Prior art — US Patent 7953411

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 7953411, I will examine each patent citation listed in the "Patent Citations" section of the provided patent text. For each reference, I will provide the full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and discuss which claims of US7953411 it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Based on the provided patent text, here are the cited prior art documents and an analysis of their potential anticipation:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 7953411

1. US6002933A

Full Citation: US6002933A, "Inter-system soft handoff"
Priority Date: 1997-04-29
Publication Date: 1999-12-14
Brief Description: This patent describes an inter-system soft handoff in a wireless communication system, where a mobile station can communicate simultaneously with base stations in different cellular systems. It focuses on procedures for setting up and tearing down communication links during soft handoff, including monitoring pilot signals from candidate base stations.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6002933A describes an MSS monitoring multiple base stations and communicating with more than one simultaneously in a "soft handoff." While US7953411's core innovation is a "virtual soft hand over" where the MSS only communicates with one base station at a time but monitors others, the concept of an MSS monitoring adjacent base stations (as in claim 1, "operating the MSS...to monitor air interface messages from a plurality of adjacent base stations") and initiating a handoff based on signal quality from those stations is broadly present. However, the critical distinction in US7953411 of transmitting/receiving data with only a single base station in each single frame (Claim 1) or with only one current transmitting base station in a single frame (Claim 10) is a key difference from the simultaneous communication in a traditional soft handoff. Therefore, it likely does not fully anticipate claims 1 or 10 due to this specific limitation regarding single-base station transmission per frame.

2. EP1076465A1

Full Citation: EP1076465A1, "Handover technique for cellular network"
Priority Date: 1999-08-10
Publication Date: 2001-02-14
Brief Description: This patent describes a handover technique for a cellular network, focusing on improving the handover process by reducing signaling overhead and delay. It may involve a mobile terminal evaluating signal quality from neighboring cells.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without the full text, it's difficult to determine precise anticipation. However, if EP1076465A1 teaches a mobile station actively monitoring neighbor base stations and making handover decisions based on signal quality while only communicating with a single base station at any given time for data transmission, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 10. The provided description is too general to definitively assess the "single base station per frame" limitation.

3. US6307849B1

Full Citation: US6307849B1, "Method and system for changing forward traffic channel power allocation during soft handoff"
Priority Date: 1997-09-08
Publication Date: 2001-10-23
Brief Description: This patent focuses on power control mechanisms during a soft handoff, where a mobile station is in communication with multiple base stations. It addresses how to adjust power on the forward traffic channel from different base stations during this multi-connection state.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6002933A, this patent describes a traditional soft handoff with simultaneous communication with multiple base stations. Therefore, it does not appear to anticipate the critical limitation in claims 1 and 10 of US7953411 regarding transmitting data to and receiving data from only a single base station in each single frame.

4. US20010033600A1

Full Citation: US20010033600A1, "Sectorized smart antenna system and method"
Priority Date: 2000-02-28
Publication Date: 2001-10-25
Brief Description: This patent describes a system using sectorized smart antennas to improve communication in a wireless network, potentially affecting how signals are received and how handover decisions are made.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The description is too broad to assess specific anticipation of US7953411's claims. Unless it details a "virtual soft hand over" mechanism with the specific single-base station per frame transmission, it is unlikely to be fully anticipatory.

5. US20020107020A1

Full Citation: US20020107020A1, "Method for performing hard hand-off in cellular mobile communication system"
Priority Date: 2001-02-03
Publication Date: 2002-08-08
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for performing a hard handoff, which is distinct from soft handoff as it involves breaking the connection with the current base station before establishing a new one.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given that US7953411 specifically addresses a virtual soft hand over and the maintenance of an active set while communicating with only one BS at a time, a hard handoff method would not anticipate the core features of US7953411, especially the continuous monitoring and fast switching without a complete break in connection.

6. US20020137516A1

Full Citation: US20020137516A1, "Method for preventing forward telecommunication distortion in soft handoff"
Priority Date: 2001-03-22
Publication Date: 2002-09-26
Brief Description: This patent focuses on mitigating distortion during a soft handoff, implying a traditional soft handoff where the mobile communicates with multiple base stations simultaneously.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As with other soft handoff patents that imply simultaneous connections, this reference would not anticipate the "single base station per frame" limitation of US7953411's claims 1 and 10.

7. US20020141375A1

Full Citation: US20020141375A1, "Increasing link capacity via concurrent transmissions in centralized wireless LANs"
Priority Date: 2001-03-30
Publication Date: 2002-10-03
Brief Description: This patent is directed to increasing link capacity through concurrent transmissions in wireless LANs.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The description does not suggest a handover mechanism in OFDM/OFDMA networks with the specific "single base station per frame" limitation of US7953411. Its focus on increasing capacity via concurrent transmissions in WLANs is distinct.

8. US20020193116A1

Full Citation: US20020193116A1, "Network-layer and link-layer use of shadow addresses with IP-based base stations"
Priority Date: 2001-03-30
Publication Date: 2002-12-19
Brief Description: This patent discusses the use of shadow addresses for IP-based base stations, which can be relevant for seamless mobility and handovers at the network and link layers.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While relevant to handover and mobility, the description does not disclose the specific air interface monitoring and single-base station per frame transmission aspects central to US7953411's claims 1 and 10.

9. US20030039228A1

Full Citation: US20030039228A1, "Method & apparatus for W-CDMA handoff searching"
Priority Date: 2001-08-22
Publication Date: 2003-02-27
Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatus for handoff searching in W-CDMA systems, including active and candidate sets of base stations.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it describes maintaining active and candidate sets for handoff, and searching for suitable base stations. If it also discloses the specific mechanism of an MSS transmitting and receiving data from only one base station at a time while monitoring others in an OFDM/OFDMA context, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 10. However, the mention of "W-CDMA" suggests a different underlying air interface technology than OFDM/OFDMA, which might be a distinguishing factor for US7953411's claims 4 and 5.

10. US20030073455A1

Full Citation: US20030073455A1, "Packet communication system with dual candidate sets for independent management of uplink and downlink transmissions"
Priority Date: 2001-10-17
Publication Date: 2003-04-17
Brief Description: This patent discloses a packet communication system that uses dual candidate sets for independent management of uplink and downlink transmissions, potentially in a soft handoff context.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The concept of independent management for uplink and downlink could be related to the flexibility of the VSHO in US7953411. However, unless it explicitly teaches the "single base station per frame" transmission/reception coupled with monitoring in an OFDM/OFDMA system, it may not fully anticipate claims 1 or 10.

11. US6606341B1

Full Citation: US6606341B1, "Common packet channel with firm handoff"
Priority Date: 1999-03-22
Publication Date: 2003-08-12
Brief Description: This patent describes a common packet channel and a "firm handoff" process. Firm handoff is a type of controlled hard handoff where the mobile station is released from the old base station only after it successfully establishes a connection with the new one.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A "firm handoff" is a variation of hard handoff and does not involve the continuous monitoring and dynamic switching with an active set while maintaining a single transmission point per frame as described in US7953411. Thus, it is unlikely to anticipate claims 1 or 10.

12. US20030190915A1

Full Citation: US20030190915A1, "Method and system for controlling radio communications network and radio network controller"
Priority Date: 1997-08-20
Publication Date: 2003-10-09
Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for controlling a radio communications network, including the functions of a radio network controller, which could involve handover management.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a very general description. Without more specific details about the handoff mechanism at the air interface and the role of the MSS in selecting a single transmitting base station per frame while monitoring others, it is unlikely to anticipate claims 1 or 10.

13. US6771963B1

Full Citation: US6771963B1, "Triggering handdowns and handoffs of mobile stations between bordering cells of cellular wireless communication systems"
Priority Date: 1998-08-17
Publication Date: 2004-08-03
Brief Description: This patent describes mechanisms for triggering handovers and handdowns (reducing the number of active connections) in cellular systems, often based on signal strength measurements.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While triggering handovers is central to US7953411, this reference likely describes traditional handovers. Unless it details the specific "virtual soft hand over" with single-base station per frame transmission, it will not fully anticipate claims 1 or 10. However, the concept of selecting a preferred base station based on CINR (as in claim 1) is a common element in many handover procedures and might be generally taught here.

14. US20040152483A1

Full Citation: US20040152483A1, "Transmission power control method and system"
Priority Date: 1999-12-13
Publication Date: 2004-08-05
Brief Description: This patent describes a transmission power control method and system for wireless communications.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Power control methods, while important for wireless systems, do not inherently disclose the specific virtual soft handover mechanism of US7953411, particularly the single-base station per frame transmission and monitoring.

15. US20040190378A1

Full Citation: US20040190378A1, "Virtual real-time clock based on time information from multiple communication systems"
Priority Date: 2003-03-27
Publication Date: 2004-09-30
Brief Description: This patent describes a virtual real-time clock based on time information from multiple communication systems. Synchronization between base stations is a condition for VSHO in US7953411 (as mentioned in the detailed description, "BSs involving in VSHO are synchronized based on a common time source").
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US7953411 mentions synchronization as a condition, this patent specifically teaches a method for achieving synchronization, not the handover method itself. Therefore, it might anticipate the "synchronized frames" aspect (claim 8, 17) as a general prerequisite but not the unique "virtual soft hand over" method of claims 1 and 10.

16. US20040219926A1

Full Citation: US20040219926A1, "Method for measuring and reporting channel quality in a broadband wireless access communication system"
Priority Date: 2003-04-30
Publication Date: 2004-11-04
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for measuring and reporting channel quality (e.g., CINR) in a broadband wireless access system, which is crucial for handover decisions.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The measurement and reporting of CINR is explicitly stated in US7953411 as a basis for selecting a preferred base station (Claim 1, 12). If this prior art teaches the use of CINR for selecting a preferred base station for handover in a system where the MSS only communicates with one base station at a time, it could potentially anticipate the specific method steps related to CINR-based selection in claims 1 and 10.

17. US20040252662A1

Full Citation: US20040252662A1, "Method for controlling operational states of a MAC layer in an OFDM mobile communication system"
Priority Date: 2003-06-13
Publication Date: 2004-12-16
Brief Description: This patent describes controlling MAC layer operational states in an OFDM mobile communication system. MAC context sharing is a feature of US7953411 (claims 9, 18).
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it explicitly mentions "OFDM mobile communication system" and "MAC layer." If it teaches sharing MAC context between base stations to facilitate a handover where an MSS communicates with only one base station at a time while monitoring others, it could potentially anticipate claims 1, 9, 10, and 18.

18. US20050192011A1

Full Citation: US20050192011A1, "Method and apparatus for performing fast handover through fast ranging in a broadband wireless communication system"
Priority Date: 2004-02-13
Publication Date: 2005-09-01
Brief Description: This patent describes performing fast handover through fast ranging in a broadband wireless communication system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The concept of "fast handover" is aligned with the "fast switching mechanism" mentioned in US7953411. If this patent details an MSS monitoring multiple base stations but only transmitting/receiving data with one at a time, and making fast switching decisions, it could be highly anticipatory of claims 1 and 10. The publication date is after US7953411's priority date of June 9, 2004, so it might not be prior art in the anticipatory sense unless its priority date is earlier. However, the filing date (and implied priority date) of this reference is February 13, 2004, which is before the priority date of US7953411 (June 9, 2004). Therefore, this is a very strong candidate for prior art anticipation.

19. US20050220040A1

Full Citation: US20050220040A1, "Method for controlling the data rate of transmitting data packets in a wireless communications system, receiver and transmitter therefor"
Priority Date: 2002-02-14
Publication Date: 2005-10-06
Brief Description: This patent describes controlling the data rate of transmitting data packets in a wireless communication system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Data rate control is generally applicable to wireless communication but does not appear to directly anticipate the specific virtual soft handover mechanism of US7953411, particularly the single-base station per frame transmission and monitoring aspects.

20. US20050250498A1

Full Citation: US20050250498A1, "System and method for performing a fast handover in a broadband wireless access communication system"
Priority Date: 2004-05-07
Publication Date: 2005-11-10
Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for performing a fast handover in a broadband wireless access communication system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20050192011A1, this patent, with a priority date of 2004-05-07 (before US7953411's priority date), could be highly anticipatory if it details an MSS monitoring multiple base stations but only transmitting/receiving data with one at a time, and making fast switching decisions in a broadband wireless access system.

21. US6970708B1

Full Citation: US6970708B1, "System and method for improving channel monitoring in a cellular system"
Priority Date: 2000-02-05
Publication Date: 2005-11-29
Brief Description: This patent describes improving channel monitoring in a cellular system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US7953411 involves monitoring air interface messages (claims 1, 10), this patent is generally about improving monitoring. If it specifically teaches monitoring in the context of selecting a single transmitting base station per frame for handover in an OFDM/OFDMA system, it could be anticipatory.

22. US20050282548A1

Full Citation: US20050282548A1, "System and method for optimizing handover in mobile communication system"
Priority Date: 2004-06-07
Publication Date: 2005-12-22
Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for optimizing handover in a mobile communication system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent has a priority date of 2004-06-07, which is two days before the priority date of US7953411 (2004-06-09). If this patent describes an MSS operating to monitor air interface messages from multiple base stations, communicating with only one at a time for data transmission, and making handover decisions based on this monitoring, it could be highly anticipatory of claims 1 and 10 of US7953411.

23. US20060094433A1

Full Citation: US20060094433A1, "Fast handover with reduced service interruption for high speed data channels in a wireless system"
Priority Date: 2004-10-29
Publication Date: 2006-05-04
Brief Description: This patent describes fast handover with reduced service interruption for high-speed data channels in a wireless system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date of this patent (2004-10-29) is after US7953411's priority date (2004-06-09). Therefore, this document is not considered prior art for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 with respect to US7953411.

24. US7050802B2

Full Citation: US7050802B2, "Cellular communication device with scanning receiver and continuous mobile communication system employing same"
Priority Date: 1998-11-19
Publication Date: 2006-05-23
Brief Description: This patent describes a cellular communication device with a scanning receiver and a continuous mobile communication system, allowing monitoring of multiple channels.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): A scanning receiver can monitor multiple base stations (as in claim 1). If this patent further details a mechanism where a mobile device uses this scanning capability to select a single base station for transmission/reception in each frame while continuously monitoring others for handover, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 10. The publication date is after US7953411's priority date, but the priority date is significantly earlier, making it relevant prior art.

25. US20060120490A1

Full Citation: US20060120490A1, "Method and apparatus for coordinating transmission of short messages with hard handoff searches in a wireless communications system"
Priority Date: 1998-05-21
Publication Date: 2006-06-08
Brief Description: This patent focuses on coordinating short message transmission with hard handoff searches.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference discusses hard handoff, which, as previously stated, does not align with the "virtual soft hand over" concept of US7953411 that maintains an active set and switches without a full connection break. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate claims 1 or 10.

26. US20060154671A1

Full Citation: US20060154671A1, "System and method for allocating a channel quality information channel in a communication system"
Priority Date: 2005-01-10
Publication Date: 2006-07-13
Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for allocating a channel quality information channel.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date of this patent (2005-01-10) is after US7953411's priority date (2004-06-09). Therefore, this document is not considered prior art for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 with respect to US7953411.

27. US20060182063A1

Full Citation: US20060182063A1, "Soft handoff for OFDM"
Priority Date: 2002-03-22
Publication Date: 2006-08-17
Brief Description: This patent explicitly discusses soft handoff in the context of OFDM, a technology central to US7953411.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant due to its explicit mention of "Soft handoff for OFDM." However, "soft handoff" typically implies simultaneous communication with multiple base stations, which is explicitly contrasted with US7953411's "virtual soft hand over" where only one BS transmits/receives data to/from the MSS per frame. If this patent describes a traditional soft handoff where multiple base stations actively transmit data to the MSS during the handover, it would not anticipate the single-transmission-per-frame limitation in claims 1 and 10. However, if it discloses the monitoring of multiple OFDM base stations to select a single best base station for data transmission in a given frame, it could be anticipatory.

Summary of Potentially Most Relevant Prior Art (for anticipation of claims 1 and 10, specifically the "single base station per frame" limitation coupled with monitoring):

The most critical aspect for anticipation of claims 1 and 10 lies in whether any prior art teaches an MSS that:

Monitors air interface messages from multiple adjacent base stations.
Transmits data to and receives data from only a single one of the adjacent base stations in each single frame.
Processes messages to decide which base station to use for a frame.
Optionally uses CINR for selection and fast feedback channels for signaling.

Based on the brief descriptions and priority dates, the following prior art documents warrant closer examination for potential anticipation of claims 1 and 10:

US20050192011A1 (Priority Date: 2004-02-13): Its focus on "fast handover" through "fast ranging" in a "broadband wireless communication system" with a priority date before US7953411 makes it a strong candidate. If it describes the single-transmission-per-frame mechanism, it would be highly anticipatory.
US20050250498A1 (Priority Date: 2004-05-07): Similar to the above, this patent's focus on "fast handover in a broadband wireless access communication system" and its earlier priority date suggest it could be highly relevant if it teaches the specific VSHO mechanism.
US20050282548A1 (Priority Date: 2004-06-07): This patent's priority date is only two days before US7953411's. Its description of "optimizing handover in mobile communication system" means it could be highly relevant if it includes the specific VSHO features.
US20040219926A1 (Priority Date: 2003-04-30): If this patent's method for "measuring and reporting channel quality" is directly integrated into a single-transmission-per-frame handover decision, it could anticipate the CINR-based selection.
US20040252662A1 (Priority Date: 2003-06-13): This patent is particularly relevant due to its mention of "OFDM mobile communication system" and "MAC layer." If it teaches MAC context sharing to enable the unique VSHO of US7953411, it could be highly anticipatory.
US20030039228A1 (Priority Date: 2001-08-22): While for W-CDMA, its description of "handoff searching" with active and candidate sets could be anticipatory if it contains a teaching of single-base station per frame transmission for data with concurrent monitoring.
US20060182063A1 (Priority Date: 2002-03-22): Explicitly discusses "Soft handoff for OFDM." The key would be whether its definition of "soft handoff" includes the "single base station per frame" data transmission model of US7953411.

For a definitive determination of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, a full claim-by-claim analysis of the complete text and drawings of each of these potentially anticipatory prior art documents would be necessary to ascertain if every element of claims 1 and 10 (and their dependent claims) is present in a single prior art reference.