US 6958986

US Patent 6958986, titled "Wireless communication system with enhanced time slot allocation and interference avoidance/mitigation features and related methods," provides a comprehensive framework for optimizing wireless communication in mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) using directional antennas.

Summary of US Patent 6958986:

• Title: Wireless communication system with enhanced time slot allocation and interference avoidance/mitigation features and related methods
• Assignee: The original assignee was Harris Corp. The current assignee is Stingray IP Solutions LLC.
• Inventor: Joseph Bibb Cain
• Filing Date: March 27, 2003
• Issue Date: October 25, 2005
• Abstract: A wireless communication system is disclosed, comprising multiple mobile nodes each with a wireless transceiver and a controller. The controller schedules semi-permanent time slots for communication links with neighboring nodes to transmit data of different priority levels. It determines link utilization metrics for each data priority level, scheduling additional "demand assigned" time slots based on these metrics and priorities. The controller can also re-allocate demand assigned time slots based on changing link utilization metrics, even estimating reduced or increased capacity. Each link utilization metric can be based on data sent during prior time slots or data in a transmission queue. An aggregate link metric, a weighted sum of priority-level metrics, can also be determined. The system preferably uses directional communication links via phased array antennas. Another aspect involves scheduling directional links by considering relative positions of neighboring and potentially interfering nodes, only scheduling a link if potential interference is below a threshold. The system can also dynamically re-allocate time slots based on link utilization and signal-to-interference (SIR) values, with different re-allocation time periods depending on link quality.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a wireless communication network with multiple mobile nodes. Each node has a transceiver and a controller. The controller is configured to:

  • Schedule a "semi-permanent" time slot for each communication link with a neighboring mobile node to transmit data, where this data can have different priority levels.
  • Determine how much each communication link is being utilized for each data priority level (these are "link utilization metrics").
  • Schedule "demand assigned" time slots for additional communication links with neighboring nodes. This scheduling is based on the previously determined link utilization metrics and the data priority levels.

• Independent Claim 13: This claim outlines a method for communication in such a wireless network. The method involves:

  • Scheduling a semi-permanent time slot for communication links between pairs of mobile nodes for transmitting data with different priority levels.
  • Determining link utilization metrics for each data priority level for each communication link.
  • Scheduling demand assigned time slots for additional communication links between these pairs of mobile nodes, using the link utilization metrics and data priority levels as a basis.

• Independent Claim 14: This claim focuses on a wireless communication network with mobile nodes and their controllers, particularly concerning directional communication links. The controller is configured to:

  • Schedule a directional communication link from a first mobile node to a second neighboring mobile node during a specific time slot. This is done by first determining the relative positions of the second mobile node and any other mobile nodes that might cause interference during that time slot.
  • Based on these relative positions, the controller determines the potential interference to the directional communication link.
  • The directional communication link is only scheduled during that time slot if the determined potential interference is below a certain threshold.

• Independent Claim 22: This claim describes a communication method involving scheduling a directional communication link. The method includes:

  • Scheduling a directional communication link from a first mobile node to a second neighboring mobile node during a time slot.
  • Determining the relative positions of the second neighboring mobile node and other potentially interfering mobile nodes that are transmitting during the same time slot.
  • Determining the potential interference to the directional communication link based on these relative positions.
  • Scheduling the directional communication link during the time slot only if the potential interference is below a threshold.

• Independent Claim 23: This claim describes a wireless communication network where mobile nodes establish communication links during assigned time slots and re-allocate these slots based on usage. It outlines a process where:

  • An "initiating mobile node" identifies available time slots shared with its neighbors.
  • It ranks these available time slots based on how much they are used by itself and its neighbors.
  • It then sends a "time slot re-allocation request" to a "receiving mobile node," including the available time slots and their ranking.
  • The receiving mobile node receives this request.
  • The receiving mobile node also ranks the available time slots based on its own usage and that of its neighbors.
  • It generates a combined ranking using both its own ranking and the initiating node's ranking.
  • Finally, the receiving mobile node re-allocates at least one of the available time slots for a communication link between itself and the initiating mobile node, based on this combined ranking.

• Independent Claim 30: This claim describes a communication method for a wireless network focused on re-allocating time slots. The method involves:

  • Identifying available time slots shared between an initiating mobile node and neighboring mobile nodes.
  • Ranking these available time slots based on how much they are utilized by the initiating mobile node and its neighbors.
  • Transmitting a time slot re-allocation request from the initiating mobile node to a receiving mobile node, which includes the available time slots and their ranking.
  • Receiving this request at the receiving mobile node.
  • Ranking the available time slots based on utilization by the receiving mobile node and its neighbors.
  • Generating a combined ranking of the available time slots using the rankings from both the initiating and receiving mobile nodes.
  • Re-allocating at least one of the available time slots for a communication link between the initiating mobile node and the receiving mobile node, based on this combined ranking.

• Independent Claim 31: This claim describes a wireless communication network where pairs of mobile nodes establish communication links to transmit packets during time slots. The system includes:

  • At least one mobile node from a pair determining a "link quality value" for the communication link during a time slot, and then determining if the link is of a "first quality" or a "second quality."
  • The pair of mobile nodes cooperate to re-allocate the communication link to a new time slot within a "first time period" if the link is of the first quality.
  • If the communication link is of the second quality, they cooperate to re-allocate it to a new time slot within a "second time period" that is shorter than the first time period. This implies a faster response for lower quality links.

• Independent Claim 38: This claim details a communication method involving link quality. The method includes:

  • Establishing a communication link between a pair of mobile nodes for transmitting packets during at least one time slot.
  • Determining a link quality value associated with the communication link during that time slot and determining if the communication link is of a first or second quality.
  • Re-allocating the communication link to a new time slot within a first time period if the communication link is of the first quality.
  • If the communication link is of the second quality, re-allocating it to a new time slot within a second time period that is shorter than the first time period.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A search for "CAFC 2026 dockets US patent 6958986" does not yield specific docket entries for the year 2026. The provided Google Patents information notes "Family has litigation" with links to Unified Patents and Darts-ip, indicating past and ongoing litigation related to the patent family, but no explicit CAFC 2026 dockets for this specific patent were found in the search results.

Uncertainty Note:

The Google Patents information states the legal status as "Expired - Lifetime, expires 2023-01-25". This indicates the patent has already expired as of the current date (April 26, 2026). This contradicts the idea of ongoing litigation that would appear in 2026 CAFC dockets for the patent itself. However, patent family litigation or disputes over past infringement could still exist. Given the clear expiration status, any 2026 CAFC dockets, if they existed, would likely pertain to appeals of district court cases related to past infringement rather than current validity or infringement.