Prior art

I am unable to directly search the USPTO database for patent number 11777776 due to the limitations of my current tools, which only allow for general Google searches. The provided search results from the USPTO website () describe how to use their search tools but do not offer a direct interface for me to perform a specific patent number search.

Therefore, I cannot, at this moment, identify the most relevant prior art by examining the patent's citations directly through a live USPTO database search.

However, I can extract the patent citations listed within the provided full patent text of US11777776 and then provide details on those. The full patent text of US11777776 includes a "Citations" section. I will now analyze this section to identify prior art and assess potential anticipation.

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 11777776 based on provided patent text:

The "Citations" section of US11777776 lists numerous patent and non-patent documents. I will focus on the patent citations that are marked as being "Cited by examiner" (*) as these are typically the most relevant for an anticipation analysis.

Here's an analysis of the patent citations marked with an asterisk (*), indicating they were cited by the examiner:

1. US20030072255A1

• Full Citation: US20030072255A1 (Jianglei Ma)
• Publication Date: 2003-04-17 (Priority date: 2001-10-17)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes system access and synchronization methods for MIMO OFDM communication systems and physical layer packet and preamble design.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US20030072255A1 appears to describe aspects of OFDM systems, including physical layer packet and preamble design. The core of US11777776 is distinguishing packet formats based on header repetition in OFDM symbols. If US20030072255A1 teaches a system where headers are carried by OFDM symbols and also implies or suggests a mechanism for distinguishing between packets with varying numbers of header symbols (even if not explicitly "repetition" as defined in 11777776), it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 7, particularly the fundamental concept of handling header information across OFDM symbols in a packet-based OFDM system. Without a deeper dive into the specifics of "physical layer packet and preamble design" in US20030072255A1, it's hard to be definitive, but it's a strong candidate for further review for anticipation.

2. US20050180315A1

• Full Citation: US20050180315A1 (Interdigital Technology Corporation)
• Publication Date: 2005-08-18 (Priority date: 2004-01-13)
• Brief Description: This patent application is directed to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method and apparatus for protecting and authenticating wirelessly transmitted digital information.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focusing on protection and authentication, if this patent teaches any form of header repetition or redundant transmission of header information as a means of protection or authentication that aligns with the "repetition of the first header field" as defined in claims 1 and 7 of US11777776, it could be anticipatory. The concept of "protecting" information might involve sending it multiple times, which directly relates to header repetition.

3. US20100158046A1

• Full Citation: US20100158046A1 (Nxp, B.V.)
• Publication Date: 2010-06-24 (Priority date: 2006-10-02)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a method and apparatus for generating data packets for transmission in an OFDM communication system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given its priority date (2006-10-02), this reference predates the priority date of US11777776 (2009-08-21). If this patent teaches generating data packets where header information is intentionally repeated across multiple OFDM symbols for any reason (e.g., robustness, or to signal different packet formats), it could anticipate claims 1 and 7 of US11777776. The "generation of data packets" could encompass the structure and formatting, including header repetition.

4. US20100329366A1

• Full Citation: US20100329366A1 (Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.)
• Publication Date: 2010-12-30 (Priority date: 2008-03-10)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) packet structure for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): With a priority date of 2008-03-10, this reference predates US11777776. If the described PLCP packet structure in US20100329366A1 includes a mechanism where header information is repeated across OFDM symbols, and where different packet formats are distinguished by the presence or absence of this repetition, it could anticipate claims 1 and 7. The detailed "PLCP packet structure" would be the key area to investigate for such repetition schemes.

5. US11212146B2

• Full Citation: US11212146B2 (AX Wireless, LLC)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-28 (Priority date: 2009-08-21)
• Brief Description: This patent, titled "Header repetition in packet-based OFDM systems," also describes header repetition in packet-based OFDM systems. It is from the same assignee and shares the same priority date as US11777776.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent has the exact same priority date as US11777776 (2009-08-21) and the same title and assignee. This strongly suggests it's a related patent, likely a parent or divisional application. As such, it would not anticipate US11777776 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 (prior art) but is rather part of the same patent family, claiming the same invention or an obvious variation thereof. This is supported by the "RELATED APPLICATION DATA" section of US11777776, which states it is a continuation of several applications, including one that led to US11212146 (originally US patent application Ser. No. 17/136,801). Therefore, it serves as a closely related patent rather than truly "prior art" in the anticipatory sense for the present invention, as they stem from the same original disclosure.

Summary of Potential Anticipation:

The patents US20030072255A1, US20050180315A1, US20100158046A1, and US20100329366A1 are the most likely candidates for potentially anticipating claims 1 and 7 of US11777776. Their priority dates predate that of US11777776, and their general subject matter (OFDM, packet structures, data transmission, protection) suggests they might contain disclosures relevant to header repetition or distinguishing packet formats based on header characteristics across OFDM symbols. A detailed claim-by-claim comparison with the full text of these cited patents would be required for a definitive anticipation analysis.

US11212146B2, while cited, is part of the same patent family and thus not anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.