US 11418641

US patent 11418641, titled "Devices and methods for multipath communications," was invented by Eric M. DeLangis and is currently assigned to Competitive Access Systems Inc. The patent was filed on December 14, 2020, and issued on August 16, 2022.

The abstract describes broadband communications devices and methods that use at least two separate communication paths between the devices and a network, such as the Internet. These devices and methods are capable of receiving data concurrently or separately over the communication paths. The patent focuses on increasing bandwidth by combining these separate communication paths. The broadband devices utilize packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies.

A plain-language overview of the independent claims is as follows:

Independent Claim 1 (Device Claim):
This claim describes a device that enables multipath communications for a home or business. The device includes a connection to a traditional phone line (POTS) for one communication path to the internet, and a wireless component (like Wi-Fi) to talk to other similar devices. A central processing unit in the device is designed to first create its own internet connection over its POTS line. Then, it finds other similar devices wirelessly, which also have their own POTS lines. The device can then ask these other devices to establish their own internet connections. Finally, it combines the data from its own internet connection and the connections from the other devices to achieve a faster internet connection.

Independent Claim 10 (Method Claim):
This claim outlines a method for achieving multipath communications. It involves connecting a device to a POTS line and using the device's processor to establish an initial internet connection. The processor then identifies other wirelessly-reachable devices, each with their own POTS lines, and requests them to establish additional internet connections. The method concludes by combining the data from all these individual POTS-based internet connections to provide a higher bandwidth communication path.

Independent Claim 17 (System Claim):
This claim describes a system comprising multiple "remote communication gateways" (RCGs). Each RCG has a POTS line connection, a wireless interface, and a processor. The claim specifies that at least one RCG within this system is configured to establish its own internet connection via its POTS line, identify other RCGs nearby wirelessly, request those other RCGs to also establish internet connections via their POTS lines, and then combine the data from all these connections to provide a higher bandwidth communication path.

Regarding litigation, a search for US patent 11418641 in CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield any relevant results. While the patent's Google Patents page indicates ongoing litigation in various district courts and a PTAB case, none of the provided search snippets specifically mention US11418641 in the context of a 2026 CAFC docket. Therefore, as of April 26, 2026, there is no authoritative information from the provided search results confirming any active appeals for this specific patent in the CAFC for the year 2026.