US 9179359

An analysis of United States Patent 9,179,359 B2 reveals a system for managing network access for different applications on a wireless device based on the network's current conditions.

Title: Wireless end-user device with differentiated network access status for different device applications

Assignee: Headwater Research LLC

Inventors: Gregory G. Raleigh, James Lavine, Alireza Raissinia

Filing Date: March 30, 2015

Issue Date: November 3, 2015

Abstract

The patent describes a method for managing data traffic on a wireless network. It involves monitoring the network's "busyness" or congestion level. Based on this, the system can differentiate how it handles network access for various applications on a user's device. For instance, it can prioritize traffic for essential or real-time applications while delaying or throttling less critical, background applications to ensure a better user experience and more efficient use of network resources. This differentiation is based on pre-defined policies that can be adjusted. The system also includes a notification feature to inform users about these automatic adjustments to their network service.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 9,179,359 has three independent claims: 1, 14, and 23. Here is a plain-language explanation of what each of these claims protects:

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a method for a wireless device to manage how its different applications use the network. The device first determines the current network congestion (how "busy" the network is). It then looks at a set of rules (a "policy") that defines different "network access status" levels. Based on the network's busyness, the device assigns one of these access levels to the various applications or services running on it. This access level then dictates how and when each application can access the network. For example, during high congestion, a background data-syncing application might be given a "delayed access" status, while a video call would get a "priority access" status.

• Claim 14: This claim focuses on a wireless device that is equipped to perform the method described in Claim 1. The device has a processor and memory. The memory stores a "service processor" (a piece of software) that, when run, carries out the steps of checking the network's congestion, using a policy to classify applications into different network access statuses based on that congestion, and then controlling each application's network access accordingly.

• Claim 23: This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a memory chip. This medium contains instructions that, when executed by a processor in a wireless device, cause the device to perform the method of Claim 1. In essence, this claim protects the software program itself that enables the differentiated network access control on the device.

At the time of this analysis, a search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any public records of litigation concerning this patent. However, this does not definitively mean no litigation exists, as some records may not be publicly accessible or immediately available.