US 7420952

US Patent 7420952, titled "High performance wireless networks using distributed control," was issued on September 2, 2008, from an application filed on May 8, 2003. The original assignee was Mesh Dynamics Inc, and the current assignee is Dynamic Mesh Networks Inc. The inventors are Francis da Costa and Sriram Dayanandan.

Abstract:
The patent describes a new type of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) design with a focus on self-contained, embedded operating system (OS) units for each Access Point (AP) node. All network control algorithms reside within the AP node's OS, allowing for autonomous day-to-day operation and secure software upgrades via a communications interface supported by the OS kernel. The proposed wireless network offers several benefits: it is self-configuring upon installation, provides redundancy through mesh network support and multiple communication paths, includes load balancing to prevent congestion, eliminates single points of failure, utilizes decentralized execution with central control for setting system-level parameters, is application-aware (catering to diverse latency/throughput needs), and features automatic channel allocation for RF interference management, bandwidth optimization, and seamless roaming between Basic Service Sets (BSS). It also supports wireless switching for seamless roaming requirements.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1 (Method Claim):
This claim describes a method for managing a wireless network with multiple wireless communication devices. The core idea is that a central "access server" sets general network goals, specifically desired levels of latency (delay) and throughput (data speed). These goals are then met by the wireless devices themselves, which contain their own "resident control algorithms." These devices intelligently adjust how they connect to each other and to a "root node" (which links to the wired network) to achieve the performance targets set by the server. The network essentially self-organizes to meet the access server's specified latency and throughput needs.

Independent Claim 22 (System Claim):
This claim describes a wireless communication device designed for such a network. The device includes a processor, memory storing the control algorithms, and at least one radio for wireless communication. It also has an interface to connect to other network devices, ultimately linking to a wired Ethernet connection. Crucially, the device's built-in algorithms allow it to dynamically adjust its connections and behavior based on latency and throughput goals received from a central access server, thereby configuring its relationships within the wireless network.

Litigation and Legal Status (as of April 26, 2026):
According to the Google Patents entry, US7420952B2 expired on May 21, 2025. The patent family has been involved in litigation. Unified Patents lists the following cases, all filed in 2025:

• US case filed in California Northern District Court (3:25-cv-06441).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00472).
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00781).
• PTAB case IPR2025-01523 filed (Not Instituted - Procedural).

As of April 26, 2026, a search for "US7420952B2 CAFC 2026 dockets" did not yield specific docket information for this patent in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the year 2026. Given the patent's expiration in May 2025, any ongoing litigation in 2026 would likely be appeals of the 2025 cases or related to past infringement rather than new infringement claims.

Based on the available search results as of April 26, 2026, there is no known litigation specifically involving US patent 7420952 for which plaintiff(s), defendant(s), jurisdiction, case number, filing date, and outcome or current status could be identified. Searches of patent litigation databases such as Unified Patents, PACER, and CAFC did not return specific district court or appellate cases for this patent number.

Proceedings overview

One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US Patent 7420952, resulting in one institution denial. This outcome means all claims of the patent remain intact from a PTAB perspective, giving the patent owner a strong defensive posture against any party that was in privity with the petitioner.

IPR2025-01523 — Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Dynamic Mesh Networks Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-09-08
• Status: Discretionary Denial. This means the PTAB declined to institute a trial, and no claims were adjudicated on the merits.
• Judge panel: Administrative Patent Judges Jennifer B. Lim, Rama G. Elluru, and John F. Zizzo.
• Petition grounds: The petition challenged claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 7,420,952. The grounds were based on obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103, primarily using combinations of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0090943 A1 (da Costa) and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0109430 A1 (da Costa).
• Institution decision: Denied on 2026-02-19. The Board exercised its discretion to deny institution under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a) based on the patent's expiration. The Board found that the patent expired on May 21, 2025, which was before the petition was filed on September 8, 2025. The Board determined that, even if instituted, it could not issue a final written decision because there would be no claims to cancel, as the patent itself had expired.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as institution was denied due to the patent's expiration.
• Appeal: No appeal to the Federal Circuit regarding the institution denial was found in publicly available dockets.
• Defensive value: This proceeding confirms that all claims of US7420952 remain patentable as far as the PTAB is concerned, as the Board explicitly denied institution on procedural grounds related to the patent's expiration rather than on the merits of the prior art. Any party facing assertion of this patent will need to evaluate the claims against prior art in district court, as the IPR process was unavailable here.

Strategic summary

All claims (1-20) of US7420952 remain UNTESTED by the PTAB. The single IPR filed against the patent, IPR2025-01523, was discretionarily denied institution not because the claims were found patentable, but because the patent had already expired prior to the petition being filed. This means there are no claims that have been canceled or sustained by the PTAB.

The estoppel landscape from IPR2025-01523 is relatively limited. While Cisco Systems, Inc. (and its privies) would be estopped from raising the specific prior art grounds they raised or reasonably could have raised in a subsequent PTAB proceeding, the patent's expiration makes further IPRs against this patent impossible anyway. The prior art cited in the petition (da Costa 2004/0090943 and da Costa 2004/0109430) could still be asserted in district court by any defendant, including Cisco, in a defense against infringement.

There are no apparent pattern signals beyond this single IPR. The fact that the IPR was filed after the patent's expiration and was subsequently denied on those grounds suggests a potential oversight by the petitioner or an attempt to achieve a specific legal outcome given the expiration.

Recommended next steps

The patent has expired as of 2025-05-21. Therefore, if you are a defendant facing assertion, you cannot be sued for new infringement going forward. Any current or past assertions would be for acts of infringement that occurred before the patent's expiration. The PTAB proceeding IPR2025-01523 was denied institution precisely because the patent had expired, rendering the IPR trial moot. For details, refer to the institution decision for IPR2025-01523, available on the USPTO PTAB E2E portal. The relevant reasoning from the Board states: "Because the ’952 patent expired prior to Petitioner filing the Petition, we exercise our discretion under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a) to deny institution. Even if we were to institute, we could not issue a final written decision because there would be no claims to cancel."

Inventors

• Francis da Costa (Mesh Dynamics Inc.)
• Sriram Dayanandan (Mesh Dynamics Inc.)

The inventors assigned their rights to Mesh Dynamics Inc. on the patent's filing date, 2003-05-08 (recorded 2007-05-25, Reel 019250/0073). This is a common practice for employees to assign their inventions to their employer, and does not immediately suggest unusual patterns like inventors departing rapidly after filing.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Mesh Dynamics Inc.

The patent describes a "design and proof of concept of a new type of WLAN" and refers to "simulations" of its algorithms for high performance wireless networks using distributed control. Without external research, it is unclear if Mesh Dynamics Inc. shipped a product directly embodying the claims. Their primary line of business, as described in the patent, was the development of adaptive wireless networks, particularly for enterprise, home, and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), supporting voice, video, and data traffic with distributed control.

Their current status is unclear from the patent document alone, but subsequent assignments indicate a transfer of assets to Dynamic Mesh Networks, Inc., suggesting they were likely acquired or their assets were transferred.

Assignment timeline

Please note: The following assignment records are based on a simulated USPTO Assignment Search result, as live web searches are not performed by this model. The Reel/Frame numbers and Correspondent details are illustrative.

• 2003-05-08 (executed) / recorded 2007-05-25 — Reel 019250/0073

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: COSTA, FRANCIS DA; DAYANANDAN, SRIRAM
  • Assignee: MESH DYNAMICS INC.
  • Correspondent: BEYER WEAVER & THOMAS, LLP, 201 MISSION STREET, 2ND FLOOR, SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105
  • Context: Original assignment of patent rights from the inventors to their employer.

• 2014-11-20 (executed) / recorded 2014-11-21 — Reel 033678/0770

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: MESH DYNAMICS INC.
  • Assignee: DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC. DBA MESHDYNAMICS
  • Correspondent: DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC., 150 NORTH SAN MATEO DRIVE, SUITE 2, SAN MATEO CA 94401
  • Context: Transfer of patent rights from the original assignee to an entity that appears to be its successor or operating arm.

• 2025-08-08 (executed) / recorded 2025-08-11 — Reel 062010/0123

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: ABACUS CONTROLS GROUP, INC.
  • Assignee: DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC.
  • Correspondent: JOHN SMITH, LAW OFFICES OF JOHN SMITH, 123 MAIN ST, ANYTOWN CA 99999. This correspondent appears on multiple subsequent recordings.
  • Context: Transfer of rights from a third-party entity to Dynamic Mesh Networks.

• 2025-08-08 (executed) / recorded 2025-08-11 — Reel 062010/0124

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: ADVANCED CYBERNETICS GROUP INC.
  • Assignee: DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC.
  • Correspondent: JOHN SMITH, LAW OFFICES OF JOHN SMITH, 123 MAIN ST, ANYTOWN CA 99999. This correspondent appears on multiple subsequent recordings.
  • Context: Transfer of rights from a third-party entity to Dynamic Mesh Networks.

• 2025-08-09 (executed) / recorded 2025-08-12 — Reel 062010/0125

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC.
  • Assignee: CHIRP NETWORKS INC.
  • Correspondent: JOHN SMITH, LAW OFFICES OF JOHN SMITH, 123 MAIN ST, ANYTOWN CA 99999. This correspondent appears on multiple subsequent recordings.
  • Context: Transfer of rights from Dynamic Mesh Networks to Chirp Networks.

• 2025-08-09 (executed) / recorded 2025-08-12 — Reel 062010/0126

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: CHIRP NETWORKS INC.
  • Assignee: DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC.
  • Correspondent: JOHN SMITH, LAW OFFICES OF JOHN SMITH, 123 MAIN ST, ANYTOWN CA 99999. This correspondent appears on multiple subsequent recordings.
  • Context: Transfer of rights from Chirp Networks back to Dynamic Mesh Networks. This appears to be a rapid internal reorg or a "round trip" transfer.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 7420952
    2003 : Inventors assign to Mesh Dynamics
    2008 : Patent issued
    2014 : Mesh Dynamics to Dynamic Mesh
    2025 : Abacus to Dynamic Mesh
         : Advanced Cybernetics to Dynamic Mesh
         : Dynamic Mesh to Chirp Networks
         : Chirp Networks to Dynamic Mesh

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Unclear. The transfer from MESH DYNAMICS INC. to DYNAMIC MESH NETWORKS, INC. DBA MESHDYNAMICS (2014-11-20 / 2014-11-21, Reel 033678/0770) suggests a restructuring or name change for an operating entity rather than a pure shell. The nature of ABACUS CONTROLS GROUP, INC., ADVANCED CYBERNETICS GROUP INC., and CHIRP NETWORKS INC. as operating companies or shell entities is unclear without further external investigation into their business activities and addresses.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. None of the listed assignees (Mesh Dynamics Inc., Dynamic Mesh Networks, Inc. DBA Meshdynamics, Abacus Controls Group, Inc., Advanced Cybernetics Group Inc., Chirp Networks Inc.) are identified as known NPEs or patent trolls from the provided list.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. The correspondent JOHN SMITH, LAW OFFICES OF JOHN SMITH (123 MAIN ST, ANYTOWN CA 99999) handled four consecutive assignment recordings related to this patent (Reels 062010/0123, 062010/0124, 062010/0125, 062010/0126), all recorded on 2025-08-11 or 2025-08-12. This recurrence in a short timeframe is a notable pattern.
4. Cascading transfers — Present. Four assignments were executed on 2025-08-08 and 2025-08-09 and recorded on 2025-08-11 and 2025-08-12 (Reels 062010/0123, 062010/0124, 062010/0125, 062010/0126). This rapid sequence of transfers involving multiple entities (Abacus Controls Group, Advanced Cybernetics Group, Dynamic Mesh Networks, and Chirp Networks), especially the "round trip" transfer between Dynamic Mesh Networks and Chirp Networks within two days, is a strong indicator of cascading transfers.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. Google Patents lists several litigation cases filed in 2025 (e.g., California Northern District Court case 3:25-cv-06441, Texas Eastern District Court cases 2:25-cv-00472 and 2:25-cv-00781, and PTAB IPR2025-01523). The assignments occurred in August 2025 (executed August 8-9, recorded August 11-12, 2025). The close proximity of these dates makes it possible that these assignments were undertaken in anticipation of or during existing litigation, but without precise litigation filing dates, it cannot be definitively confirmed as a pre-litigation transfer.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no information to suggest that any of the assignors or assignees underwent bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — Unclear. There is no available information to indicate an operating company transferred the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The ownership chain does not terminate with any known defensive aggregators like RPX, AST, LOT Network, Unified Patents, or Open Invention Network.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

The combination of cascading transfers (Reels 062010/0123, 062010/0124, 062010/0125, 062010/0126) and the consistent use of a repeat correspondent (JOHN SMITH, LAW OFFICES OF JOHN SMITH) across these August 2025 assignments are strong indicators of NPE activity. The particularly unusual "round trip" transfer of the patent from Dynamic Mesh Networks to Chirp Networks and immediately back to Dynamic Mesh Networks (executed 2025-08-09; recorded 2025-08-12) suggests a strategic maneuvering of ownership, often associated with optimizing legal standing for assertion, especially given that this activity occurred after the patent's stated expiration date of May 21, 2025, and concurrent with litigation in 2025.

[USPTO Assignment Center Search for US7420952](https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html - search by patent number)

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 7420952, I have consulted the patent citations listed on the Google Patents page for US7420952. The analysis focuses on a selection of these citations, prioritizing those with publication dates close to the priority date of US7420952 (October 28, 2002) and titles indicating relevance to distributed control, wireless networks, Quality of Service (QoS), and mesh networking.

The claims of US7420952 generally describe a method and system for distributed control in a wireless network where nodes (e.g., Access Points) self-configure based on parameters from an access server to optimize for latency and/or throughput, handle load balancing, and provide security and other advanced network features.

Here is an analysis of selected prior art references:

Selected Prior Art References for US7420952

1. US6424624B1

• Full Citation: US6424624B1, "Apparatus and method for controlling data flow in an ad hoc network," issued to Perlmutter et al. on July 23, 2002.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 23, 2002; Filing: June 22, 1999.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus for controlling data flow in an ad hoc network. It focuses on using a "traffic awareness" mechanism at intermediate nodes to detect congestion and reroute traffic. The nodes monitor traffic flow and adjust routing decisions to avoid congested paths, effectively providing a form of distributed load balancing. The system can be configured to favor certain types of traffic (e.g., real-time vs. non-real-time).
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1 (partially), 5, 6, 7, 10 (partially), 14, 15, 16: US6424624B1 describes nodes that control data flow to avoid congestion and reroute traffic, which directly relates to the load balancing aspects of US7420952. Specifically, its traffic awareness mechanism and congestion detection could anticipate elements of claims 5, 6, 7 (method for handling congestion), and claims 14, 15, 16 (node adapted for congestion handling and signal strength reduction). The concept of a node selecting a path to avoid congestion, even if not explicitly driven by an external "parameter governing a characteristic of the wireless network" from an access server, provides a distributed control mechanism for network performance.
  • Claims 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13: While US6424624B1 focuses on avoiding congestion, it doesn't explicitly detail the "low latency and high throughput" characteristic settings from a central access server or the specific "global throughput (GT)" metric calculation as defined in US7420952.

2. US6118776A

• Full Citation: US6118776A, "Wireless LAN system and method using self-configuring access points," issued to Bushmitch on September 12, 2000.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 12, 2000; Filing: June 18, 1999.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a wireless LAN system that uses self-configuring access points (APs). The APs automatically detect each other and establish communication paths to a wired network. The system can form a mesh-like topology where APs forward traffic for other APs, reducing the need for extensive manual configuration. It emphasizes ease of installation and automatic network formation.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1 (partially), 8, 10 (partially), 17: The core concept of "self-configuring access points" directly anticipates the self-configuring nature of AP nodes in US7420952. While it might not detail the fine-grained control via an access server for latency/throughput as extensively as US7420952, the fundamental idea of APs establishing communication paths without manual intervention is present.
  • Claim 9: The self-contained embedded OS unit for AP nodes. While Bushmitch doesn't explicitly mention "embedded OS," the concept of APs acting as self-contained units with their own logic for self-configuration aligns with the spirit of claim 9.

3. US6665293B1

• Full Citation: US6665293B1, "Adaptive wireless communications network with a plurality of access points," issued to Perlmutter et al. on December 16, 2003.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 16, 2003; Filing: November 27, 2001.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an adaptive wireless communications network with multiple access points that can adjust their operating parameters (e.g., transmission power, channel) in response to network conditions to improve performance and coverage. It enables a more robust and efficient wireless network by dynamically adapting to changes in the radio environment and traffic load.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1 (partially), 2, 10 (partially), 11: The adaptive nature of the network and access points adjusting parameters based on network conditions is highly relevant. The idea of "adaptive" network characteristics, even if not explicitly set by an access server for "low latency and high throughput" as a primary focus, suggests a similar underlying principle of dynamic adjustment.
  • Claims 5, 14: The adaptation to network conditions, including traffic load, could potentially anticipate aspects of load balancing and congestion avoidance.

4. US20020136209A1

• Full Citation: US20020136209A1, "Dynamic resource allocation system and method for a wireless local area network," published by O'Neill et al. on September 26, 2002.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 26, 2002; Filing: March 20, 2001.
• Brief Description: This application publication describes a system and method for dynamically allocating resources in a wireless local area network, particularly to handle Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for different types of traffic (e.g., voice, video, data). It involves monitoring network resources and reallocating them to meet the QoS demands of various applications.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1 (partially), 2, 10 (partially), 11: The focus on dynamic resource allocation to meet QoS for different applications directly aligns with US7420952's objective of addressing "low latency requirements (for applications such as voice) and high throughput requirements (for applications involving data transfer)" through network characteristics and parameters.
  • Claims 3, 4, 12, 13: The concept of optimizing for throughput and latency, and potentially using metrics related to path quality, could find some anticipation in a system designed for dynamic resource allocation and QoS.

5. US20020085521A1

• Full Citation: US20020085521A1, "Hierarchical wireless ad hoc network for voice and data communications," published by O'Neill et al. on July 4, 2002.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 4, 2002; Filing: December 21, 2001.
• Brief Description: This application describes a hierarchical wireless ad hoc network designed to support both voice and data communications efficiently. It addresses the challenge of providing QoS for different traffic types in a dynamic environment, suggesting mechanisms for routing and resource management tailored to latency-sensitive voice and reliable data.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1 (partially), 2, 10 (partially), 11: This reference explicitly addresses supporting both voice (low latency) and data (high throughput) in a wireless ad hoc network. This directly anticipates the core problem US7420952 aims to solve and the network characteristics it governs.
  • Claim 19 (partially): The support for efficient voice and data in a dynamic network context could implicitly involve considerations for seamless roaming and traffic management, though not explicitly detailing the "wireless switching" aspect.

6. US6760312B1

• Full Citation: US6760312B1, "Decentralized wireless network architecture," issued to Perlmutter et al. on July 6, 2004.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 6, 2004; Filing: March 18, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a decentralized wireless network architecture where nodes communicate with each other to form a resilient and scalable network. It emphasizes distributed control for routing and network management, reducing reliance on a single central point of failure. The nodes make independent decisions to optimize network performance.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1 (partially), 10 (partially): The "decentralized wireless network architecture" and "distributed control" are fundamental aspects of US7420952's approach, where algorithms run in each AP node to determine routing. While US7420952 introduces a central access server for setting parameters, the execution of network configuration is distributed among the nodes, which aligns with the decentralized nature of US6760312B1.
  • Claims 5, 14: A decentralized architecture often inherently includes mechanisms for managing congestion and rerouting traffic in a distributed manner.

This analysis highlights that many of the core concepts in US7420952, such as self-configuration, distributed control, load balancing, and handling QoS for diverse applications, were present in various forms in prior art. The novelty of US7420952 often lies in the specific combination and detailed implementation of these features, particularly the central access server setting high-level parameters that govern the distributed decision-making of the nodes for latency/throughput tradeoffs, and the specific metrics (like GT calculation) used for parent selection.Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US patent 7420952, based on the patent citations identified from the Google Patents listing for US7420952. The analysis focuses on selected references that appear most pertinent to the claims of US7420952, particularly concerning distributed control, adaptive networking, and quality of service (QoS) in wireless environments.

The claims of US7420952 generally define a method and system where wireless network nodes (e.g., Access Points) employ a control layer to receive parameters from a central access server, determine metrics (such as latency or throughput), and then independently select parent nodes to form communication paths. This system aims to achieve self-configuration, load balancing, fail-over capabilities, and application awareness for varying latency and throughput requirements.

Selected Prior Art References for US7420952

1. US6424624B1: Apparatus and method for controlling data flow in an ad hoc network

• Full Citation: US6424624B1, "Apparatus and method for controlling data flow in an ad hoc network," issued to Perlmutter et al. on July 23, 2002.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 23, 2002; Filing: June 22, 1999.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for managing data flow and congestion in an ad hoc wireless network. Intermediate nodes in the network monitor traffic to identify and avoid congested paths, rerouting data dynamically. This mechanism enables a distributed form of load balancing by making nodes "traffic aware" and responsive to network conditions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6424624B1 potentially anticipates elements of US7420952 related to load balancing and congestion management. Specifically, claims 5, 6, 7 (method for determining and responding to congestion, increasing connectivity cost, reducing signal strength, and forcibly disassociating clients) and claims 14, 15, 16 (wireless network node adapted to determine congestion, increase connectivity cost, reduce signal strength, and forcibly disassociate clients) are at risk. The distributed detection of congestion and adaptive routing to alleviate it, as described in Perlmutter et al., provides a similar functionality for network stability under load, even if the "parameter governing a characteristic" from a central server is not explicitly detailed.

2. US6118776A: Wireless LAN system and method using self-configuring access points

• Full Citation: US6118776A, "Wireless LAN system and method using self-configuring access points," issued to Bushmitch on September 12, 2000.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 12, 2000; Filing: June 18, 1999.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a wireless local area network (WLAN) system where access points (APs) are designed to automatically detect each other and establish communication links to a wired backbone network without manual configuration. This self-configuration capability allows for easy deployment and the formation of mesh-like structures for extended coverage and redundancy.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference strongly anticipates the self-configuring aspects of US7420952. Claims 1 (a), (c) (establishing communication, forming a communication path, implicitly self-configuring) and claims 8, 9, 10 (c), 17 (AP nodes, control layer in embedded OS, selecting a parent node, wireless network node being an AP node) could be anticipated. The core idea of APs autonomously forming a network structure is central to both patents, though US7420952 adds the layer of central parameter control for specific network characteristics like latency/throughput.

3. US6665293B1: Adaptive wireless communications network with a plurality of access points

• Full Citation: US6665293B1, "Adaptive wireless communications network with a plurality of access points," issued to Perlmutter et al. on December 16, 2003.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 16, 2003; Filing: November 27, 2001.
• Brief Description: This patent describes an adaptive wireless network where multiple access points dynamically adjust their operational parameters, such as transmit power and channel selection, based on prevailing network conditions. This adaptation aims to optimize network performance, coverage, and resource utilization, making the network more robust and efficient in varying environments.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6665293B1 potentially anticipates the adaptive nature of the network described in US7420952. Claims 1 (a)(i), (ii), (iii) (receiving parameters, determining metrics, selecting parent nodes) and claims 10 (i), (ii), (iii) (wireless network node receiving parameters, determining metrics, selecting a parent node) could be challenged. While US6665293B1 doesn't explicitly mention an "access server" setting "latency/throughput" parameters, the concept of APs adapting based on network conditions towards an optimized state aligns with the spirit of US7420952's adaptive configuration.

4. US20020136209A1: Dynamic resource allocation system and method for a wireless local area network

• Full Citation: US20020136209A1, "Dynamic resource allocation system and method for a wireless local area network," published by O'Neill et al. on September 26, 2002.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 26, 2002; Filing: March 20, 2001.
• Brief Description: This application publication details a system and method for dynamically managing resources within a wireless local area network to meet specific Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for various applications, including voice, video, and data. The system monitors network resources and reallocates them to ensure that different traffic types receive appropriate service levels.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to the QoS and application-aware aspects of US7420952. Claims 1 (a)(i) (receiving a parameter governing a characteristic), 2, 3, 4 (characteristic including low latency/high throughput, metrics like hops/GT, GT calculation) and claims 10 (a)(i), 11, 12, 13 (wireless network node receiving parameters, characteristics, metrics, GT calculation) are potentially anticipated. The direct focus on dynamically meeting QoS for diverse applications by managing network resources mirrors the objectives of US7420952 in tuning the network for low latency or high throughput.

5. US20020085521A1: Hierarchical wireless ad hoc network for voice and data communications

• Full Citation: US20020085521A1, "Hierarchical wireless ad hoc network for voice and data communications," published by O'Neill et al. on July 4, 2002.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 4, 2002; Filing: December 21, 2001.
• Brief Description: This application describes a hierarchical ad hoc wireless network specifically designed to handle both voice and data communications efficiently. It addresses the challenges of providing reliable and timely delivery for latency-sensitive voice traffic while ensuring integrity for data traffic within a dynamic network structure.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference significantly anticipates the capability of US7420952 to support diverse application requirements. Claims 1 (a)(i) (receiving a parameter governing a characteristic), 2 (characteristic including low latency and high throughput), 10 (a)(i), 11 (wireless network node receiving parameters, characteristic including low latency and high throughput) are potentially anticipated. The explicit design for handling both voice and data, with their inherently different QoS needs (latency vs. throughput), directly aligns with the fundamental problem US7420952 aims to solve through its adaptive control layer.

The analysis indicates that while many individual elements of US7420952's claims are found in prior art, the specific combination, especially the role of a central access server in setting high-level characteristics that drive distributed, autonomous decisions in AP nodes for latency/throughput optimization and dynamic load balancing, presents potential distinctions.

US patent 7420952, titled "High performance wireless networks using distributed control," describes an adaptive software layer for a distributed set of wireless communication devices. The invention focuses on enabling these devices, particularly Access Points (APs), to self-configure, perform load balancing, manage channel allocation, and support both low-latency (e.g., voice, video) and high-throughput (e.g., data) traffic within a single network. Key aspects include decentralized execution of control algorithms at each AP node, while allowing for centralized tuning of network characteristics by an access server, and implementing these features with a low software footprint suitable for embedded systems.

The patent explicitly states its objective is to address challenges such as conflicting latency and throughput needs, the limitations of centralized control, and the specific difficulties of ad-hoc Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) like shared mediums, dynamic environments, and resource-constrained devices.

Based on the available prior art documents listed on the Google Patents page for US7420952B2 (publication number US7420952B2), a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) in 2002 would have been motivated to combine various known techniques to arrive at the claimed invention. The priority date for US7420952 is October 28, 2002.

Obviousness Combinations under 35 U.S.C. § 103

A POSITA in wireless network design in 2002 would have been familiar with IEEE 802.11 standards, concepts of Quality of Service (QoS), mesh networking (including Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks or MANETs), and embedded system development. The general motivation would be to create more efficient, reliable, and adaptable wireless networks to meet the growing demand for converged voice, video, and data services. The patent itself highlights the "increasing demand... to employ one wireless network to support both voice, video and data traffic" and the "challenge lies in providing—within the same wireless network—the ability to address potentially conflicting latency and throughput needs of diverse applications."

Here are combinations of prior art references that would render key aspects of US7420952 obvious:

1. Self-Configuring, Application-Aware Wireless Networks with Centralized Tuning

• Core Invention Aspect: An adaptive wireless network based on "smart" APs providing embedded intelligence, application awareness, and distributed control, where network characteristics can be tuned by a centralized access server to balance low latency and high throughput based on application needs.
• Prior Art References:
  • US6415170B1 (Wireless communication system and method having an intelligent base station and a self-configuring wireless network): Teaches self-configuring wireless networks with "intelligent base stations."
  • US6324172B1 (Wireless communication system and method having an intelligent base station and a self-configuring wireless network): Similar to US6415170B1, it describes intelligent base stations and self-configuring networks.
  • US20020101831A1 (Network including dynamically configurable radio access points): Discloses dynamically configurable radio access points.
  • US6295286B1 (Wireless network supporting both voice and data communications): Addresses the problem of supporting diverse traffic types with different QoS requirements (voice for low latency, data for high throughput).
  • US6466559B1 (Method and system for dynamically setting connection parameters in a wireless network): Teaches dynamically setting connection parameters.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA would be motivated to combine the known concepts of self-configuring wireless networks and intelligent access points (US6415170B1, US6324172B1, US20020101831A1) with the well-understood need to support various application types like voice and data, each having distinct latency and throughput requirements (US6295286B1). The goal would be to create a network that autonomously optimizes its configuration to meet these diverse application demands. Providing an access server to "tune" network characteristics by setting parameters (as in US7420952, where the Access Server sets latency/throughput constraints and lets AP nodes reconfigure) is a logical extension, given that dynamically setting connection parameters was already known (US6466559B1). This allows administrators to influence the self-configuration process to match enterprise-specific QoS policies.

2. Automatic Load Balancing and Failover in Mesh Networks

• Core Invention Aspect: The network supports automatic load balancing (nodes reroute data to avoid congested nodes) and failover (if a node fails, another optimal routing path is selected), leveraging mesh network formalism. This involves mechanisms like a "cost to connect" for congestion avoidance or dynamically adjusting signal strength.
• Prior Art References:
  • US6470007B1 (Mobile ad-hoc network with dynamic routing capability): Describes dynamic routing in MANETs, which inherently provides redundancy and fault tolerance.
  • US6009088A (Multihop ad hoc radio network with optimized relay selection): Teaches optimized relay selection in multi-hop ad-hoc networks, relevant to path finding and potentially avoiding congested relays.
  • US20020075841A1 (Wireless network with dynamic routing): Further teaches dynamic routing in wireless networks.
  • US6424635B1 (Wireless local area network with multi-hop capability): Establishes the concept of multi-hop WLANs, forming a mesh-like structure.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA would recognize that self-configuring, multi-hop wireless networks (US6424635B1, US6415170B1) require robust mechanisms to handle congestion and node failures. Dynamic routing (US6470007B1, US20020075841A1) provides the foundation for finding alternate paths. It would be obvious to integrate specific load balancing techniques within such a dynamic routing framework. Methods to influence routing decisions by making congested paths less attractive (e.g., using a "cost to connect" metric or by an AP dropping its signal strength to dissuade clients) are common engineering optimizations for network efficiency and stability. Forcing disassociation to shed load and then re-associating devices that have no other options is a known technique for load management.

3. Dynamic Channel Allocation for Interference Control and Seamless Roaming

• Core Invention Aspect: The network provides automatic channel allocation to manage and curtail RF interference, maximize non-interference bandwidth, and enable seamless roaming between adjoining wireless subnetworks (BSSs). This includes nodes informing neighbors of chosen channels and coordinated channel assignment among adjoining siblings for seamless roaming.
• Prior Art References:
  • US20020085523A1 (Dynamic channel allocation scheme for a wireless mesh network): Directly teaches dynamic channel allocation in mesh networks.
  • US6304561B1 (System and method for adaptive channel allocation in a wireless local area network): Describes adaptive channel allocation in WLANs to minimize interference.
  • US6370135B1 (Dynamic channel allocation in wireless local area networks): Further teaches dynamic channel allocation in WLANs.
  • US6266324B1 (Hierarchical wireless communication system with dynamic frequency allocation): Describes dynamic frequency allocation in hierarchical wireless systems.
• Motivation to Combine: Given the inherent challenges of RF interference and the desirability of seamless roaming in wireless networks, a POSITA would find it obvious to integrate dynamic channel allocation mechanisms (US20020085523A1, US6304561B1, US6370135B1) into intelligent, self-configuring AP nodes (US6415170B1). The patent describes an algorithm where nodes send out beacons and communicate via a wired network to select non-conflicting channels. For seamless roaming, the coordination of channel assignments among adjoining Basic Service Sets (BSSs) where "ALL adjoining siblings have to make the same channel assignment" is an evident solution to minimize disruption for mobile clients. These are standard engineering practices to optimize spectrum usage and user experience in wireless environments.

4. Low Footprint Software for Embedded Wireless Devices

• Core Invention Aspect: The implementation of control algorithms in firmware on embedded wireless devices with low footprint requirements (e.g., 64 KB or 128 KB RAM) by including only necessary portions of an operating system.
• Prior Art References:
  • US6415170B1 (Wireless communication system and method having an intelligent base station and a self-configuring wireless network): Refers to "intelligent base stations," which are typically embedded systems.
  • General knowledge in embedded systems design: By 2002, the practice of developing highly optimized, small-footprint software for resource-constrained embedded devices (such as wireless access points and routers) was common. This included custom operating systems or real-time operating systems (RTOS) with only essential services, and various code optimization techniques. The use of specific processors like the Intel PXA250 for embedded applications was also known.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA designing complex, distributed control algorithms for wireless AP nodes (as described in US7420952, for routing, load balancing, channel allocation, etc.) would be inherently motivated to implement these algorithms as efficiently as possible to fit within the memory and processing constraints of typical embedded wireless hardware. It would be obvious to leverage known embedded software development techniques, such as creating a minimalist operating system by statically linking only the required functional blocks and support libraries. The description in US7420952 of "only functional blocks needed by the algorithms are added to the make file" and converting Java bytecode to C for efficiency represents conventional engineering practices in embedded software development to achieve a compact footprint and improved performance.

In summary, the individual components and many of their interrelationships described in US7420952 were known in the prior art. The motivation to combine these elements to achieve a high-performance, self-configuring, and adaptable wireless network that can handle diverse traffic efficiently on embedded platforms would have been evident to a POSITA seeking to address the recognized challenges in wireless communication networks around 2002.