encode Value + Crypto Sig)
    B --> C[Hash & Add to Blockchain]
    C --> D[Controller Determinators]
    D -- Tx Parameters --> E[HF Transmitter]
    E --> F[Ionospheric Tx]
    F --> G[Remote Receiver]
    G -- Verify Hash --> H[Validate Blockchain]
    H -- Authenticated Message --> I[Perform Action]

5. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode

Derivative 5.1: Low-Power, Data-Sparse "Survival" Mode

• Enabling Description: In situations of critically low power supply (e.g., remote battery-operated sensors) or extreme regulatory limitations on emission, the system enters a "survival" mode. The message encoding is reduced to its absolute minimum, potentially a single bit representing a "life sign" or critical alert. The power determinator reduces transmission power to the lowest possible level that allows for detection at the remote receiving device, potentially sacrificing message integrity for detectability. The modulation determinator selects the most power-efficient and robust modulation (e.g., CW or very slow FSK), even if it results in significantly increased propagation latency. The frequency determinator selects channels known for maximal atmospheric penetration at low power. The buffer determinator maximizes buffering to smooth out intermittent power availability or channel conditions, accepting higher message size latency to ensure eventual transmission.

graph TD
    A[Low Power Condition] --> B(Activate Survival Mode)
    B --> C[Encode Minimal Message]
    C --> D[Power Determinator (Min Power)]
    D --> E[Modulation Determinator (Robust/Slow)]
    E --> F[HF Transmitter (Intermittent)]
    F --> G[Ionosphere (Max Range Priority)]
    G --> H[Remote Receiver (Awaits Beacons)]
    D -- Set Power --> F
    E -- Set Modulation --> F

Derivative 5.2: Graceful Degradation with Tiered Latency & Functionality

• Enabling Description: When channel conditions degrade severely (e.g., high interference, poor ionospheric reflection) or internal system resources become constrained, the system transitions through predefined tiers of graceful degradation.
  • Tier 1 (Mild Degradation): Prioritizes message types; financial transaction requests (critical) are encoded with minimal latency, while informational messages (less critical) may include error correction at the cost of higher latency. Modulation determinator shifts to slightly more robust but less spectrally efficient schemes.
  • Tier 2 (Moderate Degradation): All messages are stripped of non-essential data; "particular values" are reduced to their absolute minimum bit representation. Transmission power is increased to compensate for channel loss. Acknowledge-back mechanisms (if present) are disabled to save latency.
  • Tier 3 (Severe Degradation): Only pre-defined "red alert" or "kill switch" messages are transmitted, potentially using the "survival mode" parameters described in Derivative 5.1.
    The controller continuously monitors real-time channel quality and resource availability, dynamically selecting the appropriate tier and adjusting all transmission parameters accordingly, always striving to meet minimum latency for critical data within the remaining operational bandwidth.

stateDiagram
    [*] --> Normal_Operation
    Normal_Operation --> Mild_Degradation: Channel_Degrades > Threshold_1
    Mild_Degradation --> Moderate_Degradation: Channel_Degrades > Threshold_2
    Moderate_Degradation --> Severe_Degradation: Channel_Degrades > Threshold_3
    Severe_Degradation --> Shutdown: Critical_Failure
    Mild_Degradation --> Normal_Operation: Channel_Recovers < Threshold_1
    Moderate_Degradation --> Mild_Degradation: Channel_Recovers < Threshold_2
    Severe_Degradation --> Moderate_Degradation: Channel_Recovers < Threshold_3

    state Normal_Operation {
        High_Throughput_Encoding
        Optimal_Parameters
    }
    state Mild_Degradation {
        Prioritize_Critical_Msgs
        Slightly_Robust_Modulation
    }
    state Moderate_Degradation {
        Minimal_Message_Encoding
        Increased_Tx_Power
        Disable_ACKs
    }
    state Severe_Degradation {
        Red_Alert_Only
        Survival_Mode_Parameters
    }

---

Combination Prior Art Scenarios

These scenarios describe how the inventive concepts of US10959123 can be combined with existing open-source standards, demonstrating their obviousness or lack of novelty when integrated into widely available frameworks.

Combination Prior Art 1: MQTT over HF-DL (Digital Link) with Dynamic Parameter Negotiation

• Scenario: A low-latency wireless messaging system, as described in US10959123 (e.g., encoding financial transaction data into compact messages, determining parameters based on latency and channel bandwidth, and transmitting via ionospheric HF), is implemented using the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol for message structuring and payload delivery. For the underlying physical layer, the system leverages a High-Frequency Digital Link (HF-DL) standard, such as STANAG 5066 or MIL-STD-188-110B App. C, adapted for dynamic parameter negotiation.
• Enabling Description: The front-end unit receives a financial transaction request. Instead of a custom encoding format, it translates the request into a concise MQTT PUBLISH message (e.g., topic "HFT/IBM/BUY", payload "1000") with a Quality of Service (QoS) level 0 (fire-and-forget for lowest latency). This MQTT message acts as the "encoded message" where the topic structure and payload implicitly represent the "particular value known a priori." The controller's determinators (frequency, modulation, power, etc.) then dynamically configure the HF-DL modem's physical layer parameters (e.g., specific waveform from MIL-STD-188-110B, interleaving depth, coding rate) based on the calculated message latency (from MQTT message size and propagation delay) and the predefined HF channel bandwidth. The HF-DL modem, supporting flexible data rates and robust modes, is commanded to use parameters that prioritize the low-latency MQTT message over error correction or higher throughput, within the 2.8 KHz channel limit. The receiver performs standard HF-DL demodulation and then processes the MQTT message.

sequenceDiagram
    participant TxDevice as Transmitting Device
    participant Controller as Parameter Controller
    participant HFDLModem as HF-DL Modem (PHY)
    participant Ionosphere as Ionosphere
    participant RxDevice as Receiving Device

    TxDevice->>TxDevice: Receive Financial Request
    TxDevice->>HFDLModem: Encode as MQTT PUBLISH (Low QoS)
    Note over TxDevice, HFDLModem: "Encoded message" for latency
    HFDLModem->>Controller: Query for Tx Parameters (Msg Size, Latency, Bandwidth)
    Controller->>Controller: Determine optimal HF-DL settings (Freq, Mod, Power, Waveform)
    Controller->>HFDLModem: Set Tx Parameters
    HFDLModem->>Ionosphere: Transmit Encoded MQTT over HF-DL
    Ionosphere->>RxDevice: Propagate Signal
    RxDevice->>HFDLModem: Receive & Demodulate HF-DL
    HFDLModem->>RxDevice: Decode MQTT PUBLISH
    RxDevice->>RxDevice: Verify & Execute Action

Combination Prior Art 2: GNU Radio-based SDR with OpenStreetMap for Location-Aware Propagation Modeling

• Scenario: The system's "means for determining transmission parameters" and "means for transmitting" are implemented entirely within an open-source GNU Radio framework running on a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) platform (e.g., USRP). The propagation latency calculations (e.g., time-of-flight) are enhanced by integrating geographical data from OpenStreetMap (OSM) to precisely calculate hop distances (d) and elevation angles (Δ) over complex terrain, particularly for ground wave or mixed ground/skywave paths.
• Enabling Description: A computing device equipped with a USRP SDR and running GNU Radio receives an encoded message. The GNU Radio flowgraph includes custom blocks for message encoding (converting high-level requests into compact bit sequences). The controller functionality, including frequency, modulation, and power determinators, is implemented as Python or C++ blocks within GNU Radio. These blocks interface with external libraries that pull real-time ionospheric data and query an OSM database (or local OSM tile server) to obtain precise topographical data between the transmitter and receiver. This topographical data is crucial for refining the calculation of path loss and elevation angles, which directly impacts the time-of-flight estimation. The GNU Radio flowgraph then dynamically reconfigures the USRP's sampling rate, center frequency, and gain settings, selecting an optimal modulation scheme (e.g., OOK or MSK from GNU Radio's built-in modulators) to transmit the message with minimal latency, while strictly adhering to the user-defined channel bandwidth.

graph TD
    A[Request for Action] --> B(Encode Message - GNU Radio Block)
    B --> C{Controller Logic - GNU Radio Blocks (Python/C++)}
    C -- Real-time Ionosphere Data --> D[Propag. Model (ITU-R P.533-10 variant)]
    C -- OSM Geo-data --> D
    D -- Estimated Latency --> C
    C -- Tx Parameters --> E[USRP SDR (GNU Radio Driver)]
    E --> F[Antenna]
    F --> G[Ionosphere/Ground Wave]
    G --> H[Remote Receiver (SDR/GNU Radio)]
    C -- Channel Bandwidth Constraint --> C

Combination Prior Art 3: Network Time Protocol (NTP) Synchronized Messaging with High-Resolution Time-Slotting

• Scenario: In an HF environment where precise timing is critical for message interpretation (e.g., "time slot of transmission represents a trading symbol" as in FIG. 8 of US10959123) and for minimizing network latency, the transmitting and receiving devices maintain high-precision time synchronization using a hardened Network Time Protocol (NTP) client/server architecture, potentially augmented with a local GPS disciplined oscillator (GPSDO) for nanosecond accuracy.
• Enabling Description: Both the transmitting and receiving devices are disciplined by an NTP server, ensuring their clocks are synchronized to a common time source with minimal offset. The controller in the transmitting device, upon receiving a request for a financial transaction, encodes the message to include a transaction type and quantity, but the "trading symbol" is implicitly conveyed by the precise start time of the message transmission within a predefined, high-resolution time-slot grid. The frequency determinator, knowing the estimated time-of-flight (τ) for the current ionospheric path, calculates the exact UTC time the message should arrive at the receiver. The transmitting device then sends the message at a calculated UTC time such that its reception falls within the target time slot, compensating for propagation latency. The receiving device, synchronized via NTP, records the precise arrival time of the message and correlates it with its a priori knowledge of trading symbols assigned to time slots, implementing a "time out period" if the message arrives outside the expected window, thus preventing erroneous trades (as described in FIG. 8). This combination uses an open-source standard for crucial timing, enabling a latency-sensitive encoding mechanism.

sequenceDiagram
    participant GPSDO_NTP_Tx as GPSDO/NTP (Tx)
    participant TxDevice as Transmitting Device
    participant Controller as Parameter Controller
    participant Ionosphere as Ionosphere
    participant GPSDO_NTP_Rx as GPSDO/NTP (Rx)
    participant RxDevice as Receiving Device

    GPSDO_NTP_Tx->>TxDevice: Provide High-Precision UTC Time
    TxDevice->>TxDevice: Receive Request (Action, Quantity)
    TxDevice->>Controller: Encode (Action, Quantity), Tx Timing (Symbol)
    Controller->>Controller: Calculate Propagation Latency (tau)
    Controller->>Controller: Determine Target Tx Start Time (UTC) = Target Rx Time - tau
    Controller->>TxDevice: Issue "Transmit at Target Tx Start Time"
    TxDevice->>Ionosphere: Transmit Message at precise UTC
    Ionosphere->>RxDevice: Propagate Signal
    GPSDO_NTP_Rx->>RxDevice: Provide High-Precision UTC Time
    RxDevice->>RxDevice: Record Actual Rx Time
    RxDevice->>RxDevice: Correlate Rx Time to Trading Symbol (a priori)
    RxDevice->>RxDevice: Validate within Time-Out Window
    RxDevice->>RxDevice: Execute Action (if valid)