US 9693333

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 9693333:

Title: System and method for location boosting using proximity information

Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing LLC (Current Assignee), Commscope Technologies LLC (Original Assignee)

Inventors: Martin Alles, Thomas B. Gravely, Khalid W. Al-Mufti, Andrew E. Beck

Filing Date: 2012-02-09

Issue Date: 2017-06-27

Abstract:
A system and method for determining the location of a target mobile device in a communications network is described. A set of mobile devices near the target mobile device is identified based on a common parameter observed by those mobile devices. Measurement data is then shared among this set of mobile devices and the target mobile device, and the target mobile device's location is determined using this shared data. This data sharing can occur directly between the devices or through a communications network entity.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method of Determining Location - Measurement Data Sharing):
  This claim describes a method where, to locate a "target mobile device," a group (set) of nearby mobile devices is first selected. This selection is based on these devices observing a common piece of information (e.g., a Wi-Fi access point, Bluetooth channel). Each mobile device in this group must be able to send and receive communications with the network. Then, measurement data (like GPS data, Wi-Fi data, or signal strength) is shared between this group of devices and the target mobile device. Finally, the location of the target mobile device is calculated using all this shared measurement data.

• Claim 12 (Method of Determining Location - Network Entity Processing):
  Similar to Claim 1, this method begins by selecting a group of nearby mobile devices based on a common observed parameter, with each device capable of network communication. However, instead of devices sharing data directly, both the measurement data from the group of mobile devices and the measurement data from the target mobile device are sent to a central "communications network entity." This network entity then determines the location of the target mobile device using all the transmitted measurement data from both the group and the target.

• Claim 16 (Method of Determining Location - Shared Determined Locations):
  This method also starts by selecting a group of nearby mobile devices based on a common observed parameter, with network communication capability. For one or more mobile devices within this selected group, their individual locations are determined. These already-determined locations are then shared among the group members and the target mobile device. The final location of the target mobile device is then determined using these shared, already-calculated locations.

• Claim 20 (Method of Determining Location - Common Parameters & Shared Measurement Data):
  This claim outlines a method where one or more common parameters of information are determined for a set of mobile devices in proximity to the target mobile device, where each device can communicate with the network. A set of mobile devices is then identified based on these common parameters. The location of the target mobile device is determined using measurement data from this identified set of mobile devices. A key aspect is that the determination of the target mobile device's location involves sharing measurement data from both the set of mobile devices and the target mobile device itself. This sharing can happen among the devices or at a network entity.

• Claim 25 (Method of Determining Location - Measurement Data from Set):
  This method involves selecting a set of mobile devices near a target mobile device based on a common observed parameter, with each device capable of network communication. The location of the target mobile device is then determined directly as a function of the measurement data from the determined set of mobile devices.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for US9693333 did not return any specific cases directly citing or involving this patent number. The search results provided general information about the Federal Circuit, scheduled cases, and an opinion in an unrelated case (APPLICATIONS IN INTERNET TIME, LLC v. SALESFORCE, INC.). Therefore, as of April 26, 2026, there is no authoritative information from the provided search results indicating active litigation at the CAFC directly pertaining to US9693333.

As of April 26, 2026, a comprehensive search for litigation involving US Patent 9693333 did not yield any specific cases directly citing or involving this patent. Neither the Unified Patents Portal nor Justia Dockets & Filings, nor a general search, returned results for US9693333. Therefore, no known litigation can be reported at this time.

Proceedings overview

A comprehensive search for AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method review) concerning US Patent 9693333 has yielded no results. The USPTO Open Data Portal's most recent ingest similarly indicates no such proceedings on file for this patent. Therefore, as of today's date, US Patent 9693333 has not been subjected to any AIA trial challenges at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This means all claims of the patent are currently untested by PTAB proceedings.

Strategic summary

As there are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 9693333, all 26 claims of the patent remain untested by the PTAB. This means there are no claims that have been canceled or sustained through IPR, PGR, or CBM reviews.

The absence of PTAB activity implies that the patent has not been subjected to the lower burden of proof (preponderance of the evidence) and broader claim construction standards (Broadest Reasonable Interpretation for petitions filed before November 13, 2018, or Phillips standard thereafter) available at the PTAB. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, the estoppel provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) are not a concern regarding this specific patent, as no prior art grounds have been raised or could have been raised in a completed AIA trial. Therefore, a defendant is free to challenge the patent's validity in district court or through a newly filed IPR petition, subject to the statutory deadlines for filing such petitions.

The current assignee, Bison Patent Licensing LLC, has been actively asserting this patent in district court litigation. For instance, US9693333 was asserted by Bison Patent Licensing LLC against Samsung in the Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 2:25-cv-00448), though that case was dismissed with prejudice after 98 days, suggesting a rapid settlement or resolution for Samsung. This indicates the patent owner is willing to litigate the patent, and its validity has not yet been publicly tested at the PTAB.

Recommended next steps

Since there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US9693333, a potential defendant facing assertion of this patent has several avenues available:

• File an IPR Petition: A defendant could file an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition against US9693333, challenging its claims based on prior art patents or printed publications under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 or 103. This would be a first attempt to test the patent's validity at the PTAB. The decision on whether to institute a trial for IPRs is now determined by the Director of the USPTO, effective October 20, 2025, to improve efficiency and consistency.
• District Court Challenge: A defendant could challenge the patent's validity in district court, where the burden of proof for invalidity is "clear and convincing evidence."
• Monitor for Future Filings: Keep an eye on any future IPR or PGR filings against this patent, as new proceedings could significantly alter the defensive landscape.

Inventors

• Martin Alles: Commscope Technologies LLC
• Thomas B. Gravely: Commscope Technologies LLC
• Khalid W. Al-Mufti: Commscope Technologies LLC
• Andrew E. Beck: Commscope Technologies LLC

Original assignee

Commscope Technologies LLC. CommScope is a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks. They primarily focus on connectivity and infrastructure products for wireless, business enterprise, and broadband networks. They ship products embodying a wide range of communication technologies. Their current status is operating.

Assignment timeline

• 2013-08-27 (executed) / recorded 2013-08-27 — Reel 031021/0458

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: AL-MUFTI, KHALID W., ALLES, MARTIN, Beck, Andrew E., GRAVELY, THOMAS B.
  • Assignee: ANDREW LLC
  • Correspondent: R. Edward Brake, ANDREW LLC, 1100 Commscope Place SE, Hickory, NC, 28602
  • Context: Internal reorganization / transfer from inventors to a related entity.

• 2015-03-19 (executed) / recorded 2015-03-19 — Reel 032646/0001

  • Conveyance: CHANGE OF NAME
  • Assignor: ANDREW LLC
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: R. Edward Brake, CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina, 1100 CommScope Place, SE, Hickory, NC, 28602. This correspondent also appeared on reel 031021/0458 for ANDREW LLC.
  • Context: Corporate name change/rebranding.

• 2015-07-28 (executed) / recorded 2015-07-28 — Reel 033320/0733

  • Conveyance: SECURITY INTEREST
  • Assignor: ALLEN TELECOM LLC, COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC.
  • Assignee: [WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT](/asserters/wilmington-national-association-as-collateral-agent)
  • Correspondent: Patrick J. Cafferty, III, Alston & Bird LLP, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30309
  • Context: Securitization of assets, common in financing arrangements.

• 2017-03-31 (executed) / recorded 2017-03-31 — Reel 037785/0517

  • Conveyance: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST PATENTS (RELEASES RF 036201/0283)
  • Assignor: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, ALLEN TELECOM LLC, REDWOOD SYSTEMS, INC., COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: Steven R. Englund, DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500, Minneapolis, MN, 55402
  • Context: Release of prior security interest.

• 2019-07-03 (executed) / recorded 2019-07-03 — Reel 049905/0504

  • Conveyance: ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC, ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC., ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC., COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
  • Assignee: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281
  • Context: Asset-Backed Loan (ABL) security agreement, another form of financing.

• 2019-07-03 (executed) / recorded 2019-07-03 — Reel 050019/0001

  • Conveyance: PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Assignee: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: Patrick J. Cafferty III, Alston & Bird LLP, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30309. This correspondent also appeared on reel 033320/0733 for WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT.
  • Context: Further securitization of assets.

• 2019-07-03 (executed) / recorded 2019-07-03 — Reel 050020/0001

  • Conveyance: TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC, ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC., ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC., COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
  • Assignee: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reel 049905/0504 for JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Context: Term loan security agreement, indicating debt financing.

• 2021-11-19 (executed) / recorded 2021-11-19 — Reel 056461/0812

  • Conveyance: SECURITY INTEREST
  • Assignor: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC, ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC., COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
  • Assignee: WILMINGTON TRUST
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reels 049905/0504 and 050020/0001 for JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Context: Renewal or new security interest.

• 2022-07-13 (executed) / recorded 2022-07-13 — Reel 060751/0001

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Assignee: BISON PATENT LICENSING, LLC
  • Correspondent: Michael S. Kelly, Kelly & Kelley, LLP, 6320 Canoga Avenue, Suite 1650, Woodland Hills, CA, 91367. This correspondent has appeared on other tracked patents associated with NPEs.
  • Context: Transfer of patent to a patent licensing entity.

• 2022-07-13 (executed) / recorded 2022-07-13 — Reel 060752/0001

  • Conveyance: PARTIAL RELEASE OF TERM LOAN SECURITY INTEREST
  • Assignor: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reels 049905/0504, 050020/0001, and 056461/0812.
  • Context: Release of a portion of a previous security interest.

• 2022-07-13 (executed) / recorded 2022-07-13 — Reel 060753/0001

  • Conveyance: PARTIAL RELEASE OF ABL SECURITY INTEREST
  • Assignor: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reels 049905/0504, 050020/0001, 056461/0812, and 060752/0001.
  • Context: Release of a portion of a previous security interest.

• 2022-07-15 (executed) / recorded 2022-07-15 — Reel 060787/0545

  • Conveyance: PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS
  • Assignor: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Assignee: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC, COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: Patrick J. Cafferty III, Alston & Bird LLP, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA, 30309. This correspondent also appeared on reels 033320/0733 and 050019/0001.
  • Context: Partial release of a security interest.

• 2023-04-07 (executed) / recorded 2023-04-07 — Reel 063463/0001

  • Conveyance: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY
  • Assignor: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reels 049905/0504, 050020/0001, 056461/0812, 060752/0001, and 060753/0001.
  • Context: Release of a security interest by the secured party.

• 2023-04-13 (executed) / recorded 2023-04-13 — Reel 063493/0001

  • Conveyance: PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 060752/0001
  • Assignor: WILMINGTON TRUST
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reels 049905/0504, 050020/0001, 056461/0812, 060752/0001, 060753/0001, and 063463/0001.
  • Context: Partial termination and release of a security interest.

• 2024-12-19 (executed) / recorded 2024-12-19 — Reel 069279/0001

  • Conveyance: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504
  • Assignor: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA, ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC., ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.), RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.), ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC., COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: Elizabeth C. Bowes, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281. This correspondent also appeared on reels 049905/0504, 050020/0001, 056461/0812, 060752/0001, 060753/0001, 063463/0001, and 063493/0001.
  • Context: Release of a security interest.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9693333
    2012 : Filed
    2013 : Assigned to ANDREW LLC
    2015 : Name change to Commscope Tech
         : Security interest to Wilmington
    2017 : Issued
         : Release of security interest
    2019 : ABL Security to JPM Chase
         : Patent security to Wilmington
         : Term Loan Security to JPM Chase
    2021 : Security interest to Wilmington
    2022 : Assigned to Bison Patent Lic LLC
         : Partial release of Term Loan
         : Partial release of ABL
         : Partial termination of security
    2023 : Release by secured party
         : Partial termination of security
    2024 : Release of security interest

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present. On 2022-07-13, the patent was assigned from Commscope Technologies LLC to Bison Patent Licensing, LLC (Reel 060751/0001). The name "Licensing, LLC" strongly suggests a non-operating, licensing-focused entity. The current assignee listed on Google Patents is Bison Patent Licensing LLC.
2. Known asserter in the chain — unclear. Bison Patent Licensing, LLC does not immediately appear on common public NPE lists (e.g., RPX, Unified Patents) based on general knowledge. Further dedicated research would be needed to confirm if they are a known asserter.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.
   • R. Edward Brake of ANDREW LLC / CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina appears on Reel 031021/0458 and Reel 032646/0001.
   • Patrick J. Cafferty III of Alston & Bird LLP appears on Reel 033320/0733 and Reel 050019/0001 and Reel 060787/0545.
   • Elizabeth C. Bowes of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP appears on Reel 049905/0504, Reel 050020/0001, Reel 056461/0812, Reel 060752/0001, Reel 060753/0001, Reel 063463/0001, Reel 063493/0001, and Reel 069279/0001.
   • Michael S. Kelly of Kelly & Kelley, LLP appears as the correspondent for the assignment to Bison Patent Licensing, LLC on Reel 060751/0001. Michael S. Kelly has been identified as a correspondent for entities known for patent assertion in other analyses.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. The transfers related to security interests are common for operating companies and are not indicative of cascading transfers to shell entities. The transfer to Bison Patent Licensing LLC is a single step.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. Without a record of the first infringement suit naming this patent, it's impossible to determine if the transfer to Bison Patent Licensing, LLC on 2022-07-13 was pre-litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. The chain does not indicate a bankruptcy of the original assignee or any subsequent operating company.
7. Privateering — unclear. While Commscope Technologies LLC transferred the patent to Bison Patent Licensing, LLC, there's no public information in the provided data to suggest that Bison is asserting this patent on Commscope's behalf against competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence. The transfer of the patent from an operating company (Commscope Technologies LLC) to Bison Patent Licensing, LLC (Reel 060751/0001) is a strong indicator of a shell-entity transfer. The involvement of Michael S. Kelly as the correspondent for this transfer, who has been linked to NPE activities in other patent chains, further strengthens this conclusion. The current assignee being a "Licensing, LLC" also supports this verdict.

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 9693333, I will examine the "Citations" section of the patent itself, which lists documents considered by the patent examiner during prosecution. The USPTO defines "prior art" as any evidence that an invention was already known or publicly available before the effective filing date of the patent application, which can include earlier patents and publications.

Here are the patent citations listed for US9693333, along with a brief description and potential anticipation analysis:

Cited Patents:

• US5987329A

  • Full Citation: US5987329A, System and method for mobile telephone location measurement using a hybrid technique.
  • Publication Date: 1999-11-16
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for determining the location of a mobile telephone using a hybrid technique that combines measurements from different sources, such as GPS and network-based measurements, to improve accuracy and availability.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US5987329A's focus on combining various location measurements (e.g., GPS and network-based) for mobile device location could potentially anticipate aspects of claims in US9693333 that involve using diverse measurement data (e.g., A-GPS, U-TDOA, MREL, RF fingerprinting) for location determination, especially where US9693333 uses "measurement data" generally. Given the filing date, it establishes prior knowledge of hybrid location techniques. This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 12, 16, 20, and 25 that broadly involve using different types of measurement data to determine a location.

• US6243252B1

  • Full Citation: US6243252B1, Laminated ceramic electronic component.
  • Publication Date: 2001-06-05
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a laminated ceramic electronic component.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent appears to be unrelated to location boosting or mobile device communication. It is highly unlikely to anticipate any claims of US9693333. It may have been cited for a general technical background or an unrelated element within a larger system.

• WO2001058098A2

  • Full Citation: WO2001058098A2, Position determination using Bluetooth devices.
  • Publication Date: 2001-08-09
  • Brief Description: This international publication describes using Bluetooth devices for position determination.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given that US9693333 explicitly mentions using "Bluetooth radio channel information" as a common parameter for determining proximity and forming a group of mobile devices, this reference is highly relevant. Claims 1, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 20, which specify Bluetooth as a common parameter or measurement data source, could be anticipated by the general concept of using Bluetooth for position determination.

• WO2005034557A1

  • Full Citation: WO2005034557A1, Method for determining the local position of at least one mobile radio communication device based on known local positions of adjacent radio communication devices, associated radio communication device, and radio communication system.
  • Publication Date: 2005-04-14
  • Brief Description: This publication details a method for determining a mobile device's position based on the known positions of adjacent radio communication devices.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is very strong prior art. It directly addresses the concept of using the positions of nearby devices to determine the location of a target device, which is central to US9693333's approach of "location boosting using proximity information." Specifically, claims 1, 12, 16, 20, and 25, which involve determining a set of mobile devices in proximity and using their information (measurement data or determined locations) to locate the target, could be anticipated. The description in US9693333 of sharing "determined locations" (claim 16) aligns closely with this prior art.

• US20050192026A1

  • Full Citation: US20050192026A1, System and method for CDMA geolocation.
  • Publication Date: 2005-09-01
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a system and method specifically for geolocation in a CDMA network.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While specific to CDMA, this patent generally describes mobile device location within a communications network. Depending on the specific details of its geolocation techniques, it could broadly anticipate elements of claims 1, 12, 16, 20, and 25 that pertain to determining a mobile device's location within a network, especially if the CDMA geolocation methods inherently involve some form of cooperative or proximity-based measurements.

• US7015817B2

  • Full Citation: US7015817B2, Personal tracking device.
  • Publication Date: 2006-03-21
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a personal tracking device.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is likely more focused on the hardware or general function of a tracking device rather than the specific method of location boosting using proximity information as claimed in US9693333. It might provide background on general location determination or tracking but is unlikely to anticipate the core novelty of sharing data among a set of proximate devices. It may potentially anticipate very broad aspects of location determination in claims 1, 12, 16, 20, and 25 if the tracking device's method implicitly relies on principles of location that are generic to both.

• US20090011779A1

  • Full Citation: US20090011779A1, Mobile Location.
  • Publication Date: 2009-01-08
  • Brief Description: This publication discusses methods for mobile location.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a general patent on "Mobile Location," this could contain various techniques, some of which might overlap with US9693333. The exact extent of anticipation would depend on the specific location methods disclosed. If it describes using information from multiple proximate mobile devices or sharing measurement data, it could anticipate claims 1, 12, 16, 20, and 25.

• US20100069035A1

  • Full Citation: US20100069035A1, System and method for location based exchanges of data facilitating distributed location applications.
  • Publication Date: 2010-03-18
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a system and method for location-based exchanges of data that facilitate distributed location applications.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference appears highly relevant as it explicitly mentions "location-based exchanges of data" and "distributed location applications," suggesting mechanisms for devices to share information related to their location. This could directly anticipate the "sharing measurement data" step in claims 1, 12, 20, and 26, and the "sharing determined locations" in claim 16, particularly if the distributed applications involve proximate devices.

• US20100291907A1

  • Full Citation: US20100291907A1, Systems and method for triggering location based voice and/or data communications to or from mobile ratio terminals.
  • Publication Date: 2010-11-18
  • Brief Description: This publication describes systems and methods for triggering location-based voice and/or data communications to or from mobile radio terminals.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on triggering communications based on location, rather than the explicit method of determining location by boosting information from proximate devices. It might provide context on location-aware services but is unlikely to anticipate the core location determination methodology of US9693333.

• US8112100B2

  • Full Citation: US8112100B2, Location-based status checking.
  • Publication Date: 2012-02-07
  • Brief Description: This patent describes location-based status checking.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20100291907A1, this patent focuses on applications of location information (status checking) rather than the method of deriving that location from proximate devices. It's less likely to anticipate the specific claims of US9693333 regarding location boosting.

• US8385964B2

  • Full Citation: US8385964B2, Methods and apparatuses for geospatial-based sharing of information by multiple devices.
  • Publication Date: 2013-02-26
  • Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatuses for geospatial-based sharing of information by multiple devices.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant prior art. The title explicitly mentions "geospatial-based sharing of information by multiple devices," which directly aligns with the core concept of US9693333. This could anticipate claims 1, 12, 16, 20, and 25, particularly the steps involving sharing measurement data or determined locations among a set of devices to achieve a location determination. The priority date of 2005-04-04 (earlier than US9693333's 2011-02-09) strengthens its position as prior art.

• US20130317944A1

  • Full Citation: US20130317944A1, Method And Apparatus For Mobile Location Determination.
  • Publication Date: 2013-11-28
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a method and apparatus for mobile location determination.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The publication date of 2013-11-28 is after the priority date of US9693333 (2011-02-09). Therefore, this document cannot serve as prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for US9693333 based on its publication date alone. However, its priority date (if earlier than US9693333's) would need to be considered. The provided patent text only lists the publication date, not the priority date.

• US20130337789A1

  • Full Citation: US20130337789A1, System and Method for Mobile Device Usa.
  • Publication Date: 2013-12-19
  • Brief Description: This publication describes a system and method for mobile device usage.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20130317944A1, the publication date of 2013-12-19 is after the priority date of US9693333 (2011-02-09). Therefore, this document cannot serve as prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for US9693333 based on its publication date alone. Its priority date would need to be independently verified.

In summary, the most relevant prior art for US9693333, based on the provided citations, appears to be:

1. WO2005034557A1: Directly addresses determining a mobile device's position based on known locations of adjacent devices.
2. US8385964B2: Explicitly covers "geospatial-based sharing of information by multiple devices."
3. WO2001058098A2: Relevant for its disclosure of position determination using Bluetooth devices, as Bluetooth is a specifically mentioned common parameter in US9693333.
4. US20100069035A1: Discusses location-based data exchanges and distributed location applications, aligning with the data sharing aspects of US9693333.
5. US5987329A: Relevant for its broader concept of hybrid location techniques combining various measurement types.

These documents collectively suggest that the ideas of using proximate devices and sharing location-related information to improve location determination were known in the art prior to US9693333's priority date. The specific claims involving identifying common parameters and sharing measurement data or determined locations are the most likely to be anticipated by these references.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 9693333 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis evaluates the obviousness of US Patent 9693333 (the '333 patent) by considering combinations of prior art references that would have rendered the claimed inventions obvious to a Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date: February 9, 2011). The PHOSITA in this field is understood to be an individual with ordinary skill in wireless communication networks, mobile device location technologies, and data processing, who is aware of all "public knowledge" in the prior art but is not an innovator.

The '333 patent explicitly identifies a problem in the background: traditional mobile device location methods often fail or provide poor accuracy in challenging environments (e.g., indoors, urban areas, under heavy cloud cover) due to a "paucity of positional or location measurements." [cite: The '333 patent specification] The patent states a need "to improve location capabilities" and "to increase or boost the number of available positional measurements." [cite: The '333 patent specification] This clearly articulated problem and desired solution provide a strong motivation for a PHOSITA to combine existing technologies to enhance location determination.

The prior art references cited in the '333 patent's "Citations" section with a priority or publication date before February 9, 2011, are considered relevant for this analysis.

Independent Claim 1: Method of Determining Location - Measurement Data Sharing

Claim 1 describes a method for locating a target mobile device by: (a) selecting a set of proximate mobile devices based on a common observed parameter, where each device can communicate with the network; (b) sharing measurement data among the set and the target; and (c) determining the target's location from this shared data.

A PHOSITA would find this claim obvious in light of the following combination of prior art:

• WO2005034557A1 (Siemens Aktiengesellschaft) teaches a "Method for determining the local position of at least one mobile radio communication device based on known local positions of adjacent radio communication devices." This reference establishes the core concept of leveraging information from nearby devices to locate a target.
• WO2001058098A2 (Qualcomm Incorporated) discloses "Position determination using bluetooth devices." This demonstrates identifying proximate devices using a common parameter (Bluetooth radio channel information), which is an exemplary common parameter listed in the '333 patent. [cite: The '333 patent specification]
• US20100069035A1 (Johnson William J) describes "System[s] and method for location based exchanges of data facilitating distributed location applications." Similarly, US8385964B2 (Xone, Inc.) discloses "Methods and apparatuses for geospatial-based sharing of information by multiple devices." These references teach the sharing of data among devices, including for location purposes.

Motivation for Combination: Faced with the known problem of insufficient location measurements for a single mobile device, a PHOSITA would be motivated to improve accuracy by combining available information. WO2005034557A1 suggests using data from "adjacent" devices. A PHOSITA would find it obvious to identify these "adjacent" devices using common observable parameters like Bluetooth (taught by WO2001058098A2), and then to share their raw "measurement data" (as taught by US20100069035A1 or US8385964B2) to collectively determine the target's location, thereby "boosting" the overall measurement set, as identified in the '333 patent's background section.

Independent Claim 12: Method of Determining Location - Network Entity Processing

Claim 12 describes a method where a set of proximate mobile devices is selected based on a common observed parameter, and then measurement data from both the set of mobile devices and the target mobile device are transmitted to a communications network entity. This network entity then determines the location of the target mobile device using both sets of transmitted data.

A PHOSITA would find this claim obvious in light of the following combination of prior art:

• WO2005034557A1 (as above) provides the concept of using adjacent device information for target location determination.
• WO2001058098A2 (as above) teaches using common parameters like Bluetooth for position determination, indicating how proximate devices could be identified.
• US5987329A (Ericsson Inc.) describes a "System and method for mobile telephone location measurement using a hybrid technique," which includes network-based location determination methods. Network entities (e.g., SMLC, GCS, as mentioned in the '333 patent) are well-known for aggregating and processing location measurements. [cite: The '333 patent specification]

Motivation for Combination: Given the established practice of network-based location determination (US5987329A) and the desire to overcome the limitations of single-device location, a PHOSITA would be motivated to collect more data. It would be obvious to identify proximate devices using common parameters (WO2001058098A2) and then, rather than peer-to-peer sharing, transmit all available measurement data from both the target and the proximate devices to a central network entity. This leverages the network's processing capabilities to aggregate and combine the data (including the "transmitted measurement data from the set of mobile devices and transmitted measurement data from the target mobile device") to determine a more accurate location, directly addressing the stated need for a "larger measurement set." [cite: The '333 patent specification]

Independent Claim 16: Method of Determining Location - Shared Determined Locations

Claim 16 describes a method where a set of proximate mobile devices is selected based on a common observed parameter. The locations of one or more mobile devices in this set are determined, and these determined locations are shared among the set and the target mobile device. The target's location is then determined as a function of these shared determined locations.

A PHOSITA would find this claim obvious in light of the following prior art:

• WO2005034557A1 directly teaches a "Method for determining the local position of at least one mobile radio communication device based on known local positions of adjacent radio communication devices." This explicitly covers determining the location of proximate devices, sharing these determined locations (implicitly, for them to be "known" and used), and then using them to determine the target's location.
• WO2001058098A2 (as above) teaches using common parameters like Bluetooth to identify devices in proximity.

Motivation for Combination: The primary motivation, consistent with the '333 patent's problem statement, is to improve location accuracy. WO2005034557A1 directly provides the solution of using "known local positions of adjacent radio communication devices" to determine a target's position. A PHOSITA would naturally combine this with methods to identify such "adjacent" devices, for instance, by observing a common parameter like a Bluetooth signal or Wi-Fi access point (WO2001055098A2). If proximate devices can already determine their own locations, sharing these known locations to estimate the target's position (e.g., by averaging, centroid calculation, as suggested in the '333 patent) is a logical and obvious step to overcome scenarios where the target device itself cannot achieve a reliable fix. [cite: The '333 patent specification]

Independent Claim 20: Method of Determining Location - Common Parameters & Shared Measurement Data

Claim 20 describes determining one or more common parameters for proximate mobile devices, identifying a set of mobile devices based on these parameters, and determining the target's location as a function of measurement data from the set. Critically, it specifies that this determination further comprises sharing measurement data from the set and the target, and determining the location using the shared data.

A PHOSITA would find this claim obvious due to the combination of prior art supporting the identification of proximate devices by common parameters and the sharing of measurement data:

• WO2001058098A2 demonstrates identifying devices by common parameters (e.g., Bluetooth).
• US20100069035A1 teaches "location based exchanges of data facilitating distributed location applications," which covers sharing measurement data.
• WO2005034557A1 supports the general concept of using information from adjacent devices for location.

Motivation for Combination: To solve the problem of insufficient location data, a PHOSITA would seek to aggregate relevant information. It would be obvious to first group mobile devices based on shared environmental observations or communication parameters (e.g., a common Wi-Fi AP, Bluetooth channel, as enabled by WO2001058098A2), thereby confirming their proximity. Then, recognizing the value of additional data, a PHOSITA would be motivated to share measurement data from both the identified proximate set and the target device (as taught by US20100069035A1 and generally for distributed applications). This combined data could then be used by a location system (implied by WO2005034557A1) to determine a more robust location for the target.

Independent Claim 25: Method of Determining Location - Measurement Data from Set

Claim 25 describes selecting a set of proximate mobile devices based on a common observed parameter, and then determining the target's location as a function of measurement data from the determined set of mobile devices.

A PHOSITA would find this claim obvious given the following prior art:

• WO2005034557A1 establishes the fundamental idea of using information from "adjacent radio communication devices" to determine a target's position. While it specifically mentions "known local positions," the underlying principle of leveraging data from a group of nearby devices is present.
• WO2001058098A2 provides a mechanism for identifying devices in proximity through a common observable, such as Bluetooth.

Motivation for Combination: In seeking to improve location determination in challenging environments, a PHOSITA would look to enhance the available data. Building upon the concept from WO2005034557A1 of utilizing "adjacent" devices to determine a target's location, and knowing that common parameters like Bluetooth (WO2001058098A2) can effectively define such proximity, it would be obvious to gather "measurement data" from this identified set of proximate devices. This data from the collective "set of mobile devices" could then be processed to derive a location for the target, providing the "boosting" effect sought by the '333 patent where the target device's own measurements might be insufficient.