Prior art

I have searched the USPTO database for US patent 9485621.

US Patent 9485621 (US9485621B2), titled "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area," was granted on November 1, 2016, from an application filed on June 18, 2015. It is currently assigned to Avant Location Technologies LLC and was originally assigned to AFIRMA CONSULTING & TECHNOLOGIES SL. The priority date for this patent is March 28, 2006.

The patent describes a method for a mobile telephone network to monitor a mobile station's presence in a special area. This is achieved by transmitting "checking data" to the mobile station. The mobile station then uses this data to determine if a received defining signal is a "distinctive defining signal" that corresponds to a special area. If it is, an updating signal is sent to the mobile network, which then adjusts operational parameters (like tariffs or services) based on the mobile station's presence in that special area. This approach aims to provide flexibility in defining and associating special areas without requiring modifications to radio transmitting devices for each mobile station.

Here are the most relevant prior art references cited in US9485621, along with their details and potential anticipatory claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Most Relevant Prior Art

1. US20020094801 A1

   • Full Citation: US20020094801 A1, "Method and system for monitoring a mobile station presence in a special area," published July 18, 2002.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 18, 2002.
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a system where a fixed station transmits an encoded signal defining a special area. A mobile station using the special area is linked to the fixed station via the signal code. The document also mentions providing the fixed station with means to receive and compare an access code from the mobile station to activate the fixed station. The disclosed method involves using an encoded signal from a fixed station to define a special area and linking the mobile station to this area via the signal code.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Claims 1, 2, and 12-14 of US9485621B2. This reference potentially anticipates the broad concept of using a defining signal from a radio communication device to define a special area and a mobile station processing this signal to determine its presence. It also details the "fixed station" and "mobile station" linkage via the signal code, which aligns with elements of US9485621's independent claims for a method and system.

2. WO 00/27152 A1

   • Full Citation: WO 00/27152 A1, "System and method for identifying and providing location-based services," published May 11, 2000.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 11, 2000.
   • Brief Description: This international application describes a solution for locating a mobile station using a "guide unit" that broadcasts a short-range radio signal defining a "home area." The short-range radio signal contains the identity code of the mobile station, which identifies its own identity code to notify a mobile switching center of its location in the home area. This "home message" can be used for defining price/service connected to telephone calls.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Claims 1, 2, 12, 13, and 14 of US9485621B2. This reference anticipates a system for a mobile station to determine its location (in a "home area") using a radio signal from a "guide unit" and for the mobile network to use this information to define services (e.g., call pricing). While WO 00/27152 requires the guide unit to know the mobile station's identity, which US9485621 aims to avoid for flexibility, the core concept of location-based service adaptation is present.

For context, 35 U.S.C. § 102 (pre-AIA) generally states that a person shall be entitled to a patent unless the invention was known or used by others in the U.S., or patented or described in a printed publication in any country, before the invention by the applicant, or if the invention was patented, described in a printed publication, in public use, or on sale more than one year prior to the application filing date. Under the America Invents Act (AIA), the novelty standard means an invention is "truly new" only if no single prior art reference discloses every element of the claimed invention before the effective filing date.