US 8315640

USPTO patent summary for US8315640

• Title: Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks.
• Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (Current), WiLAN Inc. (Original).
• Inventors: Kenneth L. Stanwood, James F. Mollenauer, Israel Jay Klein, Sheldon L. Gilbert.
• Filing Date: December 23, 2009.
• Issue Date: November 20, 2012.
• Abstract: The patent describes a method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. It utilizes a combination of techniques, including a "polling" method where a base station polls Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs) individually or in groups, allocating bandwidth for them to respond with bandwidth requests. This polling can be periodic or in response to a CPE setting a "poll-me bit." Another technique involves "piggybacking" bandwidth requests on already allocated uplink bandwidth, where active CPEs use previously unused portions of their allocated bandwidth for requests. The CPE is responsible for distributing its allocated uplink bandwidth to accommodate its services. The invention aims to leverage the efficiency benefits of each technique.

Plain-language overview of independent claims

Claims 1-28 of US8315640 were all found unpatentable and cancelled, as detailed in the "Previously generated sections of this patent." However, for completeness, here is a plain-language overview of the independent claims as they were originally presented:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a method for allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The method involves a base station receiving bandwidth requests from multiple Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs). The base station then implicitly polls these CPEs by allocating uplink bandwidth in an uplink sub-frame map, enabling the CPEs to transmit bandwidth requests. This allocation serves as an implicit poll. The method further includes the base station implicitly informing a CPE of additional bandwidth allocation by modifying the uplink sub-frame map. The CPE then distributes this allocated bandwidth among its various services.
• Claim 10: This claim describes a base station configured to perform the method of Claim 1. It includes a medium access control (MAC) module that receives bandwidth requests from CPEs. The MAC module implicitly polls CPEs by allocating uplink bandwidth in an uplink sub-frame map for bandwidth requests. It also implicitly informs CPEs of additional bandwidth allocation by modifying the uplink sub-frame map. The base station further includes a data queue for managing data to be transmitted, where the data is queued by quality of service (QoS) designations.
• Claim 19: This claim describes Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) configured for use in a broadband wireless communication system. The CPE receives implicit bandwidth polls from a base station via an uplink sub-frame map, with the allocated bandwidth enabling the CPE to transmit a bandwidth request. The CPE also receives implicit notifications of additional bandwidth allocation from the base station through modifications to the uplink sub-frame map. The CPE is responsible for distributing this allocated bandwidth to its services based on their requirements.

CAFC 2026 dockets

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 does not reveal any active cases specifically pertaining to US Patent 8315640. The information provided in the "Previously generated sections of this patent" indicates that appeals related to IPR2014-00277 (CAFC Docket No. 15-1959) and IPR2014-00278 (CAFC Docket No. 15-1960) were affirmed by the Federal Circuit on September 6, 2016. There are no indications of further appeals or new proceedings related to this patent in 2026.