Prior art

The current date is April 26, 2026. US patent 7280830, titled "Automatic registration services provided through a home relationship established between a device and a local area network," was published on October 9, 2007, and has a priority date of April 28, 2004. The patent expired on May 11, 2025.

The following are the most relevant prior art documents cited in US patent 7280830, along with their details and potential anticipation analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US7280830

1. US6091956A

• Full Citation: US6091956A, Hollenberg; Dennis D., "Situation information system"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: July 18, 2000 (Filed: June 12, 1997)
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system for mobile users to generate and exchange time-critical situation information using a multiple-function device. It involves collecting and processing data from devices like digital cameras and bar-code readers, transmitted via a wireless transceiver for display or communication. The system enables mobile users to obtain geographic location information and generate situation reports for themselves or others.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent focuses on information exchange and reporting by mobile devices but lacks the specific inventive steps of US7280830 regarding automatic registration, the establishment of a "home relationship" that removes the need for additional user configuration for network communication, and the interaction between a network server and a registration server for device onboarding and ongoing service provisioning. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate any claims of US7280830.

2. US6449473B1

• Full Citation: US6449473B1, Nokia Networks Oy, "Security method for transmissions in telecommunication networks"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: September 10, 2002 (Filed: September 15, 1997)
• Brief Description: This patent details a method for securing transmissions in telecommunication networks, particularly for mobile stations and service applications. It focuses on providing connection security by changing security parameters during a session without requiring a new handshake and utilizes both symmetric and public key encryption algorithms for confidentiality. The initial communication involves authentication and key exchange.
• Potential Anticipation: While US7280830 mentions establishing a secure connection using public/private key pairs (claims 8, 9), US6449473B1 primarily addresses the security mechanisms for ongoing communication rather than the automatic registration process of a new device itself. It does not describe a "home relationship" for zero-configuration network access or the collection and transmission of registration information to a remote registration server for automatic enrollment and service updates. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US7280830, particularly claims 1, 15, 29, 35, 41, and 47.

3. US6542740B1

• Full Citation: US6542740B1, Litepoint, Corp., "System, method and article of manufacture for utilizing a wireless link in an interface roaming network framework"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: April 1, 2003 (Filed: October 24, 2000)
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for a mobile terminal to acquire an IP address when entering an area covered by a wireless link, enabling it to roam between different wireless access points within a network. It focuses on the use of an interface roaming network framework to facilitate wireless communication and connectivity for devices.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent deals with network roaming and IP address acquisition for wireless devices, which is a foundational aspect of network connectivity. However, it does not describe the specific "home relationship" concept of US7280830 where a device is recognized as "owned" by a network server, leading to automatic registration with a remote registration server without additional user configuration. The scope of US6542740B1 is more about maintaining connectivity during movement within a network, rather than the initial automated setup and registration for new devices with a manufacturer's server for services. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific automatic registration and service provisioning claims (e.g., claims 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 35) of US7280830.

4. US20030078959A1

• Full Citation: US20030078959A1, Yeung; Wilson, "Deployment of business logic software and data content onto network servers"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: April 24, 2003 (Filed: October 18, 2001)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods and systems for deploying business logic software and data content to network servers in a distributed computing environment. It focuses on dynamically deploying and updating software components and data, including for e-commerce applications, to ensure consistency and efficiency across servers.
• Potential Anticipation: This prior art is concerned with deploying and updating software and data on network servers, which relates to the broader concept of software management. While US7280830 includes steps for transferring and installing software/firmware updates or plug-ins to the network server or new device (claims 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26), US20030078959A1 does not disclose the unique "home relationship" for automatic device registration of a new wireless device, nor the automatic collection and sending of registration information specifically from a network server to a registration server for the new device's enrollment and subsequent targeted services. Therefore, it would not anticipate the core claims of US7280830 focused on automatic device registration.

5. US20030200297A1

• Full Citation: US20030200297A1, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, "Method for configuring a system management station"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: October 23, 2003 (Filed: April 23, 2002)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a method for configuring a system management station, particularly for telecommunication networks. The configuration involves automatically acquiring system-specific information (e.g., from network elements) and generating configuration data to facilitate management tasks.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent application focuses on configuring management stations by gathering system information. While it involves automatic acquisition of information, it does not teach the establishment of a "home relationship" for a new wireless device with a network server that enables zero-configuration communication, nor the subsequent automatic registration of that new device with a remote registration server based on collected information (including user, device, and network server details), as claimed in US7280830. The purpose and scope are distinct, making it unlikely to anticipate claims 1 or 35 of US7280830.

6. US20040039813A1

• Full Citation: US20040039813A1, Clark Todd A., "Scalable wireless remote control and monitoring system with automatic registration and automatic time synchronization"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: February 26, 2004 (Filed: August 22, 2002)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a scalable wireless remote control and monitoring system that includes automatic registration of remote devices and automatic time synchronization. It enables devices to automatically register with a central system and then be controlled and monitored remotely.
• Potential Anticipation: This is highly relevant as it explicitly mentions "automatic registration" of wireless devices. However, a key distinction in US7280830 is the "home relationship" between the new wireless device and a local network server, which then acts as an intermediary to a remote registration server. US20040039813A1 generally describes automatic registration with a "central system," which could be interpreted broadly. The specific limitation in US7280830's claims 1 and 35 regarding "determining at the network server, that the wireless device is an owned device, wherein the owned device is previously known to the network server" and the precise flow of registration information from the network server (or new device) to a registration server that handles additional services would need careful comparison. Depending on the details of the "automatic registration" and the roles of the various servers in US20040039813A1, this patent could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 35 related to the broader concept of automatic registration for wireless devices, but the specific "home relationship" and "owned device previously known" limitations may differentiate it.

7. US20040098515A1

• Full Citation: US20040098515A1, Rezvani; Babak, "Systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: May 20, 2004 (Filed: September 6, 2000)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices, particularly within a network. It focuses on simplifying the process for new devices to join and become recognized by a network, potentially involving automatic discovery and configuration.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent application is also highly relevant due to its title "automatic registration of devices." Similar to US20040039813A1, the crucial differentiating factors for US7280830 would be the specifics of the "home relationship" with a local network server, the determination of an "owned device previously known to the network server" (claims 1, 35), and the detailed steps of information flow to a registration server for comprehensive registration and ongoing service provisioning. If US20040098515A1 discloses a similar architecture where a local network entity facilitates automatic registration with a remote service for a new device based on a pre-established relationship, it could potentially anticipate several claims, especially the broader concepts of automatic registration in claims 1 and 35.

8. US20040249922A1

• Full Citation: US20040249922A1, Hackman; Thomas J., "Home automation system security"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: December 9, 2004 (Filed: March 31, 2003)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a home automation system with enhanced security features. It focuses on securely connecting and managing devices within a home network for automation purposes, ensuring authorized access and control.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent application is related to home networks and device management within that context. While US7280830 also deals with devices in a "home" network (via the "home network server"), the focus of US20040249922A1 is on security for home automation, not specifically the automatic registration of new devices with a remote registration server to establish a "home relationship" that removes configuration requirements and enables ongoing services from a manufacturer. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific automatic registration claims of US7280830.

9. US20050027608A1

• Full Citation: US20050027608A1, Wiesmuller; Andreas, "System and method for providing commercial services over a wireless communication network"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: February 3, 2005 (Filed: July 29, 2003)
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for providing commercial services, such as purchasing or downloading content, over a wireless communication network to mobile devices. It involves a service provider, a mobile terminal, and a content server, and focuses on the transaction process.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent application addresses the provision of commercial services (e.g., content downloads, purchasing) to wireless devices. US7280830 also describes providing "special offers" (claims 13, 14, 27, 28) and transferring software/firmware updates (claims 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26) as part of its services. However, US20050027608A1 does not teach the initial automatic registration of a new wireless device facilitated by a "home relationship" with a local network server and interaction with a registration server (e.g., manufacturer's server) for initial device enrollment and then subsequent service offerings. While some "services" overlap, the automatic registration foundation of US7280830 is distinct. It would not anticipate claims 1 or 35, but might be considered for claims related to providing subsequent services (e.g., claims 13, 14, 27, 28) if the context of such services is broadly construed.

10. US7054618B1

• Full Citation: US7054618B1, Openwave Systems Inc., "Method of registering a communication device with a proxy server based service"
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: May 30, 2006 (Filed: May 23, 2002)
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for registering a communication device with a proxy server-based service in a wireless communication network. The device sends registration information to a proxy server, which then processes and forwards it to the service. The method aims to streamline device registration for network services.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent is highly relevant due to its focus on "registering a communication device" with a "proxy server-based service." This resembles the network server acting as an intermediary to a registration server in US7280830. However, US7280830 specifically emphasizes the "home relationship" that eliminates additional user configuration for communication, and the network server determining the device as an "owned device" that is "previously known" (claims 1, 35). While US7054618B1 involves sending registration information, the specific "home relationship" and "owned device" aspects as defined in US7280830 might differentiate it. If US7054618B1's proxy server registration process involves an equivalent "home relationship" and "owned device" determination that bypasses user configuration for network communication, it could potentially anticipate claims 1 and 35.

Summary of Most Potentially Anticipating Prior Art:

The most potentially anticipating prior art documents are US20040039813A1 ("Scalable wireless remote control and monitoring system with automatic registration and automatic time synchronization") and US20040098515A1 ("Systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices"), and US7054618B1 ("Method of registering a communication device with a proxy server based service"). These patents directly address "automatic registration" of devices in a network context, which is the core concept of US7280830.

The key distinguishing features of US7280830 that would need to be carefully compared against these prior art references are:

• The specific definition of a "home relationship" between the new wireless device and the network server that ensures "no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the relationship is established."
• The step of "determining at the network server, that the wireless device is an owned device, wherein the owned device is previously known to the network server" (claims 1, 15, 29, 35, 41, 47).
• The architecture involving both a local network server and a remote registration server for specific types of registration and subsequent service provisioning (e.g., manufacturer services).
• The automatic collection of specific types of registration information (user, device, network server) and its secure transmission to the registration server.

A detailed claim-by-claim analysis would be required to definitively determine anticipation, focusing on whether each and every element of the independent claims of US7280830 is present in these most relevant prior art documents.