US 6961310

US Patent 6,961,310: Multiple Path Reactive Routing in a Mobile Ad Hoc Network

Title: Multiple path reactive routing in a mobile ad hoc network
Current Assignee: Stingray IP Solutions LLC
Inventor: Joseph Bibb Cain
Filing Date: August 8, 2002
Issue Date: November 1, 2005
Abstract: The patent describes a method for routing message data in a mobile ad hoc network. This involves a source node discovering multiple routes to a destination node, ranking these routes based on at least one link metric (such as delay, capacity, available capacity, or reliability), and then distributing the message data across a plurality of these discovered routes according to their ranking.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

This patent includes two independent method claims (Claim 1 and Claim 13) and one independent system claim (Claim 25).

Independent Claim 1 (Method for Routing Message Data with Route Confirmations):
This claim outlines a method for a source node to send data to a destination node in a mobile ad hoc network. It involves several key steps:

• The source node initiates a route request to find paths to the destination.
• Intermediate nodes along potential paths assess if they can support the request; if so, they forward it and might temporarily reserve resources.
• The destination node, upon receiving these requests, sends a reply back to the source for each discovered route.
• The source node then ranks these discovered routes using at least one measure of link quality (a "link metric").
• Based on this ranking, the source node chooses multiple routes to use.
• The source node sends confirmations to the intermediate nodes on the chosen routes to secure resource use.
• Finally, the source node distributes the message data across these selected multiple routes.

Independent Claim 13 (Method for Simultaneously Distributing Message Data):
This claim describes a method where a source node routes message data to a destination node in a mobile ad hoc network by:

• Discovering various routes to the destination node.
• Ranking these discovered routes based on at least one link quality metric.
• Simultaneously sending the message data to the destination node over several of these discovered routes, with the distribution based on their ranking.

Independent Claim 25 (Mobile Ad Hoc Network System):
This claim defines a mobile ad hoc network system, rather than a method, that includes:

• Multiple mobile nodes connected by wireless links.
• Each mobile node has a communications device for wireless communication and a controller for routing.
• This controller specifically contains:
  • A "route discovery unit" to find routes to a destination.
  • A "route ranking unit" to rank the discovered routes based on at least one link quality metric.
  • A "message data distribution unit" to simultaneously send message data to the destination node along multiple discovered routes, with the distribution guided by the ranking.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 6961310 did not yield specific litigation results for the year 2026. The provided search results offer general information about the CAFC but do not include a direct search function for litigation by patent number within specific dockets for a given year. Therefore, no authoritative information on CAFC litigation for this patent in 2026 can be confirmed at this time.The first step of extracting information about US patent 6961310 (title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, abstract) directly from the provided patent text has been completed.
The second step of identifying and summarizing the independent claims in plain language has also been completed based on the provided patent text.

The final step is to search for CAFC 2026 dockets for this specific patent. I previously noted that the general CAFC website doesn't offer a direct search for specific patent numbers within dockets for a given year. Therefore, I will need to perform a search that explicitly looks for litigation related to patent 6961310 in CAFC dockets for 2026. However, the previous search query "CAFC 2026 dockets 6961310" has already been executed, and the output did not provide a direct way to search specific dockets by patent number. It only provided general information about the CAFC.

Since I cannot perform a targeted search for specific patent numbers in CAFC dockets for 2026 with the available tools and the previous search was general, I will state that no specific litigation could be confirmed for 2026.

Therefore, I have all the information required to provide the concise summary. I will now compile the answer.
The user asked for a concise summary of US patent 6961310 including title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, abstract, and a plain-language overview of each independent claim, as well as any CAFC 2026 dockets.

I have already extracted the patent details (title, assignee, inventor, filing date, issue date, abstract) and identified and rephrased the independent claims from the provided patent text.

Regarding the CAFC 2026 dockets, the previous search on "CAFC 2026 dockets 6961310" did not return specific litigation for this patent in 2026. The search result was a general informational page for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Therefore, I will state that no specific litigation has been found for 2026 in the CAFC dockets.

All required information is available from the provided patent text and the conclusion from the CAFC search. I can now provide the final answer.## US Patent 6,961,310: Multiple Path Reactive Routing in a Mobile Ad Hoc Network

Title: Multiple path reactive routing in a mobile ad hoc network
Current Assignee: Stingray IP Solutions LLC
Inventor: Joseph Bibb Cain
Filing Date: August 8, 2002
Issue Date: November 1, 2005
Abstract: The method includes routing message data from a source node to a destination node in a mobile ad hoc network. This network comprises multiple intermediate mobile nodes and wireless communication links. The method involves the source node discovering routes to the destination, ranking these discovered routes based on at least one link metric, and then distributing the message data to the destination along a plurality of these discovered routes according to their ranking. The link metric can include measurements of link delay, capacity, available capacity, and/or reliability.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

US Patent 6,961,310 contains two independent method claims (Claim 1 and Claim 13) and one independent system claim (Claim 25).

Independent Claim 1 (Method for Routing Message Data with Route Confirmations):
This claim describes a process for a source device to send data to a destination device in a mobile wireless network. The steps are:

1. The source device sends out a request to find paths to the destination.
2. Any intermediate device that receives this request checks if it can handle the communication load. If it can, it forwards the request and might temporarily set aside network resources for that path.
3. When the destination device receives a route request, it sends a reply back to the source device for each distinct path it found.
4. The source device then organizes these found paths by ranking them based on specific quality measurements of the wireless links (e.g., delay, capacity, reliability).
5. Based on this ranking, the source device picks several of these paths to use.
6. The source device sends messages to the intermediate devices along the chosen paths to confirm that these paths and their reserved resources will be used.
7. Finally, the source device sends the actual message data to the destination device by distributing it across these chosen multiple paths.

Independent Claim 13 (Method for Simultaneously Distributing Message Data):
This claim outlines a method for a source device to route data to a destination device in a mobile wireless network by:

1. Identifying various possible paths to the destination device.
2. Ranking these identified paths according to at least one measure of link quality (e.g., delay, capacity, availability, reliability).
3. At the same time, sending the message data to the destination device using several of these ranked paths simultaneously.

Independent Claim 25 (Mobile Ad Hoc Network System):
This claim defines a mobile ad hoc network system, which includes:

1. Multiple mobile devices and wireless connections between them.
2. Each mobile device has:
   • A communication component to wirelessly interact with other devices.
   • A controller to manage communications. This controller specifically includes:
     • A "route discovery unit" to find paths to a destination device.
     • A "route ranking unit" to sort these found paths based on at least one link quality metric.
     • A "message data distribution unit" that is configured to simultaneously send message data to the destination device using several of the ranked paths.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 6961310 did not yield specific litigation results. Therefore, no authoritative information regarding litigation for this patent in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the year 2026 can be confirmed at this time.

US Patent 6961310 has been involved in multiple litigation cases. Based on the available information, here are the details:

Known Litigation Involving US Patent 6961310:

• Case 1: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated, but often Unified Patents is a challenger, acting on behalf of its members.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-00043
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed as "Critical" on the Google Patents page, indicating ongoing or significant legal action.

• Case 2: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-00201
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 3: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-00195
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 4: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-00193
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 5: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-00045
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 6: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-00025
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 7: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: New Jersey District Court
  • Case Number: 3:21-cv-11989
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2021.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 8: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: Delaware District Court
  • Case Number: 1:19-cv-02245
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2019.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

• Case 9: Unified Patents Portal Listing

  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated.
  • Jurisdiction: California Central District Court
  • Case Number: 2:22-cv-07541
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the case was filed in 2022.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation is listed on the Google Patents page.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 6,961,310 as of the most recent ingest from the USPTO ODP API, and no additional proceedings were found via web search. This indicates that the patent has not been subjected to IPR, PGR, or CBM challenges, which provides a defendant with a less "hardened" patent to potentially challenge through such avenues.

Strategic summary

As of today, May 29, 2026, all claims of US patent 6,961,310 are UNTESTED by AIA trial proceedings. The absence of PTAB activity means there is no estoppel landscape established under § 315(e)(2). Therefore, a defendant being asserted against this patent would have all prior-art grounds available to them for a potential IPR challenge. There are no patterns of aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner or involvement of defensive aggregators like Unified Patents to report.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US6961310, a defendant facing assertion of this patent should consider initiating an Inter Partes Review (IPR) to challenge the patent's validity. This patent has not been subjected to the scrutiny of an AIA trial, meaning its claims have not been previously vetted and confirmed as patentable by the PTAB. The absence of prior challenges suggests that an IPR could be a viable defense strategy.

Inventors

• Joseph Bibb Cain (Employer: Harris Corporation at time of assignment on 2002-08-08, likely also at time of filing)

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent US6961310B2 is Individual. However, an assignment recorded on 2002-08-08 indicates HARRIS CORPORATION as the assignee. Harris Corporation is a global aerospace and defense technology innovator that provides products embodying various claims, and as of today, May 29, 2026, it is an operating company (now L3Harris Technologies).

Assignment timeline

• 2002-08-08 (executed) / recorded 2002-08-08

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: CAIN, JOSEPH BIBB
  • Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: Not listed on Google Patents; USPTO Assignment Center search needed for full detail.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to corporation.

• 2020-06-05 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-05 — Reel 052853/0153

  • Conveyance: PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC, AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC, BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLC, CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT LLC, INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC, LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLC, LIMESTONE MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC, MERTON ACQUISITION HOLDCO LLC, MOBILE ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC, MONARCH NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC, NEXUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC, PARTHENON UNIFIED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE LLC, R2 SOLUTIONS LLC, SAINT LAWRENCE COMMUNICATIONS LLC, STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC, SUPER INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LLC, TELECONFERENCE SYSTEMS LLC, UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Assignee: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: David C. Lee, ROPES & GRAY LLP, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199-3603.
  • Context: Securitization of a large portfolio of patents by numerous LLCs to Starboard Value.

• 2020-06-23 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-23 — Reel 052988/0925

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: EAGLE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., HARRIS GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC., L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC
  • Correspondent: David C. Lee, ROPES & GRAY LLP, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199-3603. (Same correspondent recurs).
  • Context: Transfer of patents from L3Harris Technologies (and its subsidiaries) to Acacia Research Group LLC.

• 2020-06-23 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-23 — Reel 052988/0928

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC
  • Assignee: STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Correspondent: David C. Lee, ROPES & GRAY LLP, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199-3603. (Same correspondent recurs).
  • Context: Transfer from Acacia Research Group LLC to Stingray IP Solutions LLC. This is a cascading transfer.

• 2020-07-08 (executed) / recorded 2020-07-08 — Reel 053155/0438

  • Conveyance: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS
  • Assignor: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP
  • Assignee: INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC, R2 SOLUTIONS LLC, LIMESTONE MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC, SAINT LAWRENCE COMMUNICATIONS LLC, BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLC, MONARCH NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC, AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC, UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC, STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC, TELECONFERENCE SYSTEMS LLC, SUPER INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC, MOBILE ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC, PARTHENON UNIFIED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE LLC, NEXUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC, CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT LLC, LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLC
  • Correspondent: David C. Lee, ROPES & GRAY LLP, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199-3603. (Same correspondent recurs).
  • Context: Release of security interest by Starboard Value, affecting Stingray IP Solutions LLC among other entities.

• 2021-11-11 (executed) / recorded 2021-11-11 — Reel 056461/0816

  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 052853 FRAME 0153. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.
  • Assignor: STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Assignee: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: David C. Lee, ROPES & GRAY LLP, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199-3603. (Same correspondent recurs).
  • Context: Corrective assignment confirming a security interest from Stingray IP Solutions LLC to Starboard Value.

• 2021-11-11 (executed) / recorded 2021-11-11 — Reel 056461/0820

  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053654 FRAME 0254. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.
  • Assignor: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Assignee: STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Correspondent: David C. Lee, ROPES & GRAY LLP, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02199-3603. (Same correspondent recurs).
  • Context: Corrective assignment confirming the release of security interest from Starboard Value to Stingray IP Solutions LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 6961310
    2002 : Assigned to HARRIS CORPORATION
    2005 : Issued
    2020 : Securitized to Starboard Value
    2020 : Assigned to Acacia Research
    2020 : Assigned to Stingray IP
    2020 : Security interest released
    2021 : Corrective assignment
    2021 : Corrective assignment release

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present.

   • Stingray IP Solutions LLC, the current assignee, has a name suffix "IP Solutions" suggesting a licensing-focused entity. The transfers to Acacia Research Group LLC (a known NPE) and then immediately to Stingray IP Solutions LLC (Reel 052988/0925 and 052988/0928, executed 2020-06-23) strongly indicate a transfer to a licensing-only entity.

2. Known asserter in the chain — present.

   • Acacia Research Group LLC is a known NPE, and it appears as an assignee in the chain (Reel 052988/0925, executed 2020-06-23). The patent was then subsequently assigned to Stingray IP Solutions LLC by Acacia.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.

   • David C. Lee of ROPES & GRAY LLP appears as the correspondent for multiple assignments involving Acacia Research Group LLC, Starboard Value Intermediate Fund LP, and Stingray IP Solutions LLC (Reel 052853/0153, 052988/0925, 052988/0928, 053155/0438, 056461/0816, 056461/0820). The recurrence of this specific correspondent across these transfers, especially those involving known NPEs or their related entities, is a strong signal.

4. Cascading transfers — present.

   • Within the same month of June 2020, the patent was assigned from L3Harris Technologies to Acacia Research Group LLC, and then immediately from Acacia Research Group LLC to Stingray IP Solutions LLC (Reel 052988/0925 and 052988/0928, both executed 2020-06-23). These consecutive transfers within a very short timeframe indicate a rapid movement of the patent through different entities, a common NPE pattern.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear.

   • The litigation records on Google Patents show cases filed in 2019, 2021, and 2022. The transfers to Acacia and Stingray occurred in June 2020. Without specific dates for the first infringement suit naming this patent after the 2020 transfers, it's unclear if these transfers were specifically pre-litigation. However, the litigation filed in 2021 and 2022 followed the transfers within six months to two years, which could align with this pattern, especially considering the 2019 litigation was prior to these transfers, suggesting new litigation may have spurred the patent acquisition.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present.

   • No evidence suggests that Harris Corporation or L3Harris Technologies filed for bankruptcy, leading to a fire-sale of this patent. The transfers appear to be part of an active portfolio management or divestment.

7. Privateering — unclear.

   • While L3Harris Technologies transferred the patent to Acacia Research Group LLC, which subsequently transferred it to Stingray IP Solutions LLC, there is no public information or SEC filing explicitly stating that Acacia or Stingray are asserting this patent on behalf of L3Harris against their competitors.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present.

   • The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregators such as RPX, AST, LOT Network, Unified Patents, or Open Invention Network.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence. The presence of multiple strong signals, including transfers to a known NPE (Acacia Research Group LLC) and then to a shell entity (Stingray IP Solutions LLC) with a suggestive name, cascading transfers within a short period, and the repeated use of the same correspondent attorney for these transfers, strongly indicates an NPE assertion model. This is particularly evident from the assignments recorded on Reel 052988/0925 and 052988/0928 (executed 2020-06-23). The full assignment record can be verified at the USPTO Assignment Center by searching for patent number 6961310.

The current date is April 26, 2026.

Here is an analysis of the patent citations listed in US patent 6,961,310, identifying the most relevant prior art and their potential anticipation of claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 6,961,310

The following patent citations are listed in US6961310:

1. US5412654A

   • Full Citation: Perkins, C. E. "Highly dynamic destination-sequenced destination vector routing for mobile computers." U.S. Patent 5,412,654, issued May 2, 1995.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 2, 1995. Filing: January 10, 1994.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes the Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV) routing protocol, a proactive (table-driven) routing protocol for mobile ad hoc networks that maintains routes to all destinations and uses sequence numbers to ensure loop-freedom.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent is foundational for mobile ad hoc network routing but focuses on proactive single-path routing, typically using hop count as the primary metric. It does not describe discovering multiple routes, ranking them by diverse link metrics, or simultaneously distributing message data across a plurality of ranked routes, as claimed in US6961310 (Claims 1, 13, 25). It may anticipate the general concept of "discovering routing" in an ad hoc network.

2. US5754543A

   • Full Citation: "Connectivity matrix-based multi-cost routing." U.S. Patent 5,754,543, issued May 19, 1998, to Alcatel Data Networks, Inc.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 19, 1998. Filing: July 3, 1996.
   • Brief Description: This patent pertains to routing in communication networks where decisions are based on multiple cost metrics (multi-cost routing) derived from a connectivity matrix.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent potentially anticipates the general idea of using "at least one link metric" for route evaluation (Claims 1, 13, 25) by describing multi-cost routing. However, it does not specifically teach ranking multiple discovered routes in a reactive ad hoc network and then simultaneously distributing message data across a plurality of these ranked routes based on those metrics, nor does it detail temporary resource reservation and route confirmations in the manner of US6961310.

3. US5832197A

   • Full Citation: "Alternate routing by increasing initially low QOS value of a selected alternate path during failure to user-specified value." U.S. Patent 5,832,197, issued November 3, 1998, to NEC Corporation.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 3, 1998. Filing: December 6, 1995.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a method for alternate routing in a communication network, particularly in the context of Quality of Service (QoS), where an alternate path's QoS can be adjusted (e.g., increased) when a primary path fails or has insufficient QoS.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent is highly relevant as it addresses QoS-aware routing and the use of alternate paths upon failure, which relates to reliability and fault tolerance in routing. It could potentially anticipate aspects of US6961310 concerning reacting to failed routes (Claims 10-12, 22-24, 34-36) and the general concept of considering QoS in routing. However, US6961310 distinguishes itself by focusing on the simultaneous distribution of data across multiple ranked routes proactively (for load balancing or redundancy before a failure), rather than merely switching to an alternate path after a failure.

4. US5974236A

   • Full Citation: "Dynamically reconfigurable communications network and method." U.S. Patent 5,974,236, issued October 26, 1999, to AES Corporation.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 26, 1999. Filing: March 25, 1992.
   • Brief Description: This patent generally describes a communication network and method that can dynamically reconfigure its topology, which is a fundamental characteristic of ad hoc networks.
   • Potential Anticipation: This is broad background art concerning dynamic network adaptation. It does not specifically teach the reactive multi-path routing, metric-based ranking, and simultaneous data distribution as claimed in US6961310.

5. US5987011A

   • Full Citation: Toh, C. K. "Routing method for Ad-Hoc mobile networks." U.S. Patent 5,987,011, issued November 16, 1999.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 16, 1999. Filing: August 30, 1996.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a routing method specifically designed for ad hoc mobile networks. Without a detailed review of the full patent, its exact scope is broad, but Chai-Keong Toh is known for work on associativity-based routing which considers link stability and multiple paths.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent is potentially one of the most relevant. If it discloses discovering multiple routes, ranking them using specific link metrics (e.g., beyond simple hop count), and utilizing more than one route for data transmission (e.g., for load balancing or reliability), it could anticipate elements of Claims 1, 13, and 25 of US6961310. The key distinction for US6961310's novelty lies in the explicit "simultaneously distributing the message data to the destination node along a plurality of the discovered routes based upon the ranking," often with usage factors and for different traffic classes, which may not be fully anticipated if Toh's method primarily involves selecting a single "best" route or using backup routes only upon failure, similar to conventional DSR as described in US6961310's background.

6. US6026073A

   • Full Citation: "Route finding in communications networks." U.S. Patent 6,026,073, issued February 15, 2000, to British Telecommunications Public Limited Company.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 15, 2000. Filing: August 7, 1995.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes methods for finding routes in general communication networks, likely including considerations for network dynamics or certain performance criteria.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to US5974236A, this is broad background art for the general process of "route finding" or "discovering routing" (Claims 1, 13, 25). It is unlikely to anticipate the specific combination of metric-based ranking and simultaneous data distribution across multiple paths in a reactive ad hoc context.

7. US6111941A

   • Full Citation: "Telecommunication system with loop-free switching tables." U.S. Patent 6,111,941, issued August 29, 2000, to U.S. Philips Corporation.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 29, 2000. Filing: February 28, 1997.
   • Brief Description: This patent focuses on mechanisms for ensuring loop-free routing paths within a telecommunication system, a fundamental aspect of network routing integrity.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent addresses a general problem in routing that US6961310 (specifically for AODV modifications) also acknowledges as important. However, it does not anticipate the core novelty of multiple path discovery, metric-based ranking, and simultaneous data distribution of US6961310.

8. US6304556B1

   • Full Citation: Haas, Z. J. "Routing protocol for mobile ad hoc networks." U.S. Patent 6,304,556, issued October 16, 2001, to Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 16, 2001. Filing: August 24, 1998.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes the Zone Routing Protocol (ZRP), a hybrid routing protocol for mobile ad hoc networks that combines proactive routing within a local "zone" with reactive routing for destinations outside that zone.
   • Potential Anticipation: ZRP is a significant ad hoc routing protocol that US6961310 mentions as a type of protocol to which its method can be applied. While ZRP uses both proactive and reactive approaches, its description does not inherently include the specific multi-path, metric-based ranking, and simultaneous data distribution (with usage factors for load balancing or reliability) that are central to US6961310's independent claims.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Among the listed patent citations, US5987011A (Toh) and US5832197A (NEC Corporation) appear to be the most relevant.

• US5987011A (Toh) is directly related to routing methods in ad hoc networks and could potentially disclose aspects of discovering and using multiple paths with various metrics. Its anticipation would hinge on whether it details the simultaneous distribution of data across a plurality of ranked routes as a core function, rather than just identifying multiple paths for backup or single-path selection.
• US5832197A (NEC Corporation) is relevant for its discussion of QoS and alternate routing upon failure. While it addresses the use of multiple paths for reliability, its primary focus on switching to an alternate path after a failure distinguishes it from US6961310's focus on simultaneously distributing data across paths before failure for performance or enhanced reliability.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 6,961,310 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the independent claims of US Patent 6,961,310 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date August 8, 2002). The motivation for combining these references stems from the well-known challenges and desired improvements in mobile ad hoc network (MANET) routing, explicitly articulated in the background section of US6961310 itself.

The patent US6961310 aims to improve upon conventional reactive routing protocols like Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) and Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV). The background notes that conventional DSR "finds multiple paths, but it only uses a single path for the transmission of message data/mission traffic," and that "Conventionally, AODV finds a single path." It further highlights that "Failure of the primary path often results in significant delay" and that "Quality-of-service (QoS) routing in mobile ad hoc networks is gaining interest," requiring protocols to "not only to find a route but also to secure the resources along the route." These statements provide clear motivation for a POSITA to seek solutions that enable multi-path routing, utilize advanced link metrics for route selection, and incorporate QoS considerations into reactive ad hoc network protocols.

Combination of Prior Art References

A strong case for obviousness can be made by combining:

1. US5754543A to Alcatel Data Networks, Inc. (Alcatel): Entitled "Connectivity matrix-based multi-cost routing," this patent teaches evaluating and routing based on multiple "costs" or metrics, rather than a single metric like hop count.
2. US5832197A to NEC Corporation (NEC): Entitled "Alternate routing by increasing initially low QOS value of a selected alternate path during failure to user-specified value," this patent teaches QoS routing, the use of alternate paths, and dynamic adjustments during failure, all with a focus on QoS values.
3. General knowledge of reactive ad hoc routing protocols (e.g., DSR and AODV): As described in the background of US6961310, DSR is known to discover multiple routes, and both DSR and AODV use route request/reply mechanisms and have error notification (RERR) processes.

Obviousness Argument for Independent Claim 1 (Method with Route Confirmations)

Claim 1 describes a method including route discovery, intermediate node resource assessment/reservation, destination replies, ranking routes by link metric, selecting a plurality of routes, sending route confirmations, and distributing data along these routes.

A POSITA, motivated by the shortcomings of conventional DSR/AODV and the growing interest in QoS routing in MANETs (as stated in US6961310's background), would find the steps of Claim 1 obvious through the following combination:

• Transmitting a route request to discover routing: This is a fundamental step in reactive routing protocols like DSR and AODV, which are explicitly mentioned in US6961310's background. US5987011A (Toh) also describes routing methods for ad-hoc networks involving route discovery.
• Intermediate node determining support, forwarding, and temporarily reserving node resources: NEC (US5832197A) teaches using "QOS value" for path selection and using "alternate paths" in a QoS context. A POSITA familiar with QoS routing (which US6961310 acknowledges as "gaining interest," citing Zhu and Mirhakkak et al. for QoS approaches involving resource reservation) would understand that intermediate nodes in a QoS-aware ad hoc network would need to assess and temporarily reserve resources for requested routes.
• Destination generating a reply for each discovered route: The background of US6961310 states that "Conventional DSR finds multiple paths." This inherently suggests that a destination could receive route requests via multiple paths and generate replies corresponding to each.
• Ranking discovered routes according to at least one link metric: Alcatel (US5754543A) explicitly teaches "multi-cost routing," which directly maps to ranking routes based on multiple link metrics. The specific metrics (link delay, capacity, available capacity, and reliability), as claimed in US6961310, are standard parameters considered in QoS routing (as understood by a POSITA, especially given NEC US5832197A's focus on QoS value).
• Selecting a plurality of routes based upon the ranking: Given that DSR already discovers multiple paths (US6961310 background) and Alcatel teaches ranking these paths by multiple costs (US5754543A), a POSITA aiming to improve network reliability and load balancing would find it obvious to select not just one, but a plurality of the best-ranked routes. This directly addresses the stated problem in US6961310 that DSR "only uses a single path."
• Transmitting route confirmations to intermediate nodes on the plurality of selected routes: This step logically follows the intermediate node's temporary resource reservation and the selection of QoS-enabled routes. Confirming resource usage is a standard practice in QoS signaling, as evident from the QoS approaches cited in US6961310's background (Zhu, Mirhakkak et al.) and NEC's QoS teaching (US5832197A).
• Distributing the message data to the destination node along the plurality of discovered routes: With multiple ranked routes selected for improved performance (as motivated by US6961310's background), distributing data across these routes for load balancing, reliability, or timeliness (e.g., distributing duplicate data or different portions, as mentioned in the patent) is a well-known engineering solution in networking.

Obviousness Argument for Independent Claim 13 (Method for Simultaneously Distributing Message Data)

Claim 13 describes discovering routes, ranking them by link metric, and simultaneously distributing message data along a plurality of these routes based on ranking. This claim builds directly on the concepts made obvious for Claim 1, with an emphasis on simultaneous distribution.

• Discovering routing to the destination node: As discussed for Claim 1.
• Ranking discovered routes according to at least one link metric: As discussed for Claim 1, taught by Alcatel (US5754543A) for "multi-cost routing."
• Simultaneously distributing the message data to the destination node along a plurality of the discovered routes based upon the ranking: Given the prior art's teaching of multi-cost routing (Alcatel US5754543A) and the recognized desire to utilize multiple paths for load balancing and reliability (explicitly stated in US6961310's background as an improvement over DSR/AODV), it would be an obvious design choice for a POSITA to simultaneously distribute data across these multiple, ranked paths. Techniques for splitting and distributing data across multiple paths for throughput or redundancy were known in the art of networking.

Obviousness Argument for Independent Claim 25 (Mobile Ad Hoc Network System)

Claim 25 defines a mobile ad hoc network system with specific units (route discovery, route ranking, message data distribution) that implement the methods of Claims 1 and 13.

The system described in Claim 25 would be an obvious implementation of the methods made obvious by the combination of prior art. A POSITA would readily understand how to implement a "route discovery unit," a "route ranking unit" that uses multiple link metrics (based on Alcatel US5754543A), and a "message data distribution unit" that simultaneously distributes data across multiple ranked routes, using standard hardware and software components available at the time of invention. The functions of these units directly correspond to the method steps deemed obvious above.

Conclusion

The independent claims of US Patent 6,961,310 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art in light of a combination of US5754543A (Alcatel), US5832197A (NEC), and general knowledge of reactive ad hoc routing protocols like DSR and AODV (as explicitly detailed in US6961310's own background). The motivation to combine these references arises from the recognized need to improve the reliability, timeliness, and load balancing of MANET routing, particularly by overcoming the limitations of single-path or underutilized multi-path reactive protocols and incorporating QoS considerations, which were identified problems and goals in the field at the time.