Prior art — US Patent 12401721

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US patent 12401721, based on the patent citations listed on its Google Patents page. Due to the extensive number of cited patents (over 500), a detailed examination of every single one is impractical. This analysis will focus on the first 10 patent citations, which are generally representative of the prior art landscape.

The core inventive concept of US12401721, "System and method for server based control," as derived from its claims (e.g., Claim 1, 26, 31), involves a system for controlling a physical phenomenon in an environment (e.g., building or vehicle). This system includes:

Local devices (sensors and actuators) connected via in-building/in-vehicle networks.
A local router/gateway that interfaces with these local devices.
A remote, Internet-connected control server that communicates with the local router.
Crucially, the control logic, which processes sensor data and generates actuator commands, resides either wholly or partially on this remote control server.

The patent emphasizes replacing or supplementing local gateways with cloud-based server functionalities for improved cost, reliability, and service levels.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US12401721

Based on the patent citations from Google Patents for US12401721B1, the following are the first 10 cited patents. Please note that determining definitive anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 requires a detailed claim-by-claim comparison, which often involves reviewing the full specification and prosecution history of both patents. The assessment below provides a potential for anticipation based on the abstract and title of the cited art relative to the general inventive concept of US12401721.

US8203460B2
- Full Citation: US8203460B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for detecting cable and power line status for automatic electrical equipment control", issued June 19, 2012.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: June 19, 2012; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for detecting the status of electrical cables and power lines to automatically control electrical equipment. It uses a communication network over power lines or other wiring to transmit sensor data related to electrical parameters (e.g., current, voltage, impedance) and control various appliances or devices. The system aims to identify equipment status, diagnose faults, and manage power consumption.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates elements of US12401721 related to systems for controlling electrical equipment in a building/home environment using in-wall wiring as a communication medium and sensing electrical phenomena. Specifically, claims relating to a first device (sensor for electrical parameters) and a second device (actuator for electrical equipment) communicating over an in-building network (power lines) could be anticipated. The novelty in US12401721 might lie in the server-based control logic and Internet connectivity, which US8203460B2's abstract doesn't explicitly detail as central.
US8416075B2
- Full Citation: US8416075B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for communication using electrical outlet as communication media", issued April 23, 2013.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: April 23, 2013; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes using an electrical outlet as a communication medium for networking devices. It involves an outlet with integrated communication circuitry (e.g., powerline communication) that allows devices plugged into or connected to the outlet to exchange data. The focus is on leveraging existing electrical infrastructure for data communication.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate aspects of US12401721 related to field units or routers being integrated with or communicating over in-wall AC power wiring connected to an outlet. Claims that specify the network medium as powerlines or the integration of communication modules into outlets could find similarities here. The distinctiveness of US12401721 would again be in the overarching server-based control architecture and the specific functional distribution between local and remote components.
US20110260877A1
- Full Citation: US20110260877A1, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for an in-home control system", published October 27, 2011.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 27, 2011; Filing: April 25, 2011.
- Brief Description: This application details an in-home control system that uses various communication media and includes field units (sensors, actuators), a home gateway, and the ability to communicate with an external network (e.g., the Internet). It discusses controlling home appliances and other devices.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This prior art is highly relevant as it explicitly discusses an "in-home control system" with field units, a gateway, and external network connectivity, which are fundamental components of US12401721. Many claims of US12401721 that describe the general architecture of a control system with local sensing/actuation, a local router, and internet connectivity could be anticipated. The key distinguishing feature for US12401721 likely revolves around the specific allocation and execution of the control logic primarily on the remote control server as opposed to merely enabling communication through a gateway.
US8487739B2
- Full Citation: US8487739B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for multi-network communication", issued July 16, 2013.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 16, 2013; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent focuses on devices capable of communicating over multiple diverse networks (e.g., wired, wireless, different protocols) simultaneously or adaptively. It describes systems with multiple network interfaces to enhance reliability, bandwidth, or adapt to network conditions.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US12401721 includes claims (e.g., dependent claims) that discuss multiple data paths and different network types for communication between devices and the control server. US8487739B2 potentially anticipates these aspects by describing the use of multiple, diverse networks for communication in a control system context. If the claims of US12401721 heavily rely on the mere existence of multi-network communication, this patent could be anticipatory.
US8508365B2
- Full Citation: US8508365B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for data communication over powerlines", issued August 13, 2013.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 13, 2013; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a powerline communication (PLC) system for transmitting data over electrical power lines while concurrently carrying AC power. It details techniques for separating power and data signals and ensuring reliable communication.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US8416075B2, this patent focuses on the technical means of communication over powerlines, which is a specific implementation detail mentioned in US12401721 (e.g., "power signal and the communication signal may be carried over the same wires"). Claims in US12401721 that describe communication via powerlines, FDM, or phantom schemes, particularly in relation to powering devices and data transfer, could be anticipated by US8508365B2.
US8634800B2
- Full Citation: US8634800B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for a remotely controlled device", issued January 21, 2014.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: January 21, 2014; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system for a device that can be remotely controlled. While the abstract is brief, the title suggests a focus on the ability to control a device from a distant location, likely over a network.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to US12401721, as remote control of devices is a fundamental aspect of server-based control. Depending on the details in US8634800B2, particularly regarding the architecture of remote control, the nature of the "control logic" (local vs. remote), and the communication pathways, it could potentially anticipate many claims of US12401721, especially those concerning an actuator receiving commands from a remote source. The distinguishing factor for US12401721 might again be the specific emphasis on the control server hosting the core control logic.
US8674849B2
- Full Citation: US8674849B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for a remote control using a cellular communication", issued March 11, 2014.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: March 11, 2014; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a remote control system specifically utilizing cellular communication for data transfer. It highlights the use of cellular networks for transmitting commands to and receiving data from a remote device.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US12401721 explicitly mentions cellular networks as a possible communication network between the router and the control server (e.g., under the definition of "network"). Therefore, any claims in US12401721 that rely on remote communication via cellular networks for control purposes could be anticipated by US8674849B2.
US8836502B2
- Full Citation: US8836502B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for communication over multiple media using a switch", issued September 16, 2014.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 16, 2014; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a communication system capable of operating over multiple communication media (e.g., powerline, Ethernet, wireless) and using a switch to manage communication flow between these media. It implies a flexible and adaptable communication infrastructure.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US8487739B2, this patent addresses multi-network communication, but specifically adds the element of a "switch" for managing these media. Claims in US12401721 related to the router having multiple communication ports/modems and routing data between them (or to an external network) could be anticipated, particularly if the "router" implicitly or explicitly functions as a switch between different internal and external networks.
US8836503B2
- Full Citation: US8836503B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for a multi-service control system", issued September 16, 2014.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 16, 2014; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a control system capable of managing multiple types of services. The abstract suggests a generalized approach to controlling various functionalities within an environment.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US12401721 aims to control "one or more physical phenomena" and can be applied to various environments (building, vehicle) and services. US8836503B2's focus on a "multi-service control system" could potentially anticipate the broad applicability and service handling of US12401721's control server. The distinction might lie in whether US8836503B2 details the specific server-based control logic and its remote execution as centrally as US12401721 does.
US8948011B2
- Full Citation: US8948011B2, Binder, Yehuda; Maytal, Benjamin, "System and method for a multi-interface communication device", issued February 3, 2015.
- Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 3, 2015; Filing: January 9, 2012.
- Brief Description: This patent describes a communication device featuring multiple interfaces for connecting to different networks or media. It focuses on the hardware and methods for managing communication across these diverse interfaces.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is very similar in concept to US8487739B2 and US8836502B2, emphasizing the multi-interface nature of communication devices (like the router in US12401721). Claims in US12401721 detailing the router's ability to communicate over various internal and external networks via multiple interfaces could be anticipated by this prior art.

Summary of Potential Anticipation:

It is evident that the named inventors (Yehuda Binder and Benjamin Maytal) are common across these cited patents and US12401721. This indicates that US12401721 is likely a continuation or a related patent application building upon or refining concepts previously disclosed by the same inventors.

Many of these prior art patents (US8203460B2, US8416075B2, US20110260877A1, US8508365B2, US8634800B2, US8674849B2, US8836502B2, US8836503B2, US8948011B2) broadly cover aspects of home/building control systems, multi-network communication, powerline communication, and remote control of devices. These fundamental building blocks are present in the independent claims of US12401721.

The primary area where US12401721 might assert novelty over these cited works, given their abstracts, appears to be the explicit and central role of the Internet-connected control server housing the control logic. While some prior art mentions external network connectivity or remote control, US12401721 specifically defines the "control server" as comprising the "control logic" that receives sensor data and produces actuator commands, implementing control loops (e.g., PID, fuzzy logic). This emphasis on delegating the core control intelligence to the cloud/server might be the differentiating factor. Any claim in US12401721 that specifies this architecture and functionality distribution (control logic primarily on the remote server) would need to be carefully compared against the detailed disclosures of these prior art patents to determine if such an arrangement, with its associated advantages, was sufficiently taught or suggested.