US 8738040

US patent 8738040 is titled "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area". The sole inventor listed is Carlos Alberto Pérez Lafuente. The application was filed on March 27, 2007, and the patent was issued on May 27, 2014. The current assignee is Avant Location Technologies LLC, following a reassignment on July 17, 2023, from the original assignee, AFIRMA CONSULTING & TECHNOLOGIES SL.

The abstract describes a method for monitoring a mobile station's presence in a special area. This involves a radio communication defining device transmitting a distinctive defining signal that outlines the special area by its coverage. The mobile station processes this signal to determine if it's a distinctive defining signal for the special area. An updating signal is then sent to a mobile telephone network, which routes it to special operating means. These means adjust an operating parameter based on the mobile station's presence in the special area. Crucially, the special area is associated with the mobile station by transmitting "checking data" to the mobile station. This checking data is used by the mobile station to identify whether the received signal is indeed a distinctive defining signal for its associated special area, and the same checking data is sent to all mobile stations whose presence in that special area is being monitored.

Plain-language overview of Independent Claims:

The full, formally numbered claims section was not provided in the authoritative patent text. However, the "DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION" section describes the core method, stating it is "achieved in accordance with claim 1".

• Claim 1 (Method for monitoring mobile station presence): A method where a mobile station's location in a designated "special area" is tracked. This is done by:
  • A radio device repeatedly sending out a unique radio signal that defines the special area.
  • The mobile station listening for and identifying this unique signal.
  • The mobile station then sending an update to its mobile network, indicating its presence (or absence) in the special area.
  • The mobile network forwards this update to a central system (special operating means) which then changes a setting or "operating parameter" based on the mobile station's location.
  • The key feature is that the special area is assigned to the mobile station by sending specific "checking data" to the mobile station. This checking data helps the mobile station recognize the unique signal defining its special area, and the same checking data is used for all mobile stations monitored in that same special area.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search for US patent 8738040 (as of April 26, 2026):

• USPTO: A search on the USPTO website for US patent 8738040 confirms the patent details already extracted: "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area," issued on May 27, 2014, to inventor Carlos Alberto Pérez Lafuente, with current assignee Avant Location Technologies LLC.
• CAFC Dockets (2026): Searching for US patent 8738040 in CAFC dockets for 2026 did not directly return results from the initial query. However, the provided patent information notes "Family has litigation" and lists several US District Court cases, including:
  • US case filed in Texas Northern District Court (3:25-cv-02642)
  • US case filed in Texas Western District Court (7:25-cv-00445)
  • Multiple US cases filed in Texas Eastern District Court (e.g., 2:24-cv-00757, 2:26-cv-00011, 2:24-cv-00133, 2:24-cv-00165)
  • A PTAB case IPR2025-01256 was filed (Not Instituted - Procedural).
    These district court cases, while not directly CAFC dockets, indicate ongoing litigation related to the patent family. There is no explicit mention of a CAFC 2026 docket directly associated with this patent from the provided search information, but the district court activity in 2024 and 2025 could potentially lead to CAFC appeals in the future.US patent 8738040 is titled "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area". The sole inventor listed is Carlos Alberto Pérez Lafuente. The application was filed on March 27, 2007, and the patent was issued on May 27, 2014. The current assignee is Avant Location Technologies LLC, following a reassignment on July 17, 2023, from the original assignee, AFIRMA CONSULTING & TECHNOLOGIES SL.

The abstract describes a method for monitoring a mobile station's presence in a special area. This involves a radio communication defining device transmitting a distinctive defining signal that outlines the special area by its coverage. The mobile station processes this signal to determine if it's a distinctive defining signal for the special area. An updating signal is then sent to a mobile telephone network, which routes it to special operating means. These means adjust an operating parameter based on the mobile station's presence in the special area. Crucially, the special area is associated with the mobile station by transmitting "checking data" to the mobile station. This checking data is used by the mobile station to identify whether the received signal is indeed a distinctive defining signal for its associated special area, and the same checking data is sent to all mobile stations whose presence in that same special area is being monitored.

Plain-language overview of Independent Claims:

The full, formally numbered claims section was not explicitly provided in the authoritative patent text. However, the "DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION" section describes the core method, stating it is "achieved in accordance with claim 1".

• Claim 1 (Method for monitoring mobile station presence): This claim describes a method for tracking a mobile station within at least one designated "special area". The method includes the following steps:
  • At least one radio communication defining device continuously transmits a unique radio signal that establishes the boundaries of the special area.
  • The mobile station actively monitors the communication channel and processes any received signals to determine if it is receiving a defining signal, and specifically if it's the distinctive signal that defines the special area.
  • The mobile station transmits an "updating signal" to the mobile telephone network, informing it about its current presence (or absence) within the special area.
  • The mobile telephone network then directs this updating signal to "special operating means," which adjust at least one operational parameter based on the mobile station's location relative to the special area.
  • A key aspect of the invention is that the special area is linked to the mobile station by sending specific "checking data" to the mobile station. This checking data is then utilized by the mobile station to confirm if the received signal is indeed the distinctive defining signal for the special area it is associated with. Importantly, the same checking data is provided to any mobile station whose presence in that particular special area is being monitored.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search for US patent 8738040 (as of April 26, 2026):

• USPTO: A search on the USPTO website for US patent 8738040 confirms the patent details as: "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area," issued on May 27, 2014, to inventor Carlos Alberto Pérez Lafuente, with current assignee Avant Location Technologies LLC.
• CAFC Dockets (2026): A direct search for US patent 8738040 in CAFC dockets for 2026 did not yield specific results. However, the patent's Google Patents entry indicates ongoing litigation related to the patent family. Several US District Court cases were filed in Texas in 2024 and 2025:
  • Texas Northern District Court: Case 3:25-cv-02642.
  • Texas Western District Court: Case 7:25-cv-00445.
  • Texas Eastern District Court: Cases 2:24-cv-00757, 2:26-cv-00011, 2:24-cv-00133, and 2:24-cv-00165.
  • Additionally, PTAB case IPR2025-01256 was filed but designated "Not Instituted - Procedural."
    While these are district court cases rather than CAFC dockets, ongoing litigation at the district court level could potentially lead to appeals at the CAFC.