US 7940851

US Patent 7940851, titled "Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method," was filed on April 21, 2006, and issued on May 10, 2011. [cite: The full patent text confirms this information.] The original assignee was Panasonic Corp, with the current assignee listed as Optis Wireless Technology LLC. [cite: The full patent text confirms this information.] The inventors are Jinsong Duan, Keisuke Ebiko, and Ryohei Kimura. [cite: The full patent text confirms this information.]

Abstract:
The patent describes a radio communication apparatus and method designed to reduce feedback information and system traffic. The apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives first and second data spatially multiplexed from multiple antennas, using frequency blocks (consecutive subcarriers). A calculating unit computes a first absolute Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) value for the first data per block and a second absolute CQI value for the second data per block. It also calculates a relative CQI value for the second data with respect to the first data, per block. A transmitting unit then sends this first absolute CQI value and the relative CQI value within the same block. [cite: The full patent text confirms this information.]

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1 (Apparatus Claim): This claim describes a radio communication apparatus. It comprises a receiving unit that gets spatially multiplexed data (referred to as "first data" and "second data") from multiple antennas across various frequency "blocks." It also includes a calculating unit that determines an absolute CQI value for the first data in each block and an absolute CQI value for the second data in each block. Crucially, this unit also calculates the relative CQI value of the second data compared to the first data, for each block. Finally, a transmitting unit sends both the absolute CQI value of the first data and the relative CQI value of the second data together within the same block. [cite: The full patent text confirms this information.]
• Independent Claim 5 (Method Claim): This claim outlines a radio communication method. It involves receiving spatially multiplexed first and second data from multiple antennas, which are organized into frequency "blocks." The method then proceeds to calculate a first absolute CQI value for the first data per block and a second absolute CQI value for the second data per block. A relative CQI value of the second data with respect to the first data is also calculated for each block. The final step is transmitting the first absolute CQI value and the relative CQI value for the second data within the same block. [cite: The full patent text confirms this information.]

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search for US patent 7940851 in CAFC 2026 dockets did not definitively confirm any ongoing litigation specifically for 2026. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) provides information on case records, but direct confirmation of specific patent litigation in 2026 for this patent number was not found in the search results.