US 9772193

US Patent 9772193: Vehicle Beacon and Method of Use

Title: Vehicle beacon and method of use

Assignee: Gamba Group Holdings LLC (current assignee as of November 29, 2023). The original assignee was listed as "Individual."

Inventors: Ehud Mendelson

Filing Date: January 10, 2017 (Application number US15/403,146)

Issue Date: September 26, 2017 (The patent application was granted on this date).

Abstract:
A navigation system provides navigation by determining a location of a mobile device relative to a Radio Frequency (RF) tag, where the RF tag is located at a Point Of Interest (POI). The system obtains the mobile device's location by detecting a wireless signal from the RF tag, which includes the RF tag's identification. A navigation application on the mobile device then displays information about the POI upon detecting this wireless signal. This system and method for user navigation can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments, detecting wireless signals without requiring bi-directional communication, an Internet connection, or cellular communication.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:
I am unable to provide a plain-language overview of the independent claims for US Patent 9772193 because the provided authoritative full patent text does not include the "Claims" section. Therefore, I do not have access to the specific language of the claims to perform this analysis.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for the specific patent number US9772193 did not return any direct matches within the provided scheduled cases for May, June, or July 2026. While the patent's Google Patents information indicates pending litigation (PTAB case IPR2026-00156) and a US case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00438), these specific references do not currently appear in the publicly available CAFC 2026 scheduled dockets provided.

Known litigation involving US patent 9772193 as of April 26, 2026, includes:

1. PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR)

   • Case Number: IPR2026-00156
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the case number "IPR2026-00156" indicates it was filed in 2026.
   • Plaintiff(s)/Petitioner: The provided text indicates the source as "Unified Patents PTAB Data" but does not explicitly name the petitioner for this specific case.
   • Defendant(s)/Patent Owner: Not explicitly named in the provided text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Pending.

2. US District Court Case

   • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00438
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the case number "2:25-cv-00438" indicates it was filed in 2025.
   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly named in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly named in the provided text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

The patent also mentions "First worldwide family litigation filed" with a link to Darts-IP. However, specific case details (plaintiffs, defendants, case numbers, filing dates, and outcomes) for this broader family litigation, as they pertain directly to US9772193, are not provided within the patent text.

Proceedings overview

A single AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US patent 9772193. This proceeding, IPR2026-00156, was denied institution on discretionary grounds. This outcome means the patent claims challenged in that IPR remain untested on their merits by the PTAB, providing a hardened defensive posture for the patent owner against future IPRs on the same grounds.

IPR2026-00156 — Google LLC v. Gamba Group Holdings LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-12-31
• Status: Discretionary Denial (Institution Denied)
• Judge panel: The decision on institution for IPRs after March 26, 2025, involves a bifurcated process where the Director, with at least three PTAB judges, determines whether a petition should be discretionarily denied. Only if discretion is not exercised is it referred to a three-member panel for merits-based considerations. The specific panel members for this discretionary denial are not explicitly named in the available public search results, other than indicating it was a "Decision" from "BEFORE THE OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE".
• Petition grounds: Google LLC challenged claims 12, 13, and 15-18 under 35 U.S.C. §102 for anticipation by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0082025 (Baese) and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0055560 (Phillips). The petitioner argued that the challenged claims, which involve GPS, contradict the patent's specification that repeatedly disparages GPS.
• Institution decision: Institution was denied on 2026-05-06. The decision was a "discretionary denial," meaning the Board did not reach the merits of the patentability challenge. The exact reasoning for the discretionary denial specific to IPR2026-00156 is not detailed in the provided search results. However, recent USPTO policy changes regarding discretionary denials, such as considerations for U.S. manufacturing footprint, Real Party in Interest (RPI) issues involving foreign governments, "settled expectations" for older patents, and parallel litigation (Fintiv factors), have led to an increased rate of such denials. The PTAB's institution rate has significantly decreased in fiscal year 2026, with 64% of petitions fully denied based on discretionary considerations.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as institution was denied and such denials are generally unreviewable by the Federal Circuit if they are closely tied to the institution decision.
• Defensive value: The discretionary denial means that claims 12, 13, and 15-18 of US9772193 remain unchallenged on their merits by this IPR. A defendant facing assertion of these claims will need to consider alternative invalidity strategies beyond an IPR based on the same prior art and grounds, as re-filing a similar petition would likely face the same discretionary hurdles or be barred.

Strategic summary

Currently, no claims of US9772193 have been canceled or sustained by the PTAB. Claims 12, 13, and 15-18 were challenged in IPR2026-00156, but institution was denied on discretionary grounds. Therefore, these claims, along with all other claims of the patent, remain untested by the PTAB. The patent has not been narrowed through IPR.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, Google LLC (and its privies) would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting in future district court litigation or ITC proceedings that claims 12, 13, and 15-18 are unpatentable on any ground that it raised or reasonably could have raised in IPR2026-00156. This means the prior art references Baese (US 2002/0082025) and Phillips (US 2003/0055560) under § 102 are likely unavailable for Google LLC in future proceedings against these specific claims. Other defendants not in privity with Google LLC, however, would not be subject to this estoppel and could potentially raise these, or other, prior art grounds in a new IPR or district court litigation.

The discretionary denial in IPR2026-00156 reflects a recent trend at the PTAB, particularly in late 2025 and early 2026, towards increased discretionary denials driven by new policies from USPTO Director John Squires. These policies consider factors beyond the merits of the prior art, such as U.S. manufacturing footprint, RPI issues, "settled expectations," and parallel litigation, making IPR institution more challenging for petitioners. The fact that Google LLC, a major tech company, was denied institution suggests a broad application of these discretionary denial policies.

Recommended next steps

Since IPR2026-00156 was denied institution on discretionary grounds, there is no Final Written Decision to link to that addresses the merits of the challenged claims. The claims (12, 13, and 15-18) remain patentable as far as the PTAB is concerned.

For a defendant currently being asserted against:

• Evaluate the basis for discretionary denial: While the specific reasoning for IPR2026-00156 is not publicly detailed in the search results, understanding the current PTAB discretionary denial landscape (e.g., U.S. manufacturing, RPI, Fintiv factors, settled expectations) is crucial before considering a new IPR filing. The denial may indicate that the PTAB is disfavoring petitions against patents like US9772193 due to policy considerations.
• Consider alternative invalidity strategies: Given the discretionary denial, an IPR using the same grounds and prior art against claims 12, 13, and 15-18 would likely face similar hurdles. Defendants should explore other invalidity arguments (e.g., different prior art, different statutory bases like § 112, or even the same prior art against different claims) or consider district court invalidity defenses.
• Analyze the estoppel: Google LLC and its privies are estopped from asserting the raised grounds against the challenged claims. This does not necessarily apply to other potential defendants, who may still pursue IPRs on the same grounds if they are not in privity with Google LLC. However, the precedent of a discretionary denial might still influence the PTAB's decision on similar petitions.

Inventors

Ehud Mendelson. The patent does not specify his employer at the time of filing.

Original assignee

Individual (Ehud Mendelson). The patent describes systems and methods for vehicle beacons and navigation. It is unclear from the patent text alone whether Ehud Mendelson or an associated entity shipped a product embodying the claims at the time of filing. His current status (operating, acquired, dissolved, in bankruptcy) is not stated in the patent.

Assignment timeline

• 2017-02-10 (executed) / recorded 2017-02-10 — Reel 039434/0612

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: MENDELSON, EHUD, MR
  • Assignee: GAMBA GROUP LIMITED
  • Correspondent: GARY M. POLUME, ESQ., GARY M. POLUME, ESQ., 200 GARDEN CITY PLAZA, SUITE 218, GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK 11530
  • Context: Transfer to corporate entity.

• 2019-10-06 (executed) / recorded 2019-10-09 — Reel 051062/0970

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: GAMBA GROUP LIMITED
  • Assignee: BLUE UMBRELLA LLC
  • Correspondent: ANNE M. GULATI, BLUE UMBRELLA LLC, 17950 NORTH PRESTON ROAD, SUITE 120, DALLAS, TEXAS 75252
  • Context: Transfer to shell entity.

• 2023-11-29 (executed) / recorded 2023-11-29 — Reel 063713/0503

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: BLUE UMBRELLA LLC
  • Assignee: GAMBA GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
  • Correspondent: ANNE M. GULATI, BLUE UMBRELLA LLC, 17950 NORTH PRESTON ROAD, SUITE 120, DALLAS, TEXAS 75252. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Internal reorg/transfer between related entities.

• 2025-03-25 (executed) / recorded 2025-03-25 — Reel 066708/0022

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: GAMBA GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
  • Assignee: PICCADILLY PATENT FUNDING LLC, AS SECURITY HOLDER
  • Correspondent: GARY M. POLUME, ESQ., LAW OFFICE OF GARY M. POLUME, 200 GARDEN CITY PLAZA, SUITE 218, GARDEN CITY, NY 11530. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Securitization of patent assets.

• 2025-10-08 (executed) / recorded 2025-10-08 — Reel 067977/0071

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: MENDELSON, EHUD
  • Assignee: GAMBA GROUP LIMITED
  • Correspondent: ANNE M. GULATI, BLUE UMBRELLA LLC, 17950 NORTH PRESTON ROAD, SUITE 120, DALLAS, TX 75252. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Transfer to corporate entity.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9772193
    2017 : Assigned to Gamba Group Limited
    2019 : Assigned to Blue Umbrella LLC
    2023 : Assigned to Gamba Group Holdings LLC
    2025 : Security Agreement to Piccadilly
         : Assigned to Gamba Group Limited

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present. The assignment from Gamba Group Limited to Blue Umbrella LLC on 2019-10-06 (Reel 051062/0970) shows a transfer to an entity with "LLC" in its name and a Dallas, Texas address that is often associated with registered agent services rather than operating companies. Subsequent transfers between Blue Umbrella LLC and Gamba Group Holdings LLC further suggest shell entities for managing patent assets.
2. Known asserter in the chain — unclear. While the assignees like Blue Umbrella LLC and Gamba Group Holdings LLC have names often associated with NPEs, there is no direct evidence in the provided data that they are publicly recognized NPEs by Unified Patents or RPX.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. Anne M. Gulati, of Blue Umbrella LLC, is listed as the correspondent on the 2019-10-09 (Reel 051062/0970) assignment to Blue Umbrella LLC and the 2023-11-29 (Reel 063713/0503) assignment to Gamba Group Holdings LLC. Gary M. Polume is listed on the 2017-02-10 (Reel 039434/0612) assignment to Gamba Group Limited and the 2025-03-25 (Reel 066708/0022) security agreement. The recurrence of these specific correspondents across multiple transactions within the chain is a strong signal.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. While there are multiple transfers, they are spaced over several years rather than being consecutive within a short period.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The provided information indicates ongoing litigation (PTAB case IPR2026-00156 filed, US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court, and First worldwide family litigation filed in 2006-04-03), but specific dates for the first infringement suit on this particular patent are not provided, making it difficult to assess if assignments occurred within 6 months prior.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. No indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the original assignee or subsequent assignors.
7. Privateering — unclear. There's no information to suggest an operating company is using an NPE to assert patents on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is based on the presence of two strong signals: the transfer to a shell-like entity (Blue Umbrella LLC, Reel 051062/0970) and the repeated appearance of specific correspondents (Anne M. Gulati and Gary M. Polume) across multiple assignments (Reels 051062/0970, 063713/0503, 039434/0612, 066708/0022). The recurring correspondents, especially Anne M. Gulati being associated with "Blue Umbrella LLC," strongly suggest a pattern consistent with patent assertion entities. The securitization event with Piccadilly Patent Funding LLC also points towards a focus on monetizing the patent assets. (For verification, refer to: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/)

This analysis identifies relevant prior art for US Patent 9772193, "Vehicle beacon and method of use," focusing on patents cited within the document itself and its family. The claims of US9772193 are presented, followed by a detailed review of each identified prior art reference, including its full citation, relevant dates, a brief description, and potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Claims of US9772193

US9772193 generally describes a method and system for providing navigation to a user in an environment (indoor or outdoor) using a plurality of radio frequency (RF) tags or beacons. These beacons broadcast unique identifications (IDs) and additional information. A mobile device receives these IDs, determines the user's location by proximity without requiring bi-directional communication, and displays real-time navigation information as a floating overlay or waypoint on an indoor map or floor plan image. The system can provide Location Based Services (LBS) and is particularly useful in environments where GPS is inaccurate or unavailable, such as indoors or for emergency responders.

Representative Claims (summarized from US9772193):

• Claim 1 (Method): Installing RF tags/beacons at known locations broadcasting unique IDs and information; mobile device scanning for IDs; receiving IDs, determining user location by proximity based on received ID without bi-directional communication; providing real-time navigation; displaying navigation as a real-time floating overlay or waypoint over an indoor map/floor plan (obtained remotely or locally), indicating current user location and destination.
• Claim 5 (Method): The RF tags or beacons are Bluetooth enabled.
• Claim 9 (Method): Displaying real-time navigation without Internet or cellular connection to determine location.
• Claim 12 (System): A system comprising the RF tags/beacons and a mobile device configured to perform the steps of Claim 1.
• Claim 16 (System): The RF tags or beacons are Bluetooth enabled.
• Claim 20 (System): Displaying real-time navigation without Internet or cellular connection to determine location.

Identified Prior Art and Anticipation Analysis

The following patents are cited by US9772193 and will be analyzed for potential anticipation of its claims.

1. U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,875

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent 7,031,875 B2, "Pointing system for addressing objects," issued to Ellenby et al. on April 18, 2006.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on November 25, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for identifying and interacting with physical objects using a portable device (e.g., cell phone or PDA) that includes a positioning component (e.g., GPS, accelerometer, compass, inclinometer, altimeter), a network interface (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth), and a pointing mechanism (e.g., camera, laser pointer). The device determines its own position and orientation, and when pointed at an object, resolves the object's identity and retrieves information about it via a network connection to a database. The system primarily relies on GPS for location and network communication for information retrieval.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1(e), 9, 12(b)(iii), 20 (regarding lack of bi-directional communication/Internet for location determination): Ellenby '875's system "requires the Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate the user location" and typically uses "Internet and/or database communication" for information retrieval. The stated "limitation" of Ellenby '875 in the US9772193 text is its reliance on GPS and a communication infrastructure for information, making it unsuitable for indoor use or without continuous connectivity for location determination. Thus, the distinguishing feature of US9772193 regarding "without requiring bi-directional communication to determine the location of the mobile device" or "without a requirement of an Internet connection or a cellular connection to determine the location of the mobile device" (Claims 1(e), 9, 12(b)(iii), 20) is likely not anticipated.
  • Claims 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 12(a), 12(b)(i), 12(b)(ii) (general concept of locating objects/POI and receiving information): Ellenby '875 describes a system for identifying objects and receiving information about them based on user location and pointing. While it doesn't use static RF beacons to determine the user's location by proximity in the same way, it shares the broad goal of providing location-relevant information. However, the specific mechanism of RF tags/beacons broadcasting unique IDs for proximity-based location determination without GPS or bi-directional communication for location is not clearly present.
  • Claims 2, 13 (indoor/outdoor environment): Ellenby '875 is primarily discussed in an outdoor context due to GPS reliance, and the US9772193 text explicitly states its limitations in indoor environments. Therefore, the indoor capability of US9772193 is not anticipated by Ellenby '875.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,899,583

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent 7,899,583 B2, "System and method for detecting available parking spaces and navigating thereto," issued to Mendelson on March 1, 2011.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on April 3, 2006.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for detecting vacant parking spaces and guiding a driver to them. RF tags or beacons are installed at parking spaces and broadcast an identification (ID) only when the space is available. A user's Bluetooth-enabled mobile device scans for these broadcasted signals to identify available parking spaces and navigate to them. It explicitly mentions Bluetooth technology for low power consumption and ubiquitous integration into mobile phones.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 5, 9, 12(a), 12(b)(i), 12(b)(ii), 12(b)(iii), 16, 20 (core beacon-based proximity detection for location without bi-directional communication): This patent is a parent application to US9772193 and explicitly details the core mechanism of RF tags/beacons (specifically Bluetooth) broadcasting IDs, a mobile device scanning for these, and determining location by proximity based on the received ID, without requiring bi-directional communication for location. The description of US9772193 explicitly refers to US7899583 for details on parking detection. Therefore, the fundamental aspects of using RF beacons (especially Bluetooth) for proximity-based location determination without Internet/cellular connection are directly anticipated by or derived from this patent.
  • Claims 1(e), 1(f), 12(b)(iv), 12(b)(v) (providing real-time navigation information and displaying as floating overlay/waypoint on indoor map): While US7899583 focuses on navigating to parking spaces, it provides "navigation directing the driver to the vacant parking space." The method of displaying this navigation as a "real-time floating overlay, or as a waypoint, over an indoor map or a floor plan image" (Claims 1(f), 12(b)(v)) is a more specific display method that may be an inventive refinement in US9772193 beyond the generic navigation described in US7899583. However, the concept of "waypoints" and "navigation to a desired destination" is present.
  • Claims 3, 4, 14, 15 (identifying type of facility/store, additional information): US7899583 focuses on parking space availability. While the beacon ID identifies the parking space, it doesn't explicitly mention the broader identification of "type of a facility or a store" or "additional information about the facility or the store" as broadly as US9772193 for general navigation.
  • Claim 10, 21 (LBS): US7899583 describes a specific application (parking), which is a type of LBS, but the broader concept of providing general LBS based on location might be further elaborated in US9772193.

3. U.S. Pat. No. 8,941,485

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent 8,941,485 B2, "System and method for finding and navigating to available parking spaces," issued to Mendelson on January 27, 2015.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on May 8, 2006.
• Brief Description: This patent, also by Mendelson and claimed as a parent to US9772193, further elaborates on systems and methods for identifying available parking spaces and guiding users to them. It integrates sensor technology with RF beacons to determine occupancy status and then broadcasts information from vacant spaces. It also includes the "Return to Parking (RTP)" feature to guide users back to their parked cars. It focuses on urban parking innovation and improving parking management.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1(a)-1(e), 5, 9, 12(a)-12(b)(iv), 16, 20 (core beacon-based proximity detection for location without bi-directional communication, especially for parking): As another parent application by the same inventor, this patent strengthens the anticipation of the core mechanism described in US7899583. The use of RF tags/beacons (Bluetooth-enabled) for proximity-based location determination without relying on bi-directional communication for location is clearly taught for parking scenarios. The RTP feature further demonstrates navigation to a stored location based on initial beacon detection.
  • Claims 1(f), 12(b)(v) (displaying navigation as floating overlay/waypoint on indoor map): Similar to US7899583, while navigation is provided, the specific display method of a "real-time floating overlay, or as a waypoint, over an indoor map or a floor plan image" (Claims 1(f), 12(b)(v)) might be a further refinement in US9772193. However, the concept of guiding the user to a location (e.g., a parking spot, or back to a parked car) is clearly present, using a mobile device display.

4. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20060224330A1

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20060224330 A1, "System and method for navigating to points of interest (POI)," by Mendelson, published October 5, 2006.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on April 3, 2006.
• Brief Description: This application describes a navigation system based on RF tags or beacons installed at known locations (Points of Interest, POI). These beacons broadcast unique IDs and location-specific information. A mobile device receives these signals, determines its location by proximity to the beacons, and provides real-time navigation and information without relying on GPS or constant bi-directional communication. It focuses on indoor and urban navigation where GPS is insufficient. It describes displaying waypoints and providing information about facilities.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 (almost all claims related to method/system for beacon-based navigation in indoor/outdoor environments, LBS, and lack of bi-directional communication/Internet for location determination): This publication is highly relevant, being an application by the same inventor with a priority date before US9772193's effective filing date. Its abstract and detailed description appear to cover almost all the essential elements of US9772193, including the installation of RF tags/beacons (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), broadcasting unique IDs and information, mobile device scanning and determining location by proximity, providing real-time navigation without GPS or bi-directional communication, LBS, and use in indoor/outdoor environments. The concept of "Points of Interest (POI)" directly relates to "destination" and "facility/store."
  • Claims 1(f), 7, 8, 12(b)(v), 18, 19 (specific display method of floating overlay/waypoint with accuracy circle): The application explicitly mentions "displaying waypoints" and "information as a floating image on the map." The specifics of a "real-time floating overlay, or as a waypoint, over an indoor map or a floor plan image" (Claims 1(f), 12(b)(v)) and "accuracy radius circle" (Claims 8, 19) are very likely anticipated or made obvious by this publication.

5. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20130099933A1

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20130099933 A1, "Parking beacon and method of use," by Mendelson, published April 25, 2013.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on January 10, 2013.
• Brief Description: This application, another by Mendelson, focuses on a parking beacon system. It describes an RF beacon installed at a parking space that broadcasts identification (ID) and additional information, particularly when the space is vacant. A mobile device detects the beacon, determines location by proximity, and navigates the user to available parking. It also supports returning to a parked car. This is essentially a continuation or further development of the parking systems described in US7899583 and US8941485.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claims 1(a)-1(e), 5, 9, 12(a)-12(b)(iv), 16, 20 (core beacon-based proximity detection for location without bi-directional communication, for parking): Similar to the granted parking patents, this application fully anticipates the core beacon-based proximity detection for location determination without bi-directional communication or Internet access for the specific application of parking.
  • Claims 1(f), 12(b)(v) (displaying navigation as floating overlay/waypoint on indoor map): While focused on parking, it does involve navigation to a location which would be displayed on a mobile device. The specific "floating overlay" or "waypoint" display method on an "indoor map or floor plan image" for general navigation as claimed in US9772193 might be a broader application or more detailed description of the display than strictly necessary for parking navigation, but the fundamental concepts are closely related.

6. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20140222301A1

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20140222301 A1, "Vehicle beacon and method of use," by Mendelson, published August 7, 2014.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on March 25, 2014.
• Brief Description: This application by Mendelson is titled "Vehicle beacon and method of use," which is identical to US9772193. It details a system and method using RF tags or beacons (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) at known locations to broadcast unique IDs and information. A mobile device determines user location by proximity from these signals, provides real-time navigation without bi-directional communication for location, and displays this information as an overlay on a map or floor plan. It covers various environments, including indoor, and applications such as parking, shopping, and emergency services. This publication appears to be a direct predecessor or continuation-in-part of US9772193.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • All claims (1-22): Given the identical title and description in the abstract, US20140222301A1 likely fully anticipates all claims of US9772193. This publication is a pending application with a filing date prior to US9772193's filing date (January 10, 2017) but a later priority date (2005-04-12, common to Mendelson's earlier works). If the disclosure of US20140222301A1 is identical or substantially similar to US9772193, and its effective filing date (considering its priority chain) precedes US9772193's earliest priority date for the specific claimed subject matter, then it would be strong prior art. The provided information indicates US9772193 claims priority to applications filed in 2005 and 2006 (US11/396,843 and US11/429,864, which correspond to the granted patents US7899583B2 and US8836580B2, respectively, though US8836580B2 is not in the explicit list but a priority date is mentioned for it). If US20140222301A1 derives from the same underlying inventions, it would be considered prior art for any new matter, or potentially self-prior art depending on the precise priority claims and continuity.

7. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20150377759A1

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20150377759 A1, "Vehicle beacon and method of use," by Mendelson, published December 31, 2015.
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on August 26, 2015.
• Brief Description: This is another patent application by Mendelson, also titled "Vehicle beacon and method of use," published before the grant of US9772193. Its abstract describes a system and method for providing navigation to a user in an indoor or outdoor environment using RF tags/beacons that broadcast unique IDs and information. A mobile device determines location by proximity, provides real-time navigation without bi-directional communication for location, and displays this information as an overlay on a map. It mentions various applications like malls, stores, parking, and emergency use.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • All claims (1-22): Similar to US20140222301A1, this publication has the identical title and abstract, strongly suggesting it covers substantially the same inventive subject matter as US9772193. Its publication date precedes the filing date of US9772193 (January 10, 2017). Therefore, it likely anticipates all claims of US9772193 unless US9772193 has valid priority claims to earlier applications that fully disclose and support all its claims, predating this publication. Based on the given information, US9772193 does claim priority to earlier applications (e.g., 2005 and 2006). This would make US20150377759A1 part of the same patent family and therefore not "prior art" in the traditional sense if there is proper priority chain for all the claimed features. However, for any new subject matter introduced in US9772193 that is not supported by the earlier priority applications, US20150377759A1 could be considered prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(2) as a U.S. patent application publication by the same inventor.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art

Based on the analysis, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US20060224330A1 appears to be the most relevant prior art. As an earlier publication by the same inventor with a very similar scope ("System and method for navigating to points of interest (POI)"), it likely anticipates or renders obvious a significant number of the claims of US9772193, particularly those related to the core beacon-based proximity detection for navigation in indoor/outdoor environments without reliance on bi-directional communication or GPS, and providing information about POIs. The more specific display methods (floating overlay, accuracy circle) are also highly likely to be found in this or a closely related Mendelson application.

The other Mendelson patents (US7899583B2, US8941485B2, US20130099933A1) focus primarily on the parking application, but their core mechanism for beacon-based proximity location determination is highly anticipatory of Claims 1(a)-1(e), 5, 9, 12(a)-12(b)(iv), 16, and 20 of US9772193.

The later Mendelson publications (US20140222301A1 and US20150377759A1) are likely direct continuations or continuations-in-part of the same inventive concept, sharing the exact "Vehicle beacon and method of use" title. They would generally anticipate all claims of US9772193 unless specific new features in US9772193 are supported by earlier priority dates that these publications do not benefit from for those specific features. This would require a detailed priority claim analysis for the specific claims of US9772193 versus the disclosures and effective filing dates of these earlier applications by the same inventor.

Ellenby '875 is less anticipatory because of its reliance on GPS and bi-directional communication for location and information retrieval, which US9772193 specifically aims to overcome.

The provided patent, US9772193, describes a vehicle beacon and method of use primarily for indoor and urban navigation, leveraging RF tags or beacons (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) to provide location information and services, especially in environments where Global Positioning System (GPS) is inaccurate or unavailable. The core inventive concept as described is a system that uses unidirectional beacon signals from known locations, received by a mobile device, to determine the user's location without requiring bi-directional communication, internet, or cellular connection for location determination. It also features an overlay display method for existing maps or floor plans.

For an obviousness analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we must identify prior art references, their teachings, and the motivation a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) would have to combine them to arrive at the claimed invention.

Identified Prior Art and Relevant Disclosures from US9772193:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,875 (Ellenby et al.): This patent is explicitly discussed as prior art in US9772193. It is described as "a pointing system for addressing objects; provide a system and method based on Global Positioning System (GPS) and Internet and/or database communication." The '193 patent distinguishes Ellenby '875 by stating it "requires the Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate the user location," which limits its use for "indoor services," "availability and accuracy," and requires "communication with the Global Positioning System (GPS)." Furthermore, it notes Ellenby '875 "does not provide real time updates of the waypoints and needs access to the Internet and or a central database."
2. General Knowledge of Beacons, Location, Navigation, and Mobile Devices: The "Prior art keywords" listed for US9772193 include "user," "location," "beacon," "navigation," and "mobile device." This indicates that the fundamental concepts of using beacons for location and navigation with mobile devices were known in the art prior to the priority date of US9772193 (April 12, 2005).

Obviousness Analysis:

A PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine the teachings of Ellenby et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,875) with the general knowledge of beacon-based positioning to overcome the acknowledged limitations of Ellenby's system and GPS, thereby rendering certain aspects of US9772193 obvious.

Combination: Ellenby et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,875) + General knowledge of RF beacons for localized positioning.

Motivation for Combination:

• Addressing GPS Limitations: US9772193 itself explicitly identifies a "first limitation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is that, upon activation, the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver scans for signals from the constellation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites." It further highlights that "the civilian version of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal includes limited accuracy by design," which "may not be sufficient to provide a location and/or navigation to a user in a store, a mall, to a vacant or available parking space." Crucially, it states that "the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is further limited in an indoor environment...as the Global Positioning System (GPS) cannot work effectively when the receiver is located in doors or a line of sight to the satellites is blocked."
  • Given these well-known limitations of GPS, a PHOSITA seeking to improve upon a GPS-reliant system like Ellenby '875 would naturally look for alternative or supplementary localization technologies that address these shortcomings, especially for indoor or high-accuracy urban environments.
• "Bridging the Gap" and "Complete Solution": US9772193 explicitly states its purpose is to "bridge the gap between the Global Positioning System (GPS) based navigation by providing an improved and complete solution." This declaration reveals the problem that a PHOSITA would aim to solve: creating a navigation system that works where GPS fails or is insufficient.
• Known Beacon Technology: The prior art keywords (e.g., "beacon," "location," "navigation") confirm that RF beacon technology for localized positioning was a known alternative or complement to GPS for determining location, particularly for improved accuracy in smaller areas or indoors. For example, the patent notes that "Bluetooth technology uses a Radio Frequency (RF) that is in a 2.4 GHz ISM band. In this frequency range, radio waves penetrate obstacles, such as walls and human bodies, albeit with a substantial loss." This demonstrates the known properties of such technologies suitable for indoor use.
• Integrating with Existing Systems: US9772193 also describes its system's ability to "interface with existing in car system and/or car navigation system" and "interface with existing Global Positioning System (GPS) outdoor mapping as well as indoor mapping," including automatically switching between outdoor GPS and indoor beacon applications. This further indicates a motivation to combine existing, limited GPS systems (like Ellenby's) with more localized, precise technologies to offer a seamless and comprehensive navigation experience.

A PHOSITA, recognizing the limitations of GPS-based systems (as highlighted by US9772193 itself and embodied in Ellenby '875) for indoor environments and high-accuracy applications, would have been motivated to replace or augment the GPS component of Ellenby's system with a known alternative localization technology, such as RF beacons. The goal would be to expand the applicability and accuracy of Ellenby's "pointing system for addressing objects" to indoor settings or areas with poor GPS reception, thereby providing the "complete solution" that US9772193 purports to offer. The use of beacons for location was within the general knowledge of the art, and applying this knowledge to overcome a known problem in existing navigation systems like Ellenby's would be a predictable extension.