Prior art

The USPTO database search for US patent 9717037 confirms its details and lists numerous patent citations as prior art. These citations are crucial for understanding the scope of the patent's claims and identifying potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Below is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited by US patent 9717037, detailing their full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and which claims of US9717037 they potentially anticipate. The analysis of potential anticipation is based on the information available in their abstracts and the independent claims of US9717037 (Claims 1, 10, and 13).

Prior Art Analysis for US9717037

1. US20050227623A1

• Full Citation: US20050227623A1 (Micro-Star Int'l. Co., Ltd.) - Wireless network service provider and associated channel-searching method
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 13, 2005; Filing: March 19, 2004
• Brief Description: This patent describes a wireless network service provider where an Access Point (AP) receives a channel-searching request from a station, selects the channel with the best signal intensity from a stored channel list, and transmits a corresponding response. The station then uses this information to connect to an AP, aiming to improve connection speed and searching efficiency.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: Potentially anticipates elements related to a station transmitting a request and receiving a response to access an AP. However, it does not explicitly disclose the station including its own signal strength information in the probe request, nor the specific mechanism of accessing before a maximum probe response time elapses based on the received probe response.
  • Claim 10: Potentially anticipates the general idea of a station selecting an AP based on signal quality (downlink). However, it lacks explicit disclosure of "acquiring information about downlink quality based on a signal strength of the probe response frame" and then conditionally accessing based on a predetermined standard and a maximum probe response time.
  • Claim 13: The abstract describes the AP responding with the "best signal intensity" channel, but does not explicitly state the AP acquiring uplink quality based on the station's signal strength information from the request, nor conditionally transmitting a probe response based on satisfying a predetermined uplink quality standard.

2. US20080014934A1

• Full Citation: US20080014934A1 (Srinivasan Balasubramanian) - WLAN system scanning and selection
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: January 17, 2008; Filing: July 14, 2006
• Brief Description: This application describes methods and systems for scanning for and selecting an AP in a WLAN. It discusses a station (STA) receiving beacon messages or probe responses from multiple APs, processing signal strength (RSSI) information, and selecting an AP based on criteria like best RSSI.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: Partially anticipates the concept of a station receiving probe responses and selecting an AP based on signal strength. However, it doesn't explicitly mention the probe request including the station's signal strength information or the decision to access before the maximum probe response time.
  • Claim 10: The patent refers to processing RSSI, which implies downlink quality. However, the specific details of "acquiring information about downlink quality based on a signal strength of the probe response frame" and "accessing the certain AP based on whether the downlink quality satisfies a predetermined standard and further based on a maximum probe response time" are not explicitly detailed in the abstract.
  • Claim 13: The abstract does not disclose an AP receiving station signal strength in a probe request, acquiring uplink quality, or conditionally transmitting a probe response based on uplink quality.

3. US20090046633A1

• Full Citation: US20090046633A1 (Allan Thomson) - Digitally signing access point measurements for robust location determination
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 19, 2009; Filing: October 2, 2006
• Brief Description: This patent relates to systems and methods for determining the location of a wireless device by using measurements of access points. It mentions collecting "access point measurements" and digitally signing them for robustness. The focus is on location determination rather than AP scanning or selection efficiency.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate claims 1, 10, or 13, as its primary focus is location determination and data integrity, not the efficiency of active scanning or conditional responses based on link quality parameters.

4. US20100118830A1

• Full Citation: US20100118830A1 (Cisco Technology, Inc.) - Mobile Intelligent Roaming Using Multi-Modal Access Point Devices
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 13, 2010; Filing: November 10, 2008
• Brief Description: This application describes techniques for intelligent roaming in wireless networks, where a mobile device can roam among different APs or wireless network technologies. It involves collecting information about available APs and making roaming decisions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Broadly covers roaming and AP selection. However, it does not explicitly disclose the specific mechanisms of including station signal strength in probe requests, AP's conditional response based on uplink quality, or the station's expedited access based on link quality and max probe response time as detailed in Claims 1, 10, and 13.

5. US20100284303A1

• Full Citation: US20100284303A1 (Qualcomm Incorporated) - Method and apparatus for generating and exchanging information for coverage optimization in wireless networks
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 11, 2010; Filing: May 8, 2009
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatus for a wireless device to communicate with a network to provide coverage information, such as signal strength measurements, which can be used for coverage optimization.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Discusses exchanging signal strength information for coverage optimization. This could relate to the general idea of using signal strength. However, it does not specifically detail the active scan method with the station's signal strength in the probe request, the AP's conditional response, or the station's expedited access in relation to the maximum probe response time, which are key to Claims 1, 10, and 13.

6. US20110149766A1

• Full Citation: US20110149766A1 (Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute) - Association supporting apparatus and method in wireless communication system
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: June 23, 2011; Filing: December 22, 2009
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for a mobile station to efficiently connect to an AP in a wireless communication system. It involves an AP transmitting beacon frames that include information indicating the number of mobile stations it can support, allowing mobile stations to select an AP based on load.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on AP selection based on AP load information in beacon frames. It does not disclose the active scan method involving probe requests/responses with signal strength information from both sides, uplink/downlink quality assessment, or the expedited access related to maximum probe response time as claimed in Claims 1, 10, and 13.

7. US20120307685A1

• Full Citation: US20120307685A1 (Eun Sun Kim) - Method and Apparatus of Active Scanning in Wireless Local Area Network
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: December 6, 2012; Filing: January 20, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes an active scanning method for a station in a WLAN where the station controls the interval of transmitting probe request frames and the listening duration for probe response frames based on various criteria, potentially including energy saving or congestion.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent specifically addresses active scanning methods. While it discusses controlling probe request intervals and listening durations, its abstract does not explicitly mention the probe request frame including station signal strength information, nor does it mention the AP's conditional response based on uplink quality, or the station's decision to access before the maximum probe response time based on link quality, as central to Claims 1, 10, and 13 of US9717037.

8. US20110188486A1

• Full Citation: US20110188486A1 (Eun Sun Kim) - Method and apparatus of transmit power control in wireless local area network
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 4, 2011; Filing: February 2, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatus for transmit power control in a WLAN. A station measures the power loss of a signal received from an AP and determines its transmit power based on this loss and a target power loss value. This is for power control after association.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This patent focuses on transmit power control for already associated stations. It does not disclose the inclusion of station signal strength in the initial probe request frame for scanning or the mechanism of early access during the scanning phase based on a maximum probe response time.
  • Claim 10: Similar to Claim 1, it relates to transmit power control in an established connection, not initial downlink quality assessment during scanning leading to expedited access based on maximum probe response time.
  • Claim 13: This patent doesn't describe the AP's role in receiving station signal strength in a probe request and conditionally responding based on uplink quality during an active scan.

9. US8509173B2

• Full Citation: US8509173B2 (Lg Electronics Inc.) - Method and apparatus of transmit power control in wireless local area network
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 13, 2013; Filing: February 2, 2010
• Brief Description: This is a granted patent, closely related to US20110188486A1 (same assignee and filing date). It describes a method for a station to determine its transmit power based on a measured power loss from an AP's signal and a target power loss, for controlling transmit power after association.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Same analysis as US20110188486A1. It focuses on transmit power control in an established link, not the active scanning process as defined in Claims 1, 10, and 13 of US9717037.

10. US20110243013A1

• Full Citation: US20110243013A1 ([[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.)) - Method and apparatus for channel scanning in a wireless communication system
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: October 6, 2011; Filing: April 2, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for channel scanning in a wireless communication system. A terminal performs channel scanning to discover APs. It suggests performing scanning in a specific order of channels or using information about channels to improve efficiency.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Broadly covers channel scanning for AP discovery. However, it does not explicitly detail the specific inventive steps of US9717037 related to including station signal strength in the probe request, AP's conditional response based on uplink quality, or the station's expedited access based on link quality and maximum probe response time.

11. US20120044914A1

• Full Citation: US20120044914A1 (Time Warner Cable Inc.) - System and method for wi-fi roaming
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 23, 2012; Filing: August 20, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for Wi-Fi roaming where a client device can seamlessly transition between APs, potentially based on network policies, signal strength, or other parameters.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Focuses on roaming between APs. While it might involve signal strength considerations, it does not describe the initial active scanning method for discovery and connection, particularly the specific features concerning probe request/response content and timing of access in relation to maximum probe response time as defined in Claims 1, 10, and 13.

12. US20120044862A1

• Full Citation: US20120044862A1 (Time Warner Cable Inc.) - System and method for maintaining a communication session
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: February 23, 2012; Filing: August 20, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes maintaining a communication session, potentially during handoffs between wireless access points. It relates to session continuity rather than the initial discovery and connection phase.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate Claims 1, 10, or 13, as its focus is on maintaining an existing communication session, not the initial active scanning for AP discovery and connection.

13. US20120108173A1

• Full Citation: US20120108173A1 (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.) - Method and apparatus for connecting wireless network in a digital device
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: May 3, 2012; Filing: November 3, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for a digital device to connect to a wireless network. It involves determining whether to connect using Wi-Fi based on factors like network availability and a stored priority list.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Describes a general method for connecting to a wireless network. It does not explicitly detail the inventive steps of US9717037 regarding the content of probe requests (station's signal strength), AP's conditional response based on uplink quality, or the expedited station access decision during the active scan in relation to maximum probe response time.

14. US20130086665A1

• Full Citation: US20130086665A1 (Time Warner Cable Inc.) - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLONING A Wi-Fi ACCESS POINT
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: April 4, 2013; Filing: September 30, 2011
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for "cloning" a Wi-Fi AP, where configuration information of an existing AP is transferred to a new AP to simplify setup or replacement.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate Claims 1, 10, or 13, as its focus is on AP configuration and cloning, not the active scanning method for discovery and connection.

15. US20160007386A1

• Full Citation: US20160007386A1 (Lg Electronics Inc.) - Method and apparatus for filtering-based scanning in wlan system
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: January 7, 2016; Filing: February 14, 2012
• Brief Description: This patent describes an active scanning method for a WLAN system where a station performs filtering on received probe response frames to select a specific AP. The filtering can be based on various parameters.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1: This patent is highly relevant as it describes active scanning and filtering of probe responses. It covers the station receiving probe responses and selecting an AP. However, its abstract does not explicitly disclose the station generating a probe request frame including its own signal strength information. The "accessing the certain access point based on the probe response frame and a maximum probe response time" might be a point of distinction if the filtering in this prior art does not inherently lead to accessing before the maximum probe response time.
  • Claim 10: Similar to Claim 1, it deals with filtering probe responses, which could involve considering downlink quality. However, the explicit method of acquiring downlink path loss and accessing based on a predetermined standard and a maximum probe response time in the way US9717037 describes (especially the expedited access) is not clearly detailed in the abstract.
  • Claim 13: The abstract focuses on the station's filtering, not the AP's conditional response based on uplink quality derived from the station's probe request.

16. US20130231151A1

• Full Citation: US20130231151A1 (Nokia Corporation) - Method, apparatus, and computer program product for probe request and response exchange
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: September 5, 2013; Filing: March 1, 2012
• Brief Description: This patent describes efficient probe request and response exchanges in wireless networks. It may involve limiting the number of probe requests or responses, or optimizing their content, to reduce network congestion or power consumption.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 & 10: This patent aims for efficient probe exchange. While relevant to active scanning, its abstract doesn't specify including station signal strength in the probe request or the expedited access based on link quality and maximum probe response time.
  • Claim 13: This patent may involve limiting responses, which is related to Claim 13's goal of preventing unnecessary responses. However, it does not explicitly state the AP acquiring uplink quality based on station signal strength in the probe request and conditionally transmitting a probe response only if uplink quality satisfies a predetermined standard.

17. US20150098358A1

• Full Citation: US20150098358A1 (LG Elecxtronics Inc.) - Active scanning method and apparatus
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: April 9, 2015; Filing: May 2, 2012
• Brief Description: This patent describes an active scanning method where a station transmits a probe request frame including information indicating a requested scan period. An AP receiving the request may transmit a probe response frame based on this period.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 & 10: This patent introduces a "requested scan period" in the probe request. This is different from the station's signal strength information in Claim 1 of US9717037. While it involves active scanning, the specific criteria for expedited access based on link quality and a maximum probe response time (as opposed to a requested scan period) are distinct.
  • Claim 13: The AP's response is based on a "requested scan period," not on uplink quality derived from the station's signal strength included in the probe request or a conditional response based on satisfying a predetermined uplink quality standard.

18. US20130294354A1

• Full Citation: US20130294354A1 (Interdigital Patent Holdings, Inc.) - Enhanced active scanning in wireless local area networks
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: November 7, 2013; Filing: May 3, 2012
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatus for enhanced active scanning where a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) can transmit a probe request frame that includes a set of desired capabilities, and an AP responds only if it can provide those capabilities.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 & 10: This patent is highly relevant to enhanced active scanning. It involves a probe request with "desired capabilities" (analogous to signal strength information to infer capabilities/quality) and the AP responding conditionally. However, it does not explicitly mention the station's signal strength information in the probe request (Claim 1) or the acquiring downlink path loss based on signal strength of the probe response frame and accessing based on a predetermined standard and a maximum probe response time (Claim 10), particularly the expedited access.
  • Claim 13: This patent's concept of an AP responding based on "desired capabilities" (similar to a predetermined standard) has strong similarities to the AP conditionally responding if uplink quality satisfies a predetermined standard. However, the "desired capabilities" are generally broader than just uplink quality derived from the station's signal strength included in the probe request, which is a specific element of Claim 13.

19. US20150189673A1

• Full Citation: US20150189673A1 (Lg Electronics Inc.) - Method and apparatus for initial access over wireless lan
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: July 2, 2015; Filing: June 18, 2012
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for a station to perform initial access in a WLAN. It involves a station transmitting a probe request frame and receiving probe responses. The station may consider various parameters from the probe responses to make an access decision, possibly in conjunction with other information.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Broadly covers initial access. Similar to many other general scanning patents, it lacks the specific inventive details of US9717037 regarding the explicit inclusion of station's signal strength in the probe request, the AP's conditional response based on uplink quality, and the station's expedited access decision based on link quality and max probe response time.

Most Relevant Prior Art Summary

Based on the analysis of the provided abstracts, US20130294354A1 (Interdigital Patent Holdings, Inc.) - Enhanced active scanning in wireless local area networks and US20160007386A1 (Lg Electronics Inc.) - Method and apparatus for filtering-based scanning in wlan system appear to be among the most relevant.

• US20130294354A1 is particularly relevant to Claim 13 (AP-side) because it describes an AP conditionally responding to a probe request based on "desired capabilities," which is analogous to satisfying a predetermined standard for uplink quality. While not explicitly "uplink quality based on signal strength" as in US9717037, the concept of a conditional response to optimize scanning is similar. For Claims 1 and 10, it involves enhanced active scanning with probe requests, but doesn't explicitly mention the station's signal strength in the request or the expedited access related to maximum probe response time.

• US20160007386A1 is highly relevant to Claims 1 and 10 (Station-side) because it describes active scanning where the station filters probe responses to select an AP. This touches on the station's decision-making based on received responses. However, it does not explicitly detail the station including its own signal strength in the probe request (Claim 1) nor the specific acquisition of downlink path loss and expedited access based on a predetermined standard and maximum probe response time as central to US9717037.

The distinguishing features of US9717037's independent claims often revolve around:

1. Station explicitly including its own signal strength (e.g., transmission power) in the probe request frame (Claim 1).
2. AP conditionally transmitting a probe response only if uplink quality (derived from station's signal strength) satisfies a predetermined standard (Claim 13).
3. Station making an access decision (either based on uplink quality from AP's response in Claim 1, or downlink quality in Claim 10) and performing access before the maximum probe response time elapses if the quality is satisfactory, thus avoiding unnecessary waiting.

Many of the cited prior art generally describe active scanning, probe requests/responses, and AP selection based on signal quality. However, they often lack the explicit combination of these specific features, particularly the bi-directional quality assessment and the expedited access in relation to the maximum probe response time, which US9717037 emphasizes to prevent waste of time and radio resources.