US 11687971

Here is a concise summary of US patent 11687971, "Efficient and secure communication using wireless service identifiers":

Patent Number: US11687971B2

Title: Efficient and secure communication using wireless service identifiers

Current Assignee: Secure Communication Technologies LLC

Inventors: James A. Proctor, Jr., James Arthur Proctor, III

Filing Date: September 12, 2022

Issue Date: June 27, 2023

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing communications between servers and a mobile device, and for enhancing security and privacy for wireless beacon services. This involves a broadcast device transmitting a beacon using a short-range wireless radio (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFi), which includes a MAC address, a unique identifier, and a beacon service identifier. A mobile device receives these beacon transmissions and filters them to select only those containing the specified beacon service identifier. If a particular unique identifier is present among the selected ones, the wireless device takes further action using stored information received from a server. This stored information, which includes the identity of the entity or object associated with the unique identifier, may be delivered to the wireless device either in response to the device sending the unique identifier to the server or by prior download.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method where a beacon transmitter uses a short-range radio to send out a beacon. This beacon contains a MAC address, a unique identifier, and a service identifier. A wireless device, using its short-range radio, receives many such beacons and, at the same time, gets related information from a server via a second radio about the unique identifiers. The wireless device then filters these received beacons, keeping only those that include the specific beacon service identifier. If the original beacon's unique identifier is found among the filtered results, the wireless device performs an action using the information it received from the server, which identifies the entity or object linked to that unique identifier.

• Independent Claim 10 (Method): Similar to Claim 1, this method involves a beacon transmitter sending a beacon with a unique identifier and a beacon service identifier using a short-range radio. A wireless device receives these beacons and also receives stored information from a server about the unique identifier via a second radio. The wireless device filters the received beacons by the beacon service identifier. If the unique identifier is present in the filtered set, the wireless device takes further action based on the stored information, which identifies the associated entity or object. This claim is broader than Claim 1 as it does not explicitly require the MAC address in the beacon transmission.

• Independent Claim 11 (Method): This claim is similar to Claim 10 but specifies that the stored information received by the wireless device from the server is obtained in response to the wireless device sending the unique identifier to the server. The rest of the process, including beacon transmission, reception, filtering by service identifier, and taking further action based on the stored identity, remains consistent with Claim 10.

• Independent Claim 12 (Wireless Device): This claim describes a wireless device itself. The device includes a short-range wireless radio to receive beacon transmissions (each with a unique identifier and a beacon service identifier). It also has a second radio to receive stored information from a server about these unique identifiers. The device's processors are configured to select unique identifiers by filtering for the beacon service identifier and then take further action if a specific unique identifier is present among the selected ones, using the stored identity information.

• Independent Claim 13 (Non-Transitory Computer Readable Medium): This claim covers a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions. When these instructions are run by a wireless device's processors, they cause the device to perform the steps outlined in Claim 12: receiving beacon transmissions, receiving stored information from a server, filtering the unique identifiers by the beacon service identifier, and taking further action based on the stored identity information.

• Independent Claim 16 (Method with Prevention of Sending Identifier): This claim is similar to Claim 10, but adds a specific "further action." In this embodiment, if the unique identifier is found among the filtered beacons, the wireless device's further action explicitly includes preventing the sending of that unique identifier by the wireless device to the server. This highlights a privacy-enhancing feature.

• Independent Claim 17 (Method with Two Time Periods): This claim introduces a time-variant aspect. A beacon transmitter sends a first beacon in a first time period with a first unique identifier and service identifier, and a second beacon in a second time period with a second unique identifier and the same service identifier. The wireless device receives both sets of beacon transmissions and corresponding stored information (first and second) from the server. The device then performs the filtering and "further action" steps independently for both the first and second unique identifiers and their associated stored information.

• Independent Claim 18 (Method with Broadcast Device Determination): This claim is similar to Claim 10, but defines another specific "further action." If the unique identifier is found among the filtered beacons, the wireless device's further action includes determining that at least one beacon transmitter is a broadcast device having a predetermined location. This is relevant for applications like museum guides or location-based advertising.

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CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A search for CAFC 2026 dockets related to US patent 11687971 did not return direct results indicating a case currently before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2026. However, the patent's information page on Google Patents indicates the following ongoing litigation:

• First worldwide family litigation filed.
• PTAB case IPR2025-01183 filed (Not Instituted - Merits).
• PTAB case IPR2025-01051 filed (Settlement).
• US case filed in Texas Western District Court (1:25-cv-01579).
• US case filed in Texas Western District Court (1:25-cv-01207).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00763).

While these district court and PTAB cases are ongoing, there is no authoritative information as of April 26, 2026, directly placing US11687971 before the CAFC in 2026 based on the provided data or targeted searches. It is possible that these lower court cases could eventually lead to CAFC appeals, but that is not yet reflected in 2026 dockets.