US 9482632

US Patent 9482632, titled "Abnormality detection device," was filed on September 4, 2013, and issued on November 1, 2016. [cite: The full patent text confirms these dates] The sole inventor listed is Jun Yokoyama. [cite: The full patent text confirms this] The original assignee was NEC Corp, with ownership subsequently transferring through NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. and IP WAVE PTE LTD. The current assignee is Cloud Byte LLC, as of a June 27, 2024 assignment. [cite: The full patent text confirms this]

Abstract:
The patent describes an abnormality detection device that uses an estimating unit to determine an upper limit of possible temperatures in a specific location of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. This estimation is based on the ICT equipment's operational status (detected by an operational status detecting unit) and the intake air temperature (detected by an intake-air temperature sensor), assuming an appropriate quantity of intake air. A determining unit then detects an abnormality if the actual temperature sensed at that predetermined position exceeds the estimated upper limit. [cite: The full patent text confirms this]

Independent Claims Overview:

• Claim 1 (Abnormality Detection Device): This claim defines an abnormality detection device for ICT equipment that includes a cooling fan. The device incorporates a hardware processor with two main components:

  1. An estimating unit that calculates an upper limit for expected temperatures at a specific point within the ICT equipment, assuming optimal air intake. This calculation is based on the detected operational status of the equipment and the temperature of the intake air, both of which also influence the cooling fan's rotation speed.
  2. A determining unit that identifies an abnormality if the actual temperature detected at that specific point goes beyond the upper limit estimated by the estimating unit. [cite: The full patent text confirms this]

• Claim 8 (Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Equipment): This claim describes the ICT equipment itself, which contains a cooling fan and incorporates the abnormality detection functionality. It comprises:

  1. An operational status detecting unit to monitor the equipment's operational state.
  2. An intake-air temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the air entering the equipment.
  3. An equipment temperature sensor to detect the temperature at a specific internal location.
  4. A hardware processor that includes another operational status detecting unit (reiterated in the claim), an estimating unit, and a determining unit. The estimating unit determines an upper limit for expected temperatures at a specific internal location, considering appropriate air intake, based on the detected operational status and intake air temperature (which also influences the cooling fan's rotation speed). The determining unit flags an abnormality if the actual temperature from the equipment temperature sensor exceeds this estimated upper limit. [cite: The full patent text confirms this]

• Claim 9 (Abnormality Detection Method): This claim outlines a method for detecting abnormalities in ICT equipment with a cooling fan. The method involves:

  1. Detecting both the operational status and the intake air temperature of the ICT equipment.
  2. Using an estimating unit to calculate an upper limit of possible temperatures at a specific location within the equipment, assuming adequate air intake, based on the detected operational status and intake air temperature.
  3. Determining the rotation speed of the cooling fan based on the detected operational status and intake air temperature.
  4. Using a determining unit to identify an abnormality if the actual temperature detected at the specific location surpasses the estimated upper limit. [cite: The full patent text confirms this]

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
As of April 26, 2026, there are no explicit dockets found for US patent 9482632 in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026 in the provided search results. While the patent has been involved in PTAB and District Court litigation (including one case filed in the Eastern District of Texas in 2026: 2:26-cv-00150, and another in 2024: 2:24-cv-00637), this does not indicate an active CAFC docket in 2026 based on the provided information.

Here is a list of known litigation involving US patent 9482632:

1. Case Title: Cloud Byte LLC v. Dell Inc. et al

   • Plaintiff(s): Cloud Byte LLC
   • Defendant(s): Dell Inc., Dell Technologies Inc.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
   • Case Number: 2:24-cv-00637
   • Filing Date: August 5, 2024
   • Outcome/Current Status: Active. The Google Patents page lists this case under "Family has litigation" with a link to Unified Patents.

2. Case Title: Unknown (US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court)

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
   • Case Number: 2:26-cv-00150
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Active. The Google Patents page lists this case under "Family has litigation".

3. Case Title: Unknown (US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court)

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
   • Case Number: 2:24-cv-00637
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Active. This appears to be the same case as the first one listed above, but the Google Patents listing reiterates it separately.

4. Case Title: IPR2025-01286

   • Plaintiff(s): Petitioner: "Unified Patents PTAB Data"
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text (typically the patent owner).
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01286
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the event date for the IPR filing is 2025-08-12.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Not Instituted - Procedural. The Google Patents page lists this case under "Family has litigation".

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 9482632. This proceeding, an Inter Partes Review (IPR), was discretionarily denied, meaning the patent claims were not substantively reviewed by the PTAB. This outcome leaves all claims of the patent untested by the PTAB, providing a patent owner with a hardened defensive posture against similar IPR challenges.

IPR2025-01286 — [Dell Technologies Inc. et al](/litigations/by-defendant/Dell%20Technologies%20Inc.%20et%20al). v. Cloud Byte LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-07-14
• Status: Discretionary Denial. The petition for IPR was denied institution by the PTAB.
• Judge panel: The institution decision was made under the centralized review policy of USPTO Director John Squires, who took personal control of all institution decisions in October 2025, and such denials often did not list a specific three-judge panel.
• Petition grounds: Likely 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 (anticipation) and/or 103 (obviousness) based on prior art patents or printed publications, common for IPRs challenging patent validity on prior art grounds. Specific claims and prior art references for this particular IPR are not publicly detailed in the available search results.
• Institution decision: Denied on 2025-11-20. The PTAB applied the Fintiv factors, determining that overall efficiency and fairness favored denial. Key considerations included the proximity of a parallel district court trial date (November 3, 2025, in the Lenovo Group litigation in the Eastern District of Texas) relative to the PTAB's projected final written decision date, the overlap of parties and issues, and the perceived lack of particularly strong merits in the petition. This was despite the petitioners offering Sotera stipulations.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated by the discretionary denial of institution, not by settlement.
• Appeal: Mandamus petitions challenging discretionary denials of IPR institution have been denied by the Federal Circuit, indicating such denials are generally not appealable.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that the patent owner successfully leveraged the PTAB's discretionary denial policies to prevent a substantive review of the patent's claims. For any defendant facing assertion, this means the claims of US9482632 remain unchallenged at the PTAB, and any future IPR petitions would need to overcome similar Fintiv considerations if parallel litigation exists.

Strategic summary

All nine claims of US9482632 are UNTESTED by the PTAB. The single IPR filed, IPR2025-01286, was discretionarily denied institution. This means no claims were invalidated or sustained by a PTAB Final Written Decision. The patent owner, Cloud Byte LLC, successfully prevented a substantive review of the patent's validity before the PTAB.

The estoppel landscape for IPR2025-01286 is nuanced due to the discretionary denial. Generally, statutory estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) applies only after a Final Written Decision. However, the PTAB has been implementing more restrictive policies regarding institution, including considerations of parallel district court litigation and the Director's personal review of institution decisions. Petitioners in IPR2025-01286 offered Sotera stipulations, which aim to prevent overlap between IPR grounds and district court invalidity contentions if institution were granted. While the full scope of estoppel from a Fintiv denial is complex and can be debated, the absence of a Final Written Decision typically means that petitioners are not statutorily estopped from raising prior-art grounds they raised or reasonably could have raised in the denied petition in other venues.

The denial of IPR2025-01286 is a significant pattern signal, reflecting the PTAB's increasingly restrictive approach to IPR institution in 2025, particularly under Director John Squires's centralized review. The decision in IPR2025-01286 was "heavily influenced by the existence of multiple parallel district court litigations" and the trial date in the Lenovo Group litigation in the Eastern District of Texas, which was set for November 3, 2025. This demonstrates the PTAB's willingness to deny institution when district court proceedings are well underway, making it harder for challengers to use IPR as a parallel defense strategy. Cloud Byte LLC, as the patent owner, has effectively utilized these discretionary denial policies.

Recommended next steps

• For a defendant being asserted against, the primary takeaway is that all claims of US9482632 remain presumptively valid from a PTAB perspective. Any infringement theory based on these claims has not been weakened by a PTAB invalidity finding.
• If considering a new PTAB challenge, carefully evaluate the Fintiv factors, especially if there is ongoing district court litigation involving this patent. The PTAB's discretionary denial in IPR2025-01286 highlights the Board's strict application of these factors, including the proximity of district court trial dates and the perceived strength of the IPR petition.
• Investigate the details of the district court litigation mentioned in the IPR2025-01286 denial to understand the current status of validity challenges against US9482632 in that forum. The PTAB decision indicates a trial date of November 3, 2025, for the Lenovo Group litigation, which has likely concluded or is in advanced stages.
• Given the Director's active role in institution decisions and the high rate of discretionary denials in late 2025, any future petition would need to present exceptionally strong merits and carefully address all discretionary factors to have a chance of institution.

Inventors

• Jun Yokoyama (NEC Corp)

Original assignee

NEC Corp. is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation. They are a major provider of IT services and products, including servers and other ICT equipment. NEC Corp. is currently operating. It is highly probable they shipped products embodying the claims, given their primary line of business.

Assignment timeline

• 2013-08-13 (executed) / recorded 2014-03-13 — Reel 032432/0803

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: Yokoyama, Jun
  • Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: SUZANNE E. HAAS, 1150 18th STREET, N.W., SUITE 1000, WASHINGTON, DC 20036
  • Context: Original assignment from inventor to corporate entity

• 2023-04-14 (executed) / recorded 2023-04-17 — Reel 063349/0459

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: NEC CORPORATION
  • Assignee: NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
  • Correspondent: SUZANNE E. HAAS, NIXON & VANDERHYE, P.C., 901 N. GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22203
  • Context: Internal reorg

• 2024-01-18 (executed) / recorded 2024-01-27 — Reel 066376/0276

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
  • Assignee: IP WAVE PTE LTD.
  • Correspondent: BRIAN M. BECKER, 1375 BROADWAY, SUITE 1000, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
  • Context: Transfer-to-asserter

• 2024-03-05 (executed) / recorded 2024-06-27 — Reel 067944/0332

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IP WAVE PTE LTD.
  • Assignee: CLOUD BYTE LLC.
  • Correspondent: BRIAN M. BECKER, 1375 BROADWAY, SUITE 1000, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer-to-asserter

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9482632
    2013 : Assigned to NEC Corp
    2016 : Patent granted
    2023 : Assigned to NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    2024 : Assigned to IP WAVE PTE LTD
         : Assigned to CLOUD BYTE LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present.

   • IP WAVE PTE LTD. (Assignee in Reel 066376/0276): The name "IP WAVE PTE LTD." suggests an entity focused on intellectual property, and a "Pte Ltd" (Private Limited) designation is common for such entities. The context of subsequent litigation filings by the ultimate assignee further supports this.
   • CLOUD BYTE LLC. (Assignee in Reel 067944/0332): The name "CLOUD BYTE LLC." does not explicitly suggest a shell entity, but the subsequent litigation activity associated with it and its role in the chain strongly indicate it functions as a licensing-only entity.

2. Known asserter in the chain — present.

   • Unified Patents has identified "CLOUD BYTE LLC" as an NPE involved in litigation.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.

   • Brian M. Becker, 1375 Broadway, Suite 1000, New York, New York 10018, appears as the correspondent for both the assignment to IP WAVE PTE LTD. (Reel 066376/0276) and the subsequent assignment to CLOUD BYTE LLC. (Reel 067944/0332).

4. Cascading transfers — present.

   • There are two consecutive assignments within a short period:
     • NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. to IP WAVE PTE LTD. (executed 2024-01-18, recorded 2024-01-27, Reel 066376/0276)
     • IP WAVE PTE LTD. to CLOUD BYTE LLC. (executed 2024-03-05, recorded 2024-06-27, Reel 067944/0332)
   • Both transfers occurred within a 5-month period in 2024 and share the same correspondent.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — present.

   • The assignment to IP WAVE PTE LTD. (Reel 066376/0276) was executed on 2024-01-18 and recorded on 2024-01-27.
   • The assignment to CLOUD BYTE LLC. (Reel 067944/0332) was executed on 2024-03-05 and recorded on 2024-06-27.
   • Litigation was filed by Cloud Byte LLC in the Texas Eastern District Court on 2024-08-01 (case 2:24-cv-00637) and 2026-02-15 (case 2:26-cv-00150). The assignments immediately precede these filings, particularly the 2024 filing.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present.

   • No evidence of the original assignee, NEC Corp., filing for bankruptcy.

7. Privateering — unclear.

   • While there is a transfer from an operating company (NEC) to entities that subsequently assert the patent, there is no explicit public record (e.g., SEC filing) confirming a privateering arrangement where NEC is actively directing or benefiting from the assertion by Cloud Byte LLC against competitors.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present.

   • The chain ends with Cloud Byte LLC, which is an identified NPE, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is driven by several strong signals. The patent underwent cascading transfers in 2024 to entities with names suggestive of intellectual property monetization (IP WAVE PTE LTD. and CLOUD BYTE LLC), specifically visible in Reels 066376/0276 and 067944/0332. The ultimate assignee, CLOUD BYTE LLC, is a known NPE, and multiple infringement suits were filed shortly after the assignments (e.g., case 2:24-cv-00637 filed in August 2024), indicating pre-litigation transfers. Furthermore, the recurrence of the same correspondent, Brian M. Becker, for these transfers, as seen in Reel 066376/0276 and Reel 067944/0332, is a strong indicator of a coordinated assertion strategy.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US9482632

As a technical patent analyst, I have searched for US patent 9482632. The patent, titled "Abnormality detection device," was published on November 1, 2016, and granted on the same date, with a filing date of September 4, 2013 [cite: The "Publication date" and "Filing date" fields of US9482632, and "2016-11-01 Application granted" legal event of US9482632]. The current assignee is Cloud Byte LLC [cite: The "Current Assignee" field of US9482632].

The core of US9482632 addresses a problem in accurately detecting cooling function abnormalities in ICT equipment, especially when the operational status (e.g., CPU load) is not constant. Prior art, such as JP2006127283A, did not adequately consider the dynamic operational status of the equipment, leading to inaccurate abnormality detection [cite: The "Background Art" and "Summary" sections of US9482632].

The patent US9482632 primarily claims:

1. An abnormality detection device comprising a hardware processor with an estimating unit to estimate an upper limit of possible temperatures in a predetermined position when intake air quantity is appropriate, based on operational status and intake-air temperature, which also determine cooling fan rotation speed, and a determining unit to detect an abnormality if a detected temperature exceeds this upper limit.
2. A device according to claim 1, where the upper limit is estimated lower for a lower utilization rate when intake-air temperature is equal.
3. A device according to claim 1, including a temperature range storing part for upper limits associated with utilization rates and intake-air temperatures.
4. A device according to claim 1, also estimating a lower limit and reducing fan rotations when detected temperature is below this lower limit.
5. A device according to claim 1, where operational status is CPU load.
6. A device according to claim 1, where operational status is power consumption.
7. A device according to claim 1, where the temperature sensor detects exhaust air temperature.
8. ICT equipment incorporating the elements of claim 1.
9. An abnormality detection method incorporating the steps of claim 1.

The most relevant prior art documents, identified from the examiner-cited references in US9482632 and the explicitly discussed background art (JP2006127283A), are detailed below.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US9482632

1. JP2006127283A

   • Full Citation: JP2006127283A - Toshiba Corp - Information processing apparatus and its cooling performance detection method
   • Priority Date: 2004-10-29
   • Publication Date: 2006-05-18
   • Brief Description: This prior art describes a technique for detecting cooling abnormalities where intake air temperature and CPU temperature are detected. An allowable temperature, defined for the intake-air temperature, is obtained. The CPU temperature is then compared to this allowable temperature. If the CPU temperature exceeds the allowable temperature, the system checks the cooling fan's rotation speed to differentiate between filter clogging (fan at set speed) and fan failure (fan not at set speed), notifying the user accordingly [cite: The "Description" section of US9482632].
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference anticipates the general concept of detecting cooling abnormalities based on temperature and fan operation. However, it specifically lacks the crucial inventive step of US9482632, which is to factor in the operational status (e.g., CPU load, power consumption) of the ICT equipment to estimate a dynamic upper limit of possible temperatures. Therefore, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 8, and 9 in their entirety, particularly the clauses requiring estimation based on both operational status and intake-air temperature. Consequently, it also does not anticipate dependent claims (2-7) that build upon this distinction.

2. US20020135496A1

   • Full Citation: US20020135496A1 - Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Abnormality detection method and protection apparatus
   • Priority Date: 2001-02-01
   • Publication Date: 2002-09-26
   • Brief Description: This patent application discloses an abnormality detection method for a device with multiple fans and temperature sensors. It aims to identify abnormalities like fan stoppage or clogging by comparing detected temperatures with a reference temperature and considering environmental factors. It may also compare actual fan speed to a target fan speed.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this document discusses abnormality detection using temperature sensors and fan monitoring, its abstract and general description do not clearly indicate the dynamic estimation of an "upper limit of possible temperatures" specifically adjusted by the operational status (workload) of the equipment (like CPU load or power consumption), which is a core element of US9482632's independent claims (1, 8, 9). It refers to a "reference temperature" which may be static or adjusted by environmental factors, but not the equipment's internal workload. Thus, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 8, and 9 entirely.

3. US20060231639A1

   • Full Citation: US20060231639A1 - Harper Richard E - Thermal modeling and error detection in a data processing configuration
   • Priority Date: 2005-04-14
   • Publication Date: 2006-10-19
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes methods for thermal modeling and error detection in data processing configurations. It involves generating thermal models to predict temperatures based on parameters such as input power, fan speeds, and ambient temperature. Errors are detected by comparing these predicted temperatures with actual temperatures, and degradation in cooling performance can also be detected.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant. It teaches predicting temperatures based on parameters including "input power" (which can correspond to "operational status" like power consumption, as in claim 6 of US9482632) and "ambient temperature" (intake-air temperature). If the "predicted temperatures" derived from the thermal model are understood as, or can be configured to represent, an "upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate," and comparing predicted vs. actual temperatures serves to determine an abnormality, then this document could potentially anticipate claims 1, 6, 8, and 9. Further detailed analysis of the "thermal model" and how "appropriate intake air" conditions are defined would be necessary for a definitive conclusion.

4. US20070215341A1

   • Full Citation: US20070215341A1 - Fujitsu Limited - Device, cooling function monitoring apparatus, and fan deterioration monitoring program storing medium
   • Priority Date: 2006-03-17
   • Publication Date: 2007-09-20
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a cooling function monitoring apparatus that calculates an expected fan rotation rate under normal operation, considering the actual fan rotation rate and environmental conditions like ambient temperature. It detects fan deterioration or clogging by monitoring deviations between this expected value and the actual fan rotation rate.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on monitoring fan performance and detecting issues like deterioration or clogging based on fan speed and ambient temperature. It does not explicitly teach estimating an "upper limit of internal equipment temperature" based on the equipment's dynamic operational status (like CPU load) and then using the exceedance of this internal temperature limit as the primary abnormality detection criterion, which is central to US9482632. Its focus is more on fan mechanical health and environmental factors rather than the specific thermal response of the ICT equipment to its internal workload. Thus, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in their entirety.

5. US20080040067A1

   • Full Citation: US20080040067A1 - Paul Douglas Bashor - Method and apparatus for detecting heat sink faults
   • Priority Date: 2006-08-08
   • Publication Date: 2008-02-14
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a method to detect faults in a heat sink assembly by monitoring parameters such as temperature, airflow, or fan speed, and comparing these against expected values or thresholds. It aims to identify suboptimal performance, possibly due to dust buildup or fan failure. Some embodiments discuss using a thermal model based on current power consumption to determine expected performance.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This document is highly relevant due to its mention of a "thermal model based on current power consumption" to determine expected performance. "Power consumption" aligns with the "operational status" of claim 6 of US9482632. If this thermal model's "expected performance" or expected temperature is equivalent to US9482632's "upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air is appropriate," and abnormality is determined by deviation, then it could potentially anticipate claims 1, 6, 8, and 9. The exact interplay with "intake-air temperature" for estimating the "upper limit" would need closer examination.

6. US20090323277A1

   • Full Citation: US20090323277A1 - Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Information Processing Apparatus
   • Priority Date: 2008-06-30
   • Publication Date: 2009-12-31
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes an information processing apparatus that controls fan speed based on detected power consumption and component temperature (e.g., CPU, HDD). It aims to prevent overheating and reduce power consumption, potentially using a thermal model for temperature prediction.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant as it uses "power consumption" (operational status, claim 6) and "component temperature" for fan control. The key distinction from US9482632 lies in whether it explicitly teaches estimating an upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate, based on both operational status and intake-air temperature, and then determining an abnormality specifically when a detected temperature exceeds this estimated upper limit. While it uses relevant input parameters and thermal models for fan control, the specific abnormality detection logic of US9482632 might be distinguishable. It could potentially anticipate the broad idea of using workload and temperature for thermal management but might not fully cover the specific method of abnormality detection claimed in US9482632.

7. US20100030395A1

   • Full Citation: US20100030395A1 - Susumu Shimotono - Heat Dissipation System for Computers
   • Priority Date: 2008-08-02
   • Publication Date: 2010-02-04
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a heat dissipation system for computers that controls fan speed. It uses a lookup table (map) to store fan speeds corresponding to combinations of intake air temperature and CPU processing load (operational status). Its goal is efficient cooling and power consumption reduction.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it explicitly employs a lookup table using both intake air temperature and CPU processing load (operational status, claim 5) to determine fan speed. This directly relates to the fan speed determination aspect of claims 1, 5, 8, and 9 of US9482632. However, US9482632's core inventive step is the estimation of an upper limit of possible temperatures for abnormality detection when intake air is appropriate, and then comparing detected temperature to this limit. While US20100030395A1 uses a lookup table for fan speeds, it does not explicitly disclose a "temperature range storing part in which the upper limit of the possible temperatures... is recorded in association with each combination of a utilization rate and a temperature of intake air" for abnormality detection, as described in claim 3 of US9482632. Thus, it likely does not anticipate claims 1, 3, 8, and 9 entirely, particularly regarding the specific use of the estimated upper limit for abnormality determination.

8. US20110057803A1

   • Full Citation: US20110057803A1 - Fujitsu Limited - Temperature predicting apparatus and method
   • Priority Date: 2009-09-04
   • Publication Date: 2011-03-10
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes an apparatus that predicts the internal temperature of an information processing device. It bases this prediction on measured temperatures (e.g., ambient temperature, CPU temperature) and operational states (e.g., CPU load, power consumption). It also includes a learning unit to update the prediction model. The predicted temperature can be utilized for fan control or to detect abnormalities if the actual temperature significantly deviates from the predicted temperature.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This document is very close to US9482632. It teaches predicting "internal temperature" based on "ambient temperature" (intake-air temperature) and "operational states" (CPU load, power consumption), which covers the inputs for claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9. It also explicitly mentions using the predicted temperature for "abnormality detection when actual temperature deviates significantly from predicted temperature." The critical distinction for US9482632 would be if its "predicted temperature" is specifically an "upper limit of possible temperatures when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate," rather than a general point prediction, and if "deviates significantly" unequivocally means "is beyond the upper limit." Claim 2 of US9482632, which specifies estimating a lower upper limit for lower utilization rates, could also represent a potential point of distinction depending on the details of the prediction model in US20110057803A1. This patent has the highest potential to anticipate claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 9, pending a detailed comparison of the specific estimation and abnormality determination logic.

9. US20110295443A1

   • Full Citation: US20110295443A1 - Shah Amip J - Managing an infrastructure having a 3d package and cooling resource actuators
   • Priority Date: 2010-05-28
   • Publication Date: 2011-12-01
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes managing thermal conditions within an infrastructure (e.g., a data center server rack). It involves monitoring temperature, power consumption, and operating characteristics, modeling thermal behavior, and adjusting cooling resources (e.g., fan speed) to optimize for performance or power while maintaining desired thermal conditions. It may include predicting future temperatures.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This document deals with thermal management and optimization in a broader infrastructure context. It considers power consumption (operational status, claim 6) and models thermal behavior to adjust cooling resources. While it manages temperature and adjusts cooling based on operational parameters, its focus seems to be on overall infrastructure management rather than the precise abnormality detection mechanism for an individual piece of ICT equipment. It doesn't explicitly detail the estimation of a specific "upper limit of possible temperatures... when a quantity of intake air... is appropriate" for abnormality detection in the manner claimed by US9482632. Therefore, it might not fully anticipate claims 1, 6, 8, and 9.

To analyze the obviousness of US patent 9482632 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we must identify combinations of prior art that would render the patent's claims obvious and explain the motivation for combining them. The core invention of US9482632 addresses the problem of inaccurate cooling function abnormality detection in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment when its operational status (e.g., CPU load) is not constant.

Summary of US9482632's Core Invention

US9482632 provides an abnormality detection device, ICT equipment, and method that estimate an upper limit of possible temperatures in a predetermined position of ICT equipment. This estimation is based on both the detected operational status of the ICT equipment and the detected intake-air temperature. An abnormality is determined if the actual temperature in that position exceeds this estimated upper limit. The patent emphasizes that this approach allows for accurate abnormality detection even when the operational status of the ICT equipment is variable, which was a limitation of prior art. The operational status can be, for example, the CPU load or power consumption.

Prior Art References and Their Teachings

The patent itself identifies Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. JP-A 2006-127283 (referred to as Patent Document 1) as relevant background art.

1. JP-A 2006-127283 (Patent Document 1):
   • Teaching: This reference discloses a technique where the temperature of intake air and a CPU temperature are detected. An allowable temperature for the CPU is obtained based on the intake-air temperature, and an abnormality is detected if the CPU temperature exceeds this allowable temperature. It further distinguishes between clogged filters and cooling fan failures based on the fan's rotation speed.
   • Limitation (as described by US9482632): The primary limitation identified by US9482632 is that JP-A 2006-127283 only considers the intake-air temperature to define the allowable CPU temperature. It does not account for variations in the ICT equipment's operational status (e.g., CPU load), which significantly impacts heat generation. Consequently, it may fail to accurately detect abnormalities when the operational status is not constant.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103

The claims of US9482632 introduce the crucial step of estimating the upper limit of possible temperatures based on both the operational status and the intake-air temperature.

Combination of Prior Art: JP-A 2006-127283 in view of general knowledge or other cited art related to operational status-based thermal management.

A person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) in the field of ICT equipment thermal management would have been aware of the need to manage heat dissipation in electronic devices, especially CPUs, whose heat output varies significantly with their workload or operational status.

The problem identified by US9482632—that "the amount of heat generated by the CPU substantially triples depending on the operational status and this fact is not considered in the technique described in Patent Document 1, so that it is impossible to accurately detect an abnormality such as clogging of the filter"—is a well-known characteristic of modern computing equipment.

A PHOSITA, seeking to improve the accuracy of the abnormality detection system described in JP-A 2006-127283, would recognize that relying solely on intake-air temperature for a fixed allowable CPU temperature is insufficient for equipment with variable workloads. It would be a logical step to integrate information about the equipment's operational status into the thermal monitoring and abnormality detection process.

Motivation for Combination:

The motivation to combine the teachings of JP-A 2006-127283 with the consideration of operational status would be to improve the accuracy and reliability of cooling abnormality detection in ICT equipment with dynamically changing workloads. If a PHOSITA wanted to make the abnormality detection system of JP-A 2006-127283 more robust and accurate for contemporary ICT equipment, they would naturally look for ways to account for the variable heat generation. Using CPU load or power consumption as an indicator of operational status to adjust expected temperature ranges is a common and logical engineering practice in thermal management for electronic devices.

For instance, consider Claim 1 of US9482632:
"1. An abnormality detection device for detecting an abnormality in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment having a cooling fan, the abnormality detection device comprising: a hardware processor comprising: an estimating unit configured to estimate an upper limit of possible temperatures in a predetermined position of ICT equipment when a quantity of intake air into the ICT equipment is appropriate, based on a result of detection by an operational status detecting unit that detects an operational status of the ICT equipment and a result of detection by an intake-air temperature sensor that detects an intake air temperature of intake air of the ICT equipment, wherein the operational status of the ICT equipment and the intake air temperature of the ICT equipment determines a rotation speed of the cooling fan; and a determining unit configured to determine that an abnormality is occurring when a result of detection by a temperature sensor that detects a detected equipment temperature in the predetermined position is beyond the upper limit estimated by the estimating unit."

JP-A 2006-127283 teaches detecting intake air temperature and CPU temperature, determining an allowable temperature based on intake air temperature, and detecting an abnormality when the CPU temperature exceeds this allowable temperature. The missing element is the "operational status detecting unit" and using its result to estimate the upper limit of possible temperatures.

A PHOSITA addressing the deficiency of JP-A 2006-127283, which US9482632 explicitly highlights, would readily recognize that the "allowable temperature" should not be solely dependent on intake-air temperature but also on the heat generated by the components. Since heat generation is directly tied to operational status (e.g., CPU load or power consumption), it would be an obvious design choice to incorporate operational status detection into the allowable temperature calculation.

Many other prior art documents, although not explicitly detailing the combination, suggest that dynamic fan control and thermal management based on workload or power consumption were known. For example, US20060231639A1 discusses "Thermal modeling and error detection in a data processing configuration," and US20110057803A1 describes a "Temperature predicting apparatus and method." While specific details for an obviousness combination would require a deeper dive into these, the core motivation for using operational status to refine thermal thresholds in systems like JP-A 2006-127283 is rooted in basic engineering principles for improving system accuracy and efficiency.

Therefore, the combination of JP-A 2006-127283 (for the fundamental abnormality detection mechanism based on temperature) with the general knowledge in the art regarding variable heat generation in ICT equipment based on operational status and the corresponding need to adjust thermal thresholds or cooling parameters accordingly, would render the claims of US9482632 obvious. The motivation would be to overcome the acknowledged shortcoming of static temperature thresholds in dynamically loaded ICT equipment, as recognized by US9482632 itself.

This applies to independent claims 1 (device), 8 (equipment), and 9 (method) because they all incorporate the same fundamental inventive concept of using operational status alongside intake-air temperature to determine temperature limits for abnormality detection.

To provide a comprehensive analysis of US patent 9482632, I will search the USPTO database for information regarding its patent term adjustments (PTA), patent term extensions (PTE), continuation applications, divisional applications, related family members, and projected expiration date.

A U.S. utility patent filed on or after June 8, 1995, generally expires 20 years from its earliest filing date. However, this term can be adjusted by Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) or Patent Term Extension (PTE). PTA compensates for certain administrative delays by the USPTO during prosecution, while PTE is available for patents on specific products (like drugs or medical devices) that require regulatory approval, to restore time lost during that approval process. The USPTO does not calculate expiration dates for patents but provides resources for estimation.

Based on the available information:

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA):
PTA is granted to extend the patent term due to delays caused by the USPTO during the prosecution of a utility or plant patent application. Delays can include the USPTO failing to:

• Issue a first Office Action within 14 months of filing.
• Respond to a reply or appeal within four months.
• Issue a patent within four months after payment of the issue fee.
• Issue a patent within 36 months from the filing date (excluding certain applicant-caused delays).

The patent application for US9482632 was filed on September 4, 2013, and the patent was granted on November 1, 2016. [cite: The full patent text confirms these dates] This period is approximately 3 years and 2 months (38 months). Since the patent issued beyond the 36-month target from its filing date, it is likely that some PTA was applied due to USPTO delays. Any applicant delays in responding to Office actions (e.g., taking longer than three months) would reduce any accrued PTA. To determine the exact PTA, one would need to consult the "Issue Notification Letter" for US9482632, which contains the specific calculation.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE):
PTE is typically associated with patents covering products (such as human drugs, food or color additives, medical devices, animal drugs, and veterinary biological products) that require premarket government approval from a regulatory agency like the FDA. The purpose of PTE is to restore a portion of the patent term lost during this regulatory review.

Given that US9482632 relates to an "Abnormality detection device" for ICT equipment, it does not appear to fall into the categories of products eligible for PTE under 35 U.S.C. § 156. Therefore, it is highly improbable that US9482632 has received any Patent Term Extension.

Continuation Applications:
A continuation application must be filed while its parent application is still pending (i.e., not abandoned or granted). Once a patent is granted, a continuation application cannot be filed from that specific patent as a parent.
The Google Patents page for US9482632 lists "US14/018,152" as the application number and "US20140064321A1" as another version. This "US20140064321A1" is likely the publication of the original application that led to US9482632. There is no explicit indication in the provided information of any continuation applications being filed from the application that matured into US9482632. To definitively confirm, a detailed review of the patent's file wrapper in USPTO Patent Center would be necessary.

Divisional Applications:
Similar to continuation applications, a divisional application is typically filed when an original application contains multiple distinct inventions and the examiner issues a restriction requirement. The divisional application claims subject matter restricted out of the parent application and benefits from the original filing date. There is no information provided that indicates any divisional applications stemming from the application that resulted in US9482632.

Related Family Members:
The patent family for US9482632 includes:

• US14/018,152: The application number for US9482632. [cite: The "Publication number" field of US9482632]
• US20140064321A1: An earlier publication of the U.S. application. [cite: The "Other versions" field of US9482632]
• JP2012-194793: The priority application filed in Japan on September 5, 2012. [cite: The "Priority date" and "Incorporation by reference" sections of US9482632]
• JP6064457B2: The granted Japanese patent corresponding to JP2012194793A. [cite: The "Applications Claiming Priority" and "Country Status" fields of US9482632]

Projected Expiration Date:
The term of a U.S. utility patent is generally 20 years from its earliest effective filing date. For US9482632, the priority date is September 5, 2012, from Japanese patent application No. 2012-194793. The U.S. filing date is September 4, 2013. [cite: The full patent text confirms these dates] The patent claims the benefit of priority from the Japanese application. Therefore, the 20-year term is measured from the earliest filing date, which is September 5, 2012.

Based on a 20-year term from the priority date of September 5, 2012, the nominal expiration date would be September 5, 2032.

However, the patent states an "Adjusted expiration" date of October 28, 2034. [cite: The "Legal status" section of US9482632] This difference of approximately 2 years and 1 month (784 days) indicates that Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) has been applied to US9482632. This adjusted expiration date already accounts for any granted PTA.

Therefore:

• Patent Term Adjustments (PTA): Present and reflected in the adjusted expiration date of October 28, 2034. The specific amount of PTA is approximately 784 days.
• Patent Term Extensions (PTE): Not applicable, as the patent does not cover a product eligible for PTE.
• Continuation Applications: No explicit indication of continuation applications.
• Divisional Applications: No explicit indication of divisional applications.
• Related Family Members: US14/018,152 (application), US20140064321A1 (U.S. publication), JP2012-194793 (priority application), and JP6064457B2 (granted Japanese patent).
• Projected Expiration Date: October 28, 2034. [cite: The "Legal status" section of US9482632]