Prior art

The following are the most relevant prior art citations for US Patent 7676194, along with their details and potential anticipations under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The claims of US7676194 are analyzed against the brief descriptions of the cited patents, which were derived from their abstracts on Google Patents.

Claims of US7676194 (Broadband repeater with security for ultrawideband technologies)

Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): A method for repeating ultrawideband signals in a network, comprising: receiving a first ultrawideband signal at a repeater, said first ultrawideband signal having an occupied bandwidth of 100 MHz or more; identifying a characteristic of said first ultrawideband signal; determining whether to repeat said first ultrawideband signal based on said identified characteristic; and selectively repeating said first ultrawideband signal to generate a second ultrawideband signal.
• Claim 16 (Apparatus): A repeater for ultrawideband signals in a network, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a first ultrawideband signal, said first ultrawideband signal having an occupied bandwidth of 100 MHz or more; a processor configured to identify a characteristic of said first ultrawideband signal and to determine whether to repeat said first ultrawideband signal based on said identified characteristic; and a transmitter configured to selectively repeat said first ultrawideband signal to generate a second ultrawideband signal.

Most Relevant Prior Art Citations:

1. U.S. Patent No. 6,505,032 (US6505032B1)

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 6,505,032 B1 to McCorkle et al., titled "Wireless universal serial bus (USB) system having a distributed MAC function".
• Publication/Filing Date: Published January 7, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) system that utilizes Ultrawideband (UWB) wireless links between a plurality of distributed nodes. Each node provides wireless connectivity to USB devices and includes a Media Access Control (MAC) module for controlling access to the UWB wireless link.
• Potential Anticipation:
  • Claims 1 & 16 (in part): US6505032B1 teaches a system involving UWB communication, implying the reception and transmission of UWB signals. It also mentions MAC functions for "controlling access," which could broadly be interpreted as a form of "determining whether to repeat" in the context of network traffic management. However, it does not explicitly disclose a dedicated "repeater" apparatus or method that identifies characteristics (like priority, undesired status, etc., as specified in dependent claims of US7676194) and selectively repeats a UWB signal for range extension, security, or traffic management. The focus is on distributed MAC for device connectivity, not on intelligent repeating with filtering and modification capabilities.
  • Claims 2, 3, 17, 18 (in part): The presence of a MAC module for access control within US6505032B1 implies the identification of a source (e.g., MAC address) for devices on the network. This could potentially anticipate the identification of a source characteristic. However, the subsequent step of "determining whether to repeat" based on this identified characteristic specifically for repeater functionality, as distinct from general network access, is not explicitly detailed.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0096578 (US20030096578A1)

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0096578 A1 to McCorkle et al., titled "Ultra-wideband (UWB) communication system and method".
• Publication/Filing Date: Published May 22, 2003.
• Brief Description: This application describes an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communication system where UWB devices form piconets. Devices transmit and listen for frames of pulses, synchronize, and can establish their own piconet if no other radiating devices are found.
• Potential Anticipation:
  • Claims 1 & 16 (in part): Similar to US6505032B1, this publication describes fundamental UWB communication, including devices receiving and transmitting UWB signals within a piconet. It lays groundwork for UWB networks but does not explicitly describe a dedicated "repeater" that performs the intelligent "identifying a characteristic" and "determining whether to repeat... based on said identified characteristic" for filtering, security, or QoS, as claimed in US7676194. While devices within a piconet process signals, the specific selective repeating function of US7676194's repeater is not clearly disclosed.
  • Claims 2, 3, 17, 18 (in part): Piconet formation and communication between devices would inherently involve some form of device identification. This could encompass identifying a source (potentially including MAC addresses). However, the application of this identification specifically for selectively repeating with the advanced features of US7676194's repeater is not explicitly described.

3. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0198977 (US20020198977A1)

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0198977 A1 to Cho et al., titled "Wireless communication system and method for providing seamless roaming service for a mobile station across heterogeneous wireless networks".
• Publication/Filing Date: Published December 26, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent application focuses on enabling seamless roaming for mobile stations between different (heterogeneous) wireless networks. It involves a mobile station, a proxy server to maintain connections during roaming, and a signaling gateway for protocol translation between networks.
• Potential Anticipation:
  • Claims 1 & 16 (in part): This reference describes general wireless communication and network management for roaming. However, it does not specifically mention Ultrawideband (UWB) signals with the defined bandwidth (100 MHz or more) or the concept of a dedicated "repeater" that intelligently processes and selectively repeats signals within a UWB network for range extension or security. The problem solved (roaming between heterogeneous networks) is distinct from the core inventive concept of the UWB repeater in US7676194. Thus, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific "repeater" functionality for UWB.