Prior art — US Patent 8934922

The US patent 8934922, titled "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area," claims a method for monitoring a mobile station's presence in a special area. The core inventive feature revolves around transmitting "checking data" to the mobile station, which the mobile station then uses to determine if a received signal is distinctive and defines the special area. Crucially, the same checking data is sent to any mobile station whose presence in that special area is monitored, thereby providing flexibility and avoiding the need to modify radio transmitting devices or store individual mobile station identities within those devices.

The independent method claim (Claim 1) of US8934922 outlines:
"1. A method for monitoring the presence of a mobile station in at least one special area associated to the mobile station, the method comprising the following steps:
a. at least one radio communication defining device transmits repeatedly in at least a channel one radio distinctive defining signal that defines the special area by its coverage;
b. the mobile station observes the channel and process any signal received in order to determine whether or not it is receiving any defining signal;
c. the mobile station processes any defining signal received in order to determine whether or not the defining signal received is a distinctive defining signal that defines the special area;
d. the mobile station sends an updating signal to a mobile telephone network about its presence in the special area;
e. the mobile telephone network routes the updating signal to special operating means that adapt the value of at least one operating parameter depending on the presence of the mobile station in the special area,
the said method is characterized in that the special area is associated to the mobile station by transmitting to the mobile station a checking data, this checking data being used by the mobile station for determining whether or not the defining signal received is a distinctive defining signal that defines, alone or with other distinctive defining signals, the special area associated to the mobile station and the same checking data being sent to any mobile station whose presence in this special area is monitored."

The most relevant prior art for US patent 8934922, identified from the "References Cited" section of the patent and considering a priority date of March 28, 2006, includes the following:

Identified Prior Art

1. US20020094801A1

Full Citation: US20020094801A1, "System for providing information regarding the presence of a mobile station in a geographical area," assigned to Ericsson Telephone Co., published on July 18, 2002.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2002-07-18; Filing: 2000-09-25. Both dates precede US8934922's priority date.
Brief Description: This patent describes a system where a fixed station transmits an encoded signal, the coverage of which defines a special area. A mobile station using this area is linked to the fixed station via the signal code. The system can provide information regarding the mobile station's presence in the area. In one embodiment, the fixed station includes means for receiving and comparing an access code, which is applied via the mobile station to activate the fixed station.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference broadly anticipates steps (a), (b), and (c) of Claim 1 of US8934922, concerning a device transmitting a defining signal and a mobile station processing it to determine its presence in a special area. However, US8934922 distinguishes itself by transmitting checking data to the mobile station for its use, and by sending the same checking data to any mobile station in the area, thus avoiding the need for the radio defining device (e.g., fixed station) to store or be aware of individual mobile station identities or activation codes. US20020094801A1's approach of having the fixed station receive and compare an access code implies a level of individual mobile station awareness or specific activation, which US8934922 aims to circumvent. Therefore, it likely does not anticipate the key characterizing features of Claim 1.

2. WO0027152A1

Full Citation: WO0027152A1, "Home zone system," assigned to Nokia Corporation, published on May 11, 2000.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2000-05-11; Filing: 1999-11-04. Both dates precede US8934922's priority date.
Brief Description: This international application proposes a solution for locating a mobile station using a "guide unit" that broadcasts a short-range radio signal to define a "home area." The signal contains the identity code of the mobile station, which the mobile station identifies to notify a mobile switching center of its presence in the home area. This notification (home message) can be used to define pricing or services. The patent US8934922 notes that this system requires the guide unit to know the identity of the mobile station and lacks flexibility for adding new special areas without modifying the guide units.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): WO0027152A1 describes elements broadly corresponding to steps (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of Claim 1 of US8934922, including a device transmitting a signal defining an area, a mobile station determining its presence, and sending an update to the network for service/pricing adaptation. However, as noted in US8934922, a critical distinction is that WO0027152A1's guide unit "has to know the identity of the mobile station". This directly contrasts with the inventive characteristic of US8934922, where the "same checking data" is sent to any mobile station, and the radio communication defining device does not need to store individual mobile station identity codes. Consequently, WO0027152A1 likely does not anticipate the specific mechanism of flexible, network-controlled "checking data" delivery to the mobile station.

3. US6466795B1

Full Citation: US6466795B1, "Method and system for providing location dependent services," assigned to Motorola, Inc., published on October 15, 2002.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2002-10-15; Filing: 2000-09-29. Both dates precede US8934922's priority date.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for providing location-dependent services in a wireless communication system. A mobile terminal's location is determined, and based on this location, the mobile terminal is offered a specific service, such as a special tariff or access to a particular information service. The system often involves a location server and can define geographical zones where different services or tariffs apply.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6466795B1 anticipates the general concept of providing location-dependent services and adapting operational parameters (like tariffs) based on a mobile station's presence in a defined area, which aligns with step (e) of Claim 1 of US8934922. However, the details of how the mobile station determines its presence in a "special area" and the specific mechanism of using "checking data" transmitted to the mobile station, with the "same checking data" being sent to any mobile station in the area, are not explicitly disclosed. US6466795B1 typically relies on network-based location determination methods rather than mobile station-centric determination using network-supplied checking data in the specific manner claimed by US8934922.

4. US7133703B2 (and related Nokia patents: US7139580B2, US7146180B2)

Full Citation: US7133703B2, "Method for defining a home zone and for informing a mobile station of its presence in the home zone," assigned to Nokia Corporation, published on November 7, 2006.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2006-11-07; Filing: 2001-09-28. The filing date precedes US8934922's priority date.
Brief Description: These Nokia patents generally describe methods for defining a "home zone" and notifying a mobile station of its presence within that zone. This often involves using cell identities or other network parameters to define the zone and communicate this information to the mobile station. The mobile station can then act upon this information, for instance, by adjusting its operation or reporting its presence to the network. These patents are related to the concept of location-based services and "home zones" where different billing or service conditions may apply.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents, particularly in relation to WO0027152A1 (also Nokia), anticipate the broad concepts of defining a special area (home zone), a mobile station detecting its presence in it, and the network being informed to adapt services (steps (a)-(e) of Claim 1). However, like WO0027152A1, the distinction often lies in whether the radio communication defining device needs to store mobile station identities or if the "checking data" is transmitted to the mobile station in a generic way for any mobile station. Without a detailed analysis of the claims of US7133703B2 and its family, it's difficult to definitively state whether they encompass the specific "checking data" mechanism and flexibility claimed by US8934922.

5. WO0174094A1

Full Citation: WO0174094A1, "Location dependent communication system and method," assigned to Nokia Corporation, published on October 4, 2001.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2001-10-04; Filing: 2001-03-29. Both dates precede US8934922's priority date.
Brief Description: This patent describes a location-dependent communication system and method. It focuses on identifying a terminal's location and providing services or tariffs based on that location. The system may involve receiving location information from the network or from local beacons, and the terminal may use this to trigger specific actions or reporting.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference, similarly to US6466795B1, broadly anticipates the concept of location-dependent services and adapting parameters (Claim 1, step (e)). It describes a system where a terminal's location is identified to trigger services. However, the unique aspect of US8934922 regarding the transmission of "checking data" to the mobile station and its use by the mobile station for determining a "distinctive" signal, specifically for any mobile station without modification to the radio device, may not be fully anticipated.

6. US6961578B2

Full Citation: US6961578B2, "Location dependent communication system and method," assigned to Nokia Corporation, published on November 1, 2005.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2005-11-01; Filing: 2001-03-29. The filing date precedes US8934922's priority date. This patent appears to be related to WO0174094A1 as they share a filing date and assignee.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for a mobile terminal to detect its location within a predefined area (e.g., a "home zone") and use this information for location-dependent communication services. The mobile terminal may receive area identifiers and compare them with stored identifiers to determine if it is within a specified area.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6961578B2 anticipates steps (a), (b), and (c) of Claim 1 of US8934922, where a mobile terminal detects its location in a predefined area by receiving and comparing area identifiers. The adaptation of services based on location is also covered. The potential area of non-anticipation for US8934922 would hinge on the specific mechanism of how the "checking data" is transmitted to the mobile station for defining the special area, and whether this data is generic for any mobile station in that area, rather than relying on pre-configured, mobile station-specific information at the radio device level.

Non-Patent Citations (GSM and 3GPP Standards)

Full Citation: GSM 03.22 V8.0.0 (1999-11), GSM 03.22 V8.2.0 (2000-02), 3GPP TS 23.003 V6.0.0 (2004-12), 3GPP TS 23.003 V6.4.0 (2005-06), 3GPP TS 23.003 V6.5.0 (2005-09), 3GPP TS 23.003 V7.0.0 (2005-12).
Publication/Filing Date: Various dates from November 1999 to December 2005, all preceding US8934922's priority date.
Brief Description: These are technical specifications from the GSM and 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standards bodies. They define the architecture, protocols, and services of mobile communication networks. Specifically, GSM 03.22 deals with network selection and reselection procedures, and 3GPP TS 23.003 defines numbering, addressing, and identification schemes for mobile subscribers and network elements (like Mobile Station ISDN numbers (MSISDN), International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSI), and Cell Global Identifiers (CGI)).
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): These standards define the foundational technical environment in which US8934922 operates, including how mobile stations communicate with networks, identify cells, and manage mobility. They establish the broad framework for mobile networks, base stations, and mobile station operations (such as initial network selection and cell reselection, as mentioned in US8934922's description of FIG. 1). While they describe how mobile stations detect and process network signals (broadly touching upon Claim 1, steps (a) and (b)), they do not specifically disclose the inventive concept of transmitting generic "checking data" to the mobile station for it to define a "special area" in a flexible, network-controlled manner that is not tied to individual radio device configuration or mobile station identities. They provide the context but are unlikely to anticipate the specific characterizing features of Claim 1.The US patent 8934922, titled "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area," claims a method for monitoring a mobile station's presence in a special area. The core inventive feature revolves around transmitting "checking data" to the mobile station, which the mobile station then uses to determine if a received signal is distinctive and defines the special area. Crucially, the same checking data is sent to any mobile station whose presence in that special area is monitored, thereby providing flexibility and avoiding the need to modify radio transmitting devices or store individual mobile station identities within those devices.