US 9832708

Here is a concise summary of US patent 9832708:

US Patent 9832708: Mobile device mode enablement responsive to a proximity criterion

• Title: Mobile device mode enablement responsive to a proximity criterion
• Assignee: Telcom Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Peter D. Karabinis, Rajendra Singh
• Filing Date: August 30, 2016
• Issue Date: November 28, 2017
• Abstract: A system (10) and method (30) comprises a detector that is configured to enable a mode of a first device (14) and/or to enable a mode of a second device (15) responsive to a detection that a proximity criterion is satisfied between the first device and an entity (Entity 1) and responsive to at least one of a position, velocity and a Time-of-Day and where the second device is not the entity and is not associated with the entity, and where the entity is not involved in providing a communications service to the first and/or second device.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method for a smartphone to operate using two different air interfaces. The smartphone communicates with an "entity" using a first air interface via a short-range link when a proximity condition is met, providing information to the entity. Importantly, this short-range communication stops if the proximity condition is not met. Concurrently, the smartphone communicates with a base station using a second different air interface to receive standard communication services. The key here is that the smartphone receives regular communication services from the base station (second air interface) but not from the entity (first air interface), and the two types of communication happen at the same time.

• Independent Claim 11 (Smartphone Apparatus Claim): This claim describes a smartphone itself, including a processor configured to perform the operations outlined in Claim 1. Specifically, it involves the smartphone communicating with an "entity" via a first short-range air interface when a proximity criterion is satisfied, and refraining from doing so when it's not. Simultaneously, the smartphone communicates with a base station via a second, different air interface for communication services. The smartphone does not receive communication services from the entity through the first air interface.

• Independent Claim 16 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method similar to Claim 1, for operating a smartphone with two different air interfaces. It involves communicating with an "entity" using a first air interface over a point-to-point short-range link with a time division duplex protocol when a proximity criterion is met, and refraining when it's not. Concurrently, the smartphone uses a second air interface to receive communication services. A crucial distinction is that the entity is not involved in providing the communication service to the smartphone.

• Independent Claim 18 (Smartphone Apparatus Claim): This claim describes a smartphone with a processor configured to carry out the method of Claim 16. It focuses on the smartphone communicating with an entity over a point-to-point short-range link using a time division duplex protocol when a proximity criterion is met, and refraining otherwise. Concurrently, the smartphone uses a second air interface for communication services, and the entity does not provide these services.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

A review of the May 2026 Scheduled Cases for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit did not show any cases explicitly listing patent number US9832708. While Google Patents notes that the patent family has litigation in District Courts (California Northern, Texas Eastern, Florida Southern) and PTAB cases (IPR2025-01408, IPR2025-01233, IPR2025-00975), no specific appeal to the CAFC for 2026 involving US9832708 was found in the provided May 2026 schedule.