US 11716171

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 11716171, based on the provided full patent text:

US Patent 11716171

• Title: Wireless communication terminal and wireless communication method for multi-user concurrent transmission
• Assignee: Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc [cite: Original Assignee] (Originally SK Telecom Co Ltd and Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc [cite: Original Assignee])
• Inventors: Woojin AHN, Yongho Kim, Jinsam Kwak, Juhyung Son
• Filing Date: 2021-01-11 [cite: Filing date]
• Issue Date: 2023-08-01 [cite: Publication date] (Also stated as "Application granted" on this date [cite: 2023-08-01 Application granted])
• Abstract: The patent describes a wireless communication terminal and method for efficiently managing simultaneous data transmissions from multiple terminals. It involves a base wireless communication terminal (e.g., an Access Point) transmitting a trigger frame for multi-user uplink transmission, receiving multi-user uplink data through allocated resources, and then transmitting a block ACK (acknowledgment) through those same resources. A key feature is that the transmission of the block ACK in each resource is terminated at the same time, often achieved through padding or inserting duplicated ACK information.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent includes multiple independent claims, each describing a distinct aspect of the invention.

• Independent Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a wireless communication method for a base wireless communication terminal (like an Access Point or AP). The method involves three main steps:

  1. Transmitting a trigger frame: This frame initiates a multi-user uplink transmission from several other terminals.
  2. Receiving multi-user uplink data: The base terminal receives data simultaneously from these other terminals using pre-assigned "resources" (which could be channels or sub-channels).
  3. Transmitting a block ACK: In response to the received uplink data, the base terminal sends a block acknowledgment (ACK) back through the same resources. The crucial part is that the transmission of these block ACKs, across all the different resources used, ends at the same time.

• Independent Claim 9 (Apparatus Claim): This claim describes a base wireless communication terminal itself. This terminal comprises:

  1. A transceiver: This component handles sending and receiving wireless signals.
  2. A processor: This component controls the overall operation of the terminal.
     The processor is specifically configured to perform the same three actions as described in Claim 1: transmitting a trigger frame, receiving multi-user uplink data, and transmitting a block ACK, with the key characteristic that the transmission of the block ACK in each resource is terminated at the same time.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A search for US patent 11716171 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return specific results indicating a scheduled case directly associated with this patent number for the provided period. The Federal Circuit website provides scheduled cases for April, May, and June 2026, and general case records information, but no direct hit for patent 11716171 was found in these results. Therefore, there is no authoritative information from the provided search results regarding active CAFC litigation for this specific patent in 2026. However, it is noted that the Google Patents record for US11716171 does indicate "Family has litigation" and mentions "PTAB case IPR2025-01110 filed (Pending - Instituted)" and US cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00070 and 2:25-cv-00069), but these are not CAFC dockets for 2026 specifically.