Prior art — US Patent 8031654

To find the most relevant prior art for US patent 8,031,654 and identify which claims it potentially anticipates, I will focus on the "Citations (6)" and "Family Cites Families (17)" sections from the provided patent text, as these directly list the prior art considered during prosecution. I will then analyze each cited patent against the independent claims of US8031654.

Here's an analysis of the cited prior art:

Patent Citations

From the "Citations (6)" section:

WO2004034656A2
- Full Citation: WO 2004/034656 A2
- Publication Date: 2004-04-22
- Priority Date: 2002-10-07
- Assignee: Golden Bridge Technology, Inc.
- Title: Enhanced uplink packet transfer
- Brief Description: This patent generally relates to enhanced uplink packet transfer in wireless communication systems. It addresses efficient allocation of uplink resources for data transmission from a user equipment (UE).
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is broad. Without a detailed analysis of its specific claims, it's difficult to pinpoint exact anticipation. However, given its focus on "enhanced uplink packet transfer" and resource allocation, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 9, 16, 17, 21, and 22, particularly the general concept of allocating uplink resources. The key differentiating feature in US8031654 is the specific allocation of UL resources for a stand-alone ACK based on a count of DL TCP segments. This prior art would need to explicitly teach or suggest this combination to be fully anticipatory.
EP1633099A1
- Full Citation: EP 1 633 099 A1
- Publication Date: 2006-03-08
- Priority Date: 2003-06-09
- Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Title: Packet communication device
- Brief Description: This patent describes a packet communication device and method, likely focusing on efficient packet transmission and reception.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to the previous, the generic title "Packet communication device" makes specific anticipation difficult without claim-by-claim comparison. However, if this patent describes mechanisms for managing packet flow or acknowledgements within a wireless system, it might generally relate to the context of US8031654. Without specific details on TCP ACK handling and conditional UL resource allocation, it's unlikely to anticipate the specific inventive concepts of claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, or 24.
WO2005002148A1
- Full Citation: WO 2005/002148 A1
- Publication Date: 2005-01-06
- Priority Date: 2003-06-27
- Assignee: Ipwireless, Inc.
- Title: Method and arrangement for TCP flow control
- Brief Description: This patent explicitly deals with "TCP flow control," which is highly relevant to US8031654's objective of reducing TCP latency. It likely addresses how TCP segments are managed and acknowledged to optimize data flow.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a strong candidate for potential anticipation due to its explicit focus on "TCP flow control." It would be necessary to examine its claims to see if it teaches or suggests the specific mechanism of allocating sufficient UL resources for a stand-alone ACK in the DL allocation message, triggered by a network-side count of transmitted DL TCP segments. If it teaches a similar pre-allocation strategy for ACKs based on DL segment reception, it could anticipate claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24.
US20050054347A1
- Full Citation: US 2005/0054347 A1
- Publication Date: 2005-03-10
- Priority Date: 2003-09-05
- Inventor: Kakani Naveen Kumar
- Title: Uplink resource allocation
- Brief Description: This publication discusses uplink resource allocation in a wireless communication system.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference directly addresses "uplink resource allocation," which is a core component of US8031654, particularly in claims related to the network's role in allocating UL resources for ACKs (claims 1, 9, 16, 17, 21, 22). The crucial question is whether it specifically teaches or suggests that this UL allocation is for a stand-alone TCP ACK, is included in a DL allocation message, and is triggered by a count of DL TCP segments. If it only teaches general uplink resource allocation, it would likely serve as background art rather than anticipating the specific inventive step.
US20050138243A1
- Full Citation: US 2005/0138243 A1
- Publication Date: 2005-06-23
- Priority Date: 2003-12-22
- Inventor: James Tierney
- Title: Managing flow control buffer
- Brief Description: This publication relates to managing flow control buffers, which is pertinent to TCP's operation and data transfer efficiency.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The title "Managing flow control buffer" suggests relevance to the underlying problem US8031654 aims to solve (TCP latency and throughput). If this patent describes mechanisms for managing TCP acknowledgements or optimizing buffer usage in a way that inherently leads to pre-allocation of UL resources for ACKs based on DL segment reception, it could potentially anticipate the claims. Without specific details on the content, it's hard to definitively state anticipation, but it's a relevant area to investigate further for claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24.
US20050152394A1
- Full Citation: US 2005/0152394 A1
- Publication Date: 2005-07-14
- Priority Date: 2004-01-13
- Assignee: [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.)
- Title: Method of transferring a TCP stream in PAN
- Brief Description: This publication describes a method of transferring a TCP stream, specifically in a Personal Area Network (PAN).
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's focus on "transferring a TCP stream" makes it relevant to the general subject matter. While it specifies "PAN," the principles of TCP stream transfer and potential optimizations could be similar to those in a cellular wireless system. A close examination of its claims would be needed to determine if it teaches the network-initiated UL resource allocation for ACKs based on DL segment count, as described in US8031654. If it addresses similar latency issues in TCP streams through an analogous mechanism, it could anticipate claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24.

Family Cites Families (Referenced by 8031654)

These patents are cited by other patents that also cite 8031654, indicating a broader related art landscape.

US20010026543A1
- Full Citation: US 2001/0026543 A1
- Publication Date: 2001-10-04
- Priority Date: 2000-02-16
- Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Title: Apparatus and method for assigning a common packet channel in a CDMA communication system
- Brief Description: This patent deals with assigning common packet channels in CDMA, which is a foundational technology for wireless communication systems like UMTS, mentioned in US8031654.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While relevant to the communication system, this patent appears to focus on channel assignment, not specific TCP ACK mechanisms. It is likely background art for claims describing the wireless system (e.g., claims 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 19, 20) but unlikely to anticipate the core inventive concept of pre-allocating UL resources for ACKs.
US6654610B1
- Full Citation: US 6,654,610 B1
- Publication Date: 2003-11-25
- Priority Date: 2000-05-05
- Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
- Title: Two-way packet data protocol methods and apparatus for a mobile telecommunication system
- Brief Description: This patent discusses two-way packet data protocols in mobile telecommunication systems. This broad topic could encompass aspects of data transfer and acknowledgements.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent covers "two-way packet data protocol methods," which could include acknowledgement mechanisms. Its relevance to US8031654 depends on whether it describes any form of anticipatory UL resource allocation for ACKs. Without delving into its specific claims, it's hard to tell if it anticipates claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, or 24.
WO2002025880A2
- Full Citation: WO 2002/025880 A2
- Publication Date: 2002-03-28
- Priority Date: 2000-09-19
- Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
- Title: Dynamic TCP configuration for low latency voice/data traffic
- Brief Description: This patent explicitly targets "low latency voice/data traffic" and "dynamic TCP configuration." This is highly relevant as US8031654 aims to reduce TCP latency.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is another strong candidate for potential anticipation due to its focus on "low latency" and "dynamic TCP configuration." It is crucial to examine whether its "dynamic TCP configuration" involves the network counting DL segments and pre-allocating UL resources for ACKs in the DL allocation message. If so, it could anticipate claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24.
JP3930684B2
- Full Citation: JP 3930684 B2
- Publication Date: 2007-06-13
- Priority Date: 2001-01-24
- Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
- Title: Dynamic delay ACK control apparatus in mobile terminal apparatus and dynamic delay ACK control method in mobile terminal apparatus
- Brief Description: This patent directly addresses "dynamic delay ACK control" in a "mobile terminal apparatus," which is very similar to the delayed ACK mechanism discussed in US8031654.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This Japanese patent is a very strong prior art candidate due to its explicit focus on "dynamic delay ACK control" in mobile terminals. This directly touches upon the problem US8031654 tries to solve. The key is to determine if its dynamic delay ACK control method involves the network determining when an ACK is likely to be generated based on a segment count and pre-allocating UL resources in the DL allocation message, or if it's solely a UE-side optimization of ACK timing. If it teaches the network-side prediction and UL resource pre-allocation based on DL segment count, it could anticipate claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24.
KR100387040B1
- Full Citation: KR 100387040 B1
- Publication Date: 2003-06-12
- Priority Date: 2001-04-03
- Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Title: Method for transmitting and receiving of packet data in mobile communication system
- Brief Description: This Korean patent describes a method for transmitting and receiving packet data in a mobile communication system.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a broad patent on packet data transmission and reception. Its general nature suggests it might be background art. It would need to contain very specific teachings related to TCP ACK handling and conditional UL resource allocation in DL messages to anticipate the specific claims of US8031654.
US20030031161A1
- Full Citation: US 2003/0031161 A1
- Publication Date: 2003-02-13
- Priority Date: 2001-08-07
- Inventor: Froehlich Robert W.
- Title: Uplink session extension
- Brief Description: This publication discusses extending uplink sessions in a wireless communication context.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): "Uplink session extension" relates to managing UL resources, which is a component of US8031654's network-side function (claims 1, 9, 16, 17, 21, 22). However, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific mechanism of pre-allocating UL resources for a stand-alone TCP ACK based on a count of DL TCP segments without further details in its claims.
US20030125051A1
- Full Citation: US 2003/0125051 A1
- Publication Date: 2003-07-03
- Priority Date: 2001-12-27
- Inventor: Arto Leppisaari
- Title: Acknowledgement of reception of downlink messages
- Brief Description: This publication explicitly addresses "acknowledgement of reception of downlink messages." This is highly relevant to US8031654's focus on TCP ACKs for DL segments.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is another strong candidate for anticipation. Its title directly addresses the acknowledgement of DL messages. The key would be to examine if it describes a system where the network pre-allocates UL resources for an ACK in the DL allocation message, triggered by a count of DL TCP segments. If it does, it could anticipate claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, and 24.
US7200405B2
- Full Citation: US 7,200,405 B2
- Publication Date: 2007-04-03
- Priority Date: 2003-11-18
- Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation
- Title: Method and system for providing channel assignment information used to support uplink and downlink channels
- Brief Description: This patent discusses channel assignment information for supporting both uplink and downlink channels.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on channel assignment, which is a broader aspect of resource management. While it deals with UL and DL channels, it's unlikely to specifically teach the conditional pre-allocation of UL resources for a stand-alone TCP ACK based on DL segment counting that defines US8031654.
GB2440978B
- Full Citation: GB 2 440 978 B
- Publication Date: 2012-01-04
- Priority Date: 2006-08-16
- Assignee: Wireless Tech Solutions Llc
- Title: Wireless communication system, apparatus for supporting data flow and methods therefor
- Brief Description: This is a granted UK patent with the same priority date and assignee as US8031654. It is essentially a family member.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a family member with the same priority date, this patent is not prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 with respect to US8031654. It describes the same invention.
PT2070241T
- Full Citation: PT2070241T
- Publication Date: 2019-10-31
- Priority Date: 2006-09-29
- Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
- Title: Upward link allocations for confirming downward data receipt
- Brief Description: This patent explicitly deals with "Upward link allocations for confirming downward data receipt." This is highly relevant to US8031654's core idea.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is another strong candidate. While its priority date is later than US8031654's earliest priority date (2006-08-16), it still highlights the highly relevant concept of "upward link allocations for confirming downward data receipt." If the specific mechanism of conditional UL resource allocation for stand-alone TCP ACKs based on DL segment counting is described in its claims with an earlier effective filing date (unlikely given the listed priority date, but worth noting for completeness in a full analysis), it could be anticipatory.
US9306952B2
- Full Citation: US 9,306,952 B2
- Publication Date: 2016-04-05
- Priority Date: 2006-10-26
- Assignee: Cfph, Llc
- Title: System and method for wireless gaming with location determination
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's subject matter (wireless gaming, location determination) is entirely unrelated to TCP flow control or ACK mechanisms. It is not prior art for the inventive concept of US8031654.
US8654638B2
- Full Citation: US 8,654,638 B2
- Publication Date: 2014-02-18
- Priority Date: 2006-12-19
- Inventor: Marcin Godlewski
- Title: Dynamically adjusting bandwidth usage among subscriber streams
- Brief Description: This patent relates to dynamically adjusting bandwidth usage among subscriber streams.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While "dynamically adjusting bandwidth usage" touches upon resource management, it's not specific to TCP ACK mechanisms. The priority date is also later than US8031654's. It is likely background art for general wireless communication efficiency, but not specific to the inventive concept of US8031654.
US9913196B2
- Full Citation: US 9,913,196 B2
- Publication Date: 2018-03-06
- Priority Date: 2013-10-16
- Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
- Title: Facilitating energy efficiency employing relay transmission mode of multiple device coordination in wireless communication systems
- Brief Description: This patent focuses on energy efficiency and relay transmission in wireless communication.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date is significantly later than US8031654's. The subject matter is unrelated to TCP ACK mechanisms. Not prior art.
US9585177B2
- Full Citation: US 9,585,177 B2
- Publication Date: 2017-02-28
- Priority Date: 2013-12-11
- Assignee: At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
- Title: Cellular connection sharing
- Brief Description: This patent describes cellular connection sharing.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date is significantly later. The subject matter is unrelated to TCP ACK mechanisms. Not prior art.
GB2599057B
- Full Citation: GB 2 599 057 B
- Publication Date: 2022-09-21
- Priority Date: 2017-02-03
- Assignee: Worldpay Ltd
- Title: Terminal for conducting electronic transactions
- Brief Description: This patent describes a terminal for electronic transactions.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date is significantly later. The subject matter is unrelated to TCP ACK mechanisms. Not prior art.
US10524130B2
- Full Citation: US 10,524,130 B2
- Publication Date: 2019-12-31
- Priority Date: 2017-07-13
- Assignee: Sophos Limited
- Title: Threat index based WLAN security and quality of service
- Brief Description: This patent relates to WLAN security and quality of service based on a threat index.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date is significantly later. The subject matter is unrelated to TCP ACK mechanisms. Not prior art.
US10677866B1
- Full Citation: US 10,677,866 B1
- Publication Date: 2020-06-09
- Priority Date: 2018-11-28
- Assignee: Insightec, Ltd.
- Title: Systems and methods for correcting measurement artifacts in MR thermometry
- Brief Description: This patent describes systems and methods for correcting measurement artifacts in MR thermometry.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The priority date is significantly later. The subject matter is entirely unrelated to wireless communication or TCP. Not prior art.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art

Based on the titles and brief descriptions, the most relevant prior art documents for US8031654 are those that explicitly mention TCP, flow control, acknowledgements, or uplink resource allocation in the context of improving data transfer efficiency. These include:

WO2005002148A1 (Method and arrangement for TCP flow control): Directly addresses TCP flow control.
WO2002025880A2 (Dynamic TCP configuration for low latency voice/data traffic): Focuses on low latency with TCP.
JP3930684B2 (Dynamic delay ACK control apparatus in mobile terminal apparatus and dynamic delay ACK control method in mobile terminal apparatus): Specifically addresses delayed ACK control in mobile terminals.
US20030125051A1 (Acknowledgement of reception of downlink messages): Directly addresses acknowledgement of downlink messages.
US20050054347A1 (Uplink resource allocation): Relevant for its focus on uplink resource allocation, a key part of the invention.
US20050138243A1 (Managing flow control buffer): Relevant to TCP's operation and data transfer efficiency.
US20050152394A1 (Method of transferring a TCP stream in PAN): Relevant to TCP stream transfer.
PT2070241T (Upward link allocations for confirming downward data receipt): Directly relevant to allocating UL resources for DL data confirmation.

For a definitive determination of anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102, a detailed claim-by-claim analysis of US8031654 against the full text of each of these highly relevant prior art documents would be necessary. The key inventive step in US8031654 is the combination of network-side counting of DL TCP segments and the proactive, conditional inclusion of UL resources for a stand-alone ACK in the DL allocation message. Any prior art that explicitly teaches or inherently discloses this specific combination would be anticipatory.