US 7412517

Here is a concise summary of US patent 7412517:

US Patent 7412517 Summary

• Title: Method for providing dynamic bandwidth allocation based on IP-flow characteristics in a wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system

• Assignee:

  • Current: Dow Chemical Co, Intellectual Ventures I LLC
  • Original: Van Drebbel Mariner LLC

• Inventors: Jacob W. Jorgensen

• Filing Date: August 10, 2006

• Issue Date: August 12, 2008

• Abstract: The patent describes a method for dynamically allocating bandwidth in a wireless point-to-multipoint (PtMP) transmission system. This method involves receiving multiple IP (Internet Protocol) flows at a wireless base station, each flow containing data packets, intended for various subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations over a wireless medium. The system analyzes each IP flow to determine its specific characteristics. Based on these determined characteristics, the bandwidth of the wireless medium is dynamically allocated among the subscriber CPE stations, and the IP flows are then transmitted accordingly.

• Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

  • Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for managing bandwidth in a wireless point-to-multipoint (PtMP) system. It involves a wireless base station receiving multiple IP data streams (IP flows) meant for various subscriber devices (CPE stations) over a wireless connection. The method then analyzes these IP flows to understand their specific attributes (IP-flow characteristics), dynamically adjusts the available wireless bandwidth among the subscriber devices based on these attributes, and finally transmits the IP flows using this dynamically allocated bandwidth.
  • Claim 20 (Method): This claim builds on Claim 1 by specifying that the "IP-flow characteristics" being analyzed explicitly include the quality of service (QoS) requirements associated with each IP flow.
  • Claim 21 (Method): Similar to Claim 1, but the "IP-flow characteristics" analyzed specifically include the service level agreement (SLA) requirements for each IP flow.
  • Claim 22 (Method): Similar to Claim 1, but the "IP-flow characteristics" analyzed specifically include the classification of an IP flow into a particular class of service.
  • Claim 23 (Method): Similar to Claim 1, but the "IP-flow characteristics" analyzed specifically include the round-trip time (RTT) associated with each IP flow.
  • Claim 24 (Method): This claim expands on Claim 1 by adding an additional step: managing the associated Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) transmission rate.
  • Claim 25 (Method): This claim expands on Claim 1 by adding an additional step: managing the local retransmission of lost packets without needing to signal TCP, thereby avoiding unnecessary alterations to the TCP transmission speed.
  • Claim 26 (Method): This claim expands on Claim 1 by specifying that the wireless medium utilizes a telecommunications access method that includes at least one of: Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Time Division Multiple Access/Time Division Duplex (TDMA/TDD), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), or Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA).
  • Claim 27 (System - Means-Plus-Function): This claim describes a system that performs the method of Claim 1 using functional "means." It includes components (or "means") for receiving IP flows, analyzing them for characteristics, dynamically allocating wireless bandwidth based on these characteristics, and transmitting the flows over the allocated bandwidth.
  • Claim 30 (System - Apparatus): This claim describes a physical system (an apparatus) for dynamically allocating bandwidth. It comprises a wireless base station, an analyzer, a resource allocator, and a transmitter. The wireless base station receives IP flows, the analyzer determines IP-flow characteristics, the resource allocator dynamically assigns wireless bandwidth based on these characteristics, and the transmitter sends the IP flows over this allocated bandwidth.

Legal Status Note: The patent is currently listed as "Expired - Fee Related" with an anticipated expiration date of July 9, 2019.

CAFC 2026 Dockets: No specific dockets for US7412517 were found in the CAFC database for the year 2026. The patent's Google Patents page notes a PTAB case (IPR2018-01007) that has been settled and a US case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (2:17-cv-00577), both from prior years.