US 9320041

US Patent 9320041, titled "Dynamic carrier assignment of carrier aggregation in an LTE-advanced system," was filed on October 12, 2012, and issued on April 19, 2016. The inventor is Anpeng Huang. Based on the latest assignment record, the current assignee is Empire Technology Development LLC.

Abstract:
The patent describes systems, apparatuses, methods, and techniques for dynamically activating and releasing carrier aggregation in an LTE-Advanced system. It aims to activate carrier aggregation when an LTE-Advanced user has a high transmission need and is within the coverage of at least one secondary component carrier (SCC), while preserving a certain amount of resources on each component carrier to support carrier aggregation, thereby reducing signaling costs. Conversely, carrier aggregation is released when the primary component carrier (PCC) has sufficient resources to meet the user's transmission needs, or when the user is not within SCC coverage, to minimize complex measurements and control signal costs associated with multi-carrier scheduling.

Plain-language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method for Activating Carrier Aggregation): This claim describes a method where a system determines if a secondary component carrier (SCC) is available for a device using a primary component carrier (PCC). It then calculates the device's resource needs (first value) and the available resources on the PCC (second value), and determines a ratio between these two. If an activation condition related to this ratio is met, carrier aggregation of the PCC and an SCC is activated to fulfill the device's transmission needs.

• Claim 8 (Method for Releasing Carrier Aggregation): This claim outlines a method for a device already using both a PCC and an SCC. It involves determining the device's resource needs (first value) and the available resources on the PCC (second value), then calculating a ratio. If a release condition related to this ratio is satisfied, the carrier aggregation is released, and the device solely uses the PCC to meet its transmission needs.

• Claim 13 (Apparatus for Dynamic Carrier Aggregation): This claim describes an apparatus (a computing device) with memory storing instructions and a processor that executes them. The processor performs operations including determining the resources required by a communication device (first value), the resources available on its PCC (second value), and a ratio between these values. Based on this ratio, the processor dynamically activates or releases carrier aggregation involving the PCC and an SCC for the communication device.

• Claim 20 (Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium): This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a storage device) that stores instructions. When these instructions are executed by one or more processors, they cause the processors to perform operations. These operations include allocating a PCC for a communication device, determining the device's resource needs (first value), the available resources on the PCC (second value), and then dynamically activating or releasing carrier aggregation with respect to the PCC and an SCC based on conditions related to these resource values.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search:
US Patent 9320041 is currently "Active" and is set to expire on May 18, 2033. The patent family has litigation, with a US case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court, identified as case number 2:26-cv-00315. As of April 26, 2026, there is no indication that this case has progressed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). Appeals from a District Court typically take time to reach the appellate level.US Patent 9320041, titled "Dynamic carrier assignment of carrier aggregation in an LTE-advanced system," was filed on October 12, 2012, and issued on April 19, 2016. The inventor is Anpeng Huang. Based on the latest assignment record from November 29, 2023, the current assignee is Empire Technology Development LLC.

Abstract:
The patent describes systems, apparatuses, methods, and techniques for dynamically activating and releasing carrier aggregation in an LTE-Advanced system. It aims to activate carrier aggregation when an LTE-Advanced user has a high transmission need and is within the coverage of at least one secondary component carrier (SCC), while preserving a certain amount of resources on each component carrier to support carrier aggregation, thereby reducing signaling costs. Conversely, carrier aggregation is released when the primary component carrier (PCC) has sufficient resources to meet the user's transmission needs, or when the user is not within SCC coverage, to minimize complex measurements and control signal costs associated with multi-carrier scheduling.

Plain-language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method for Activating Carrier Aggregation): This claim describes a method where a system determines if any secondary component carrier (SCC) is available for a communication device using a primary component carrier (PCC). It then determines the amount of resources required by the device and the amount of resources available on the PCC. A ratio is calculated from these two resource amounts. Carrier aggregation, involving the PCC and a secondary component carrier, is activated if an activation condition related to this ratio is met, to satisfy the device's transmission needs.

• Claim 8 (Method for Releasing Carrier Aggregation): This claim outlines a method for a communication device that is currently utilizing a PCC and an SCC. It involves determining the amount of resources required by the device and the amount of resources available on the PCC. A ratio between these resource amounts is then determined. Carrier aggregation is released if a release condition related to this ratio is satisfied, resulting in the device satisfying its transmission need solely by utilizing the PCC.

• Claim 13 (Apparatus for Dynamic Carrier Aggregation): This claim describes an apparatus (e.g., a computing device) comprising memory storing processor-executable instructions and a processor. When the processor executes these instructions, it performs operations including determining the amount of resources required by a communication device and the amount of resources available on a first component carrier (PCC) for that device. It also determines a ratio between these two resource amounts. Based on this ratio, the processor dynamically activates or releases carrier aggregation concerning the first component carrier and a second component carrier for the communication device.

• Claim 20 (Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium): This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions. When executed by one or more processors, these instructions cause the processors to perform operations including allocating a first component carrier as a primary carrier component for a communication device. The processors also determine the amount of resources required for the device and the amount of resources of the first component carrier that are available for the device. Subsequently, carrier aggregation with respect to the first component carrier and a second component carrier is dynamically activated or released for the device, in response to a condition related to these determined resource amounts.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search:
US Patent 9320041 is currently "Active" and is estimated to expire on May 18, 2033. The patent family is associated with litigation. A US case was filed in the Texas Eastern District Court, with the case number 2:26-cv-00315. As of April 26, 2026, the available information indicates that the litigation is at the District Court level, having been filed in 2026. There is no information suggesting that this specific patent, or any related appeal, has reached the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets in 2026.