Prior art

The repeated searches for specific patent/application numbers did not directly return a list of "Cited Prior Art" for US8311040, but rather general information about patent search databases. However, the initial patent text for US8311040 explicitly incorporates by reference two relevant applications. While these are "related applications" from the same applicant rather than external examiner-cited prior art, they are foundational to the patent's description and, by virtue of being filed before its priority date, constitute prior art. I will analyze these two documents as per the user's request.

I have found information confirming that PCTUS00/29687 corresponds to WO 01/54366 A1, published on July 26, 2001. I also confirmed that U.S. application Ser. No. 09/702,293 was filed on Oct. 30, 2000, and it eventually issued as US Patent 6,606,326 B1 on August 12, 2003.

Here's the analysis of the most relevant prior art, as identified from the body of US8311040:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 8311040

US Patent 8311040, titled "Packing source data packets into transporting packets with fragmentation," describes a system and method for efficiently transmitting data by converting Service Data Units (SDUs) into Protocol Data Units (PDUs), employing coordinated packing and fragmentation, often utilizing packing subheaders and fragmentation control bits.

Due to the limitations of direct access to a live USPTO database for examiner-cited prior art, the most directly relevant prior art identified from the text of US8311040 itself are the applications explicitly incorporated by reference. These documents, being from the same applicant and filed before the priority date of US8311040 (January 16, 2001), are integral to understanding the context and evolution of the invention.

1. U.S. Patent 6,606,326 B1 (formerly U.S. application Ser. No. 09/702,293)

• Full Citation: US Patent 6,606,326 B1 to Stanwood et al., titled "COMPRESSION OF OVERHEAD IN LAYERED DATA COMMUNICATION LINKS."
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed October 30, 2000. Issued August 12, 2003. The relevant prior art date under 35 U.S.C. § 102 is the filing date of October 30, 2000.
• Brief Description: This patent generally discloses methods and systems for reducing overhead in layered data communication links. The objective is to improve data transmission efficiency by minimizing non-payload data. US8311040 explicitly states that its methods "may be employed with the system modules described in the '293 application to form an improved system for transporting data across a communications link."
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US 6,606,326 B1 potentially anticipates broader claims of US8311040 related to the general concept of efficiently utilizing communication link capacity and enhancing data carrying capability by reducing overhead. Specifically, any claims in US8311040 that focus on "converting data in various formats to a transporting format for transport across a link" or "fitting SDUs efficiently into PDUs" could be implicated if US 6,606,326 B1 teaches the underlying principles or mechanisms for achieving such efficiency through overhead compression in layered communication systems. However, the specific details of coordinated packing and fragmentation, the use of packing subheaders for variable-length SDUs, and fragmentation control bits within the PDU header appear to be enhancements detailed in US8311040 that may not be explicitly present in the broader teachings of US 6,606,326 B1.

2. International Publication WO 01/54366 A1 (PCT/US00/29687)

• Full Citation: International Publication WO 01/54366 A1 to Stanwood et al., titled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA TRANSPORTATION AND SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN MAC AND PHYSICAL LAYERS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM."
• Publication/Filing Date: PCT Application PCT/US00/29687 filed October 27, 2000. Published July 26, 2001. The relevant prior art date under 35 U.S.C. § 102 is the filing date of October 27, 2000, or the publication date of July 26, 2001 (both prior to US8311040's priority date).
• Brief Description: This PCT application describes a method and apparatus for data transportation and synchronization between the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical (PHY) layers in a wireless communication system. US8311040 notes that this application "discloses a means of converting PDUs to a form appropriate for transmission by a wireless link," particularly concerning "mapping PDUs to the PHY, and vice versa."
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): WO 01/54366 A1 potentially anticipates claims of US8311040 that relate to the fundamental processes of preparing Protocol Data Units (PDUs) for transmission over a physical link, especially in wireless communication systems. Any claims in US8311040 covering the basic conversion of data into PDUs or the mapping of PDUs to physical layer elements for transmission could be anticipated by WO 01/54366 A1. However, similar to US 6,606,326 B1, the specific inventive steps of US8311040 regarding the coordination of packing and fragmentation for variable-length SDUs, and the explicit use of packing subheaders and fragmentation control bits within the PDU header to manage these aspects, are likely novel improvements described in US8311040, building upon the foundational data transport mechanisms detailed in WO 01/54366 A1.

Disclaimer: This analysis is based on the information provided within US8311040 itself and general patent search practices. A comprehensive prior art analysis would typically involve reviewing the full text of all cited references, including those cited by the examiner during prosecution, and performing a detailed claim-by-claim comparison under 35 U.S.C. § 102.