US 12015933

US patent 12015933, titled "Method and apparatus for processing bandwidth intensive data streams using virtual media access control and physical layers," was filed on March 4, 2024, and issued on June 18, 2024. The inventor is Sai C. Manapragada, and the current and original assignee is Xifi Networks R and D Inc.

The abstract of US12015933 discloses a wireless networking system designed to manage bandwidth-intensive data streams. It features an application layer with various applications requiring specific wireless bandwidth. The system utilizes first and second wireless transceiver resources, each linked to an actual MAC (Media Access Control) and PHY (Physical) layer and possessing distinct bandwidth availabilities. A processing layer evaluates these bandwidth requirements and availabilities. This layer includes a bandwidth allocator that assigns portions of the actual bandwidths to virtual MAC and virtual PHY layers to fulfill the application layer's wireless bandwidth needs.

Overview of Independent Claims

Independent Claim 1 (Plain-language overview):
Claim 1 outlines a method for improving the performance of circuitry within a wireless networking device. The method involves:

1. Connecting to Applications: A processing interface is provided that connects to an application interface, which is associated with a primary application generating a data stream with specific bandwidth demands.
2. Hardware Connectivity: First and second actual MAC and PHY interfaces are connected to the processing interface, and these are, in turn, associated with first and second wireless transceivers. These transceivers are suitable for Wi-Fi use and operate in different frequency bands, each having its own bandwidth availability.
3. Virtualization: Within the processing interface, at least one virtual MAC interface and first and second virtual PHY interfaces are created. These virtual PHY interfaces continuously feed information about the actual transceiver bandwidth availabilities back to the virtual MAC interface.
4. Transparent Bandwidth Management: While the wireless networking device is in use, and in a way that is invisible to any layer above the processing interface, the system performs several steps:
   • It establishes a connection (association) between a recipient and both sets of actual MAC and PHY interfaces.
   • It identifies a specific portion (a set of resources) of the first wireless transceiver's bandwidth.
   • It checks if any of these identified resources are currently unavailable for communication.
   • It then uses the first wireless transceiver to send the data stream to the recipient. Crucially, this transmission only uses the available frequencies within the identified bandwidth portion, and it does so without requiring the recipient to disconnect from either the first or second actual MAC and PHY interfaces. This process aims to at least partially satisfy the application's bandwidth requirement.
5. Concurrent Resource Sharing: The utilization of this specific bandwidth portion by the wireless networking device does not prevent other wireless networking devices from using the remaining frequencies within the first wireless transceiver's total bandwidth for their own data transmission or reception at the same time.

CAFC 2026 Dockets

A search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number US12015933 did not yield specific results for cases directly involving this patent in the year 2026. However, the patent's legal status information indicates ongoing litigation related to the patent family. Specifically, there is a US case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:24-cv-01057) and a PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-01207, which is currently pending and instituted.