US 10129627

As a senior US patent analyst, here is a concise summary of US Patent 10,129,627.

Patent Information:

• Title: Wireless digital audio music system
• Assignee: ONE-E-WAY Inc
• Inventor: C. Earl Woolfork
• Filing Date: January 21, 2016
• Issue Date: November 13, 2018
• Abstract: A wireless digital audio system includes a portable audio source with a digital audio transmitter operatively coupled thereto and an audio receiver operatively coupled to a headphone set. The audio receiver is configured for digital wireless communication with the audio transmitter. The digital audio receiver utilizes fuzzy logic to optimize digital signal processing. Each of the digital audio transmitter and receiver is configured for code division multiple access (CDMA) communication. The wireless digital audio system allows private audio enjoyment without interference from other users of independent wireless digital transmitters and receivers sharing the same space.

---

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

This patent has three independent claims: Claim 1, Claim 3, and Claim 5.

Claim 1: A wireless digital audio spread spectrum receiver.
This claim describes a mobile wireless receiver (like one in a pair of headphones) designed to receive a high-quality audio signal (in the 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range) and a unique user code from a transmitter. This receiver uses a "direct conversion module" to handle incoming spread spectrum signals. A key feature is its ability to demodulate signals using different methods, specifically including Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) and at least one other non-DPSK method. It uses the unique user code to communicate only with its paired transmitter, employing Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to avoid interference from other nearby wireless audio devices. The receiver then converts the digital signal back to an analog audio output for a speaker.

Claim 3: A portable spread spectrum audio receiver.
Similar to the first claim, this claim details a portable audio receiver that receives and stores a unique user code to pair with a specific transmitter. It is designed to handle high-quality audio signals (20 Hz to 20 kHz) that have been encoded to reduce "intersymbol interference," a type of signal distortion. The receiver decodes this special encoding and can perform multiple types of demodulation, including both DPSK and a non-DPSK method. It utilizes CDMA and the unique user code to ensure it only plays audio from its designated transmitter, ignoring other signals. Finally, a digital-to-analog converter and a speaker reproduce the audio for the listener.

Claim 5: A wireless digital coded audio spread spectrum transmitter.
This claim focuses on the other half of the system: a portable transmitter that connects to an audio player. This transmitter takes an audio signal, encodes it to reduce intersymbol interference, and then modulates it for wireless transmission. The modulation process is flexible, capable of using either DPSK or a non-DPSK method. The transmitter sends out the audio signal along with a unique user code using CDMA. This unique code is what allows the corresponding receiver to pick out this specific signal from a crowd of other wireless transmissions in the same frequency band.

---

Litigation Status:

A search of the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets for 2026 did not yield any specific results for litigation involving patent number 10,129,627 as of the current date. However, the provided patent information indicates a history of litigation in various district courts and post-grant proceedings (IPR) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Litigation History of US Patent 10,129,627

As of April 26, 2026, US Patent 10,129,627, assigned to One-E-Way, Inc., is involved in several patent infringement lawsuits. The patent, titled "Wireless digital audio music system," has been asserted against major electronics companies.

Details of the known litigation are as follows:

1. One-E-Way, Inc. v. [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.)

• Plaintiff: One-E-Way, Inc.
• Defendants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
• Jurisdiction: US District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-01561
• Filing Date: December 18, 2024
• Status: Active. The complaint alleges that Samsung's Galaxy Buds headphones and Level Box and Sound Tower speaker lines infringe on three of One-E-Way's patents, including the '627 patent.

2. One-E-Way, Inc. v. [Dell Technologies Inc. et al](/litigations/by-defendant/Dell%20Technologies%20Inc.%20et%20al).

• Plaintiff: One-E-Way, Inc.
• Defendants: Dell Technologies Inc. and Dell Inc.
• Jurisdiction: US District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-01558
• Filing Date: December 18, 2024
• Status: Active. This case is part of a broader litigation campaign by One-E-Way, asserting a portfolio of patents, including US Patent 10,129,627, against Dell's products with wireless audio capabilities.

3. One-E-Way, Inc. v. Anker Innovations Ltd.

• Plaintiff: One-E-Way, Inc.
• Defendant: Anker Innovations Ltd.
• Jurisdiction: US District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-01559
• Filing Date: December 18, 2024
• Status: Active. The lawsuit targets Anker's wireless headphones and speakers that are compliant with Bluetooth standards, alleging infringement of patents including the '627 patent.

4. One-E-Way, Inc. v. [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.)

• Plaintiff: One-E-Way, Inc.
• Defendant: Apple Inc.
• Jurisdiction: US District Court for the Central District of California
• Case Number: 2:20-cv-06339
• Filing Date: July 16, 2020
• Outcome: A summary judgment of non-infringement was granted in favor of Apple. This decision was affirmed by the Federal Circuit in August 2023. While the '627 patent was asserted in this case, the ruling was based on the construction of the claim term "unique user code" found in other patents in the same family.

It is worth noting that One-E-Way, Inc. has been actively enforcing its patent portfolio, which has also included proceedings at the International Trade Commission (ITC) against other parties such as Sony, although these did not directly involve patent 10,129,627.

As a senior PTAB practitioner, my analysis of the AIA trial proceedings for U.S. Patent No. 10,129,627 reveals a patent that has been tested multiple times by major industry players. Here is what a defendant needs to know about the challenges filed at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Proceedings Overview

Three inter partes reviews (IPRs) have been filed against US patent 10,129,627. Two petitions filed by Apple were denied institution, representing a significant early victory for the patent owner. However, a more recent IPR filed by Samsung was instituted and is currently in the trial phase. This active proceeding presents a substantial, ongoing threat to the patent's validity, giving a defendant a strong defensive position pending the outcome.

---

IPR2025-01540 — [[Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.) v. ONE-E-WAY Inc

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-09-16
• Status: Trial Instituted. This means the PTAB found a "reasonable likelihood" that Samsung would prevail in proving at least one of the challenged claims unpatentable.
• Judge Panel: Information on the specific Administrative Patent Judges (APJs) for this proceeding is not yet publicly available in the search results.
• Petition Grounds: The specific claims, prior art, and statutory grounds asserted by Samsung are detailed in the petition, which can be accessed via the USPTO's PTAB E2E portal. This proceeding is likely a response to district court litigation filed by One-E-Way against Samsung.
• Institution Decision: The trial was instituted on or around 2026-03-17. The PTAB's decision to institute signifies that Samsung's invalidity arguments, based on prior art patents or printed publications under § 102 (anticipation) or § 103 (obviousness), were found to be substantial enough to merit a full trial.
• Final Written Decision (FWD): Not yet issued. The statutory deadline for the PTAB to issue an FWD is one year from the date of institution, making the expected deadline approximately 2027-03-17.
• Settlement / Termination: There is no indication that the parties have settled. The proceeding is active.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive Value: High. The institution of this IPR is a critical development. It confirms that the PTAB sees significant merit in the invalidity challenges against the patent. Any defendant should monitor this proceeding closely, as a finding of unpatentability would invalidate the challenged claims and could be binding on the patent owner.

IPR2021-00286 & IPR2021-00287 — Apple Inc. and Beats Electronics, LLC v. ONE-E-WAY Inc

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2020-12-04
• Status: Not Instituted - Merits. The PTAB declined to institute a trial, finding that Apple had not established a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on its invalidity arguments.
• Judge Panel: The specific panel is listed in the denial decision, available on the USPTO's portal.
• Petition Grounds: These petitions were filed in response to litigation initiated by One-E-Way against Apple. The grounds likely involved challenges to the patent's claims based on prior art under § 103.
• Institution Decision: The PTAB denied institution for both petitions. This decision was a victory for the patent owner, One-E-Way, as it shielded the patent from these specific challenges. The denial can be read as the Board finding Apple's arguments unpersuasive at the preliminary stage.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable, as the trial was not instituted.
• Settlement / Termination: The proceedings were terminated by the denial of institution. The related district court case proceeded and was later appealed to the Federal Circuit.
• Appeal: A petitioner cannot directly appeal a PTAB decision to deny institution of an IPR.
• Defensive Value: Low, but informative. The patent owner successfully defeated these challenges, which can be used to argue the strength of the patent against similar art. However, a new defendant is not estopped from raising different invalidity arguments or even the same arguments if presented more persuasively. The failed petitions provide a useful roadmap of arguments that were unsuccessful before the PTAB.

Strategic Summary

Claim Status: As of today, no claims of US patent 10,129,627 have been canceled or finally invalidated by the PTAB. All claims remain legally effective. The outcome of the pending IPR (IPR2025-01540) is the most critical event that will determine the future enforceability of the challenged claims.

Estoppel Landscape: Because Apple's IPRs were denied at the institution stage, the estoppel effect under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e) is narrow. It only prevents Apple from re-litigating the specific grounds actually raised in those petitions before the PTAB. It does not prevent Apple, or any other party, from raising grounds that reasonably could have been raised. For a new defendant, the prior art landscape remains wide open, although any new petition would face scrutiny in light of the previously failed attempts. Should the Samsung IPR proceed to a Final Written Decision, Samsung would be estopped from later challenging the same claims on any ground it raised or reasonably could have raised.

Pattern Signals: There is a clear pattern of One-E-Way asserting its patent portfolio against major players in the consumer electronics space (Apple, Samsung), which in turn file IPRs as a defensive measure. The patent owner's success in defeating Apple's initial IPRs demonstrates a capability to defend the patent. However, the institution of Samsung's IPR shows the patent is not invincible. The involvement of multiple, well-funded petitioners indicates that the patent is considered a significant threat in the industry.

Recommended Next Steps

For any defendant currently facing assertion of US patent 10,129,627, the following steps are recommended:

• Closely Monitor IPR2025-01540: This is the most important recommendation. The outcome of this proceeding will directly impact the patent's viability. Key dates to watch are the oral hearing (typically 2-3 months before the FWD) and the FWD deadline around 2027-03-17. The arguments and evidence submitted by both Samsung and One-E-Way will be highly relevant to any other defense. All documents can be accessed via the USPTO PTAB E2E portal.
• Analyze the Samsung Petition: Obtain and analyze the petition and supporting evidence filed by Samsung in IPR2025-01540, as well as the Patent Owner's Preliminary Response. The PTAB found these arguments compelling enough to institute trial, making them the strongest known invalidity positions against the patent.
• Review the Apple Institution Denials: The decisions in IPR2021-00286 and IPR2021-00287 should be carefully reviewed to understand what arguments the PTAB found unpersuasive. This will help avoid repeating unsuccessful strategies and identify potential weaknesses in the patent that were not successfully exploited by Apple.
• Consider Litigation Stay: If you are in district court litigation, the institution of Samsung's IPR provides a strong basis for filing a motion to stay the court proceedings pending the PTAB's Final Written Decision. Courts frequently grant such stays to promote efficiency and avoid inconsistent rulings.

Inventors

• C. Earl Woolfork. The provided text does not specify an employer at the time of filing.

Original assignee

• ONE-E-WAY Inc., a California corporation. The company's website states its mission is to "provide High Quality Wireless Electronic Products at affordable prices." It appears to be an operating company that both develops and sells products, such as its "E-Clip™" series of wireless headphones and earbuds, and also licenses its patented technology to other manufacturers. ONE-E-WAY has also been an active plaintiff in patent litigation, including a notable case against the International Trade Commission and Sony.

Assignment timeline

• 2008-10-22 (executed) / recorded 2019-08-27 — Reel 050187/0067

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WOOLFORK, C. EARL
  • Assignee: ONE-E-WAY, INC.
  • Correspondent: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP, 2040 Main Street, Fourteenth Floor, Irvine, CA 92614
  • Context: This is the initial assignment from the inventor to the original assignee.

• 2019-05-28 (executed) / recorded 2019-09-03 — Reel 050253/0119

  • Conveyance: License
  • Assignor: ONE-E-WAY, INC.
  • Assignee: PEAG, LLC D/B/A JLAB AUDIO
  • Correspondent: One-E-Way, Inc., 202 S. Lake Ave., Ste. 250, Pasadena, CA 91101
  • Context: A license agreement was granted to an operating audio products company.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10129627
    2001 : Priority date
    2008 : Inventor assigns to ONE-E-WAY Inc
    2018 : Patent issued
    2019 : License to PEAG LLC DBA JLAB AUDIO

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. The original assignee, ONE-E-WAY Inc., is an operating company with products. The subsequent transaction is a license to another operating company, PEAG, LLC (JLab Audio), not a transfer to a non-practicing entity.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. While not a "patent troll" in the traditional sense of a non-practicing entity that exists solely to litigate, ONE-E-WAY, Inc. has engaged in patent assertion, including filing a complaint with the International Trade Commission.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. The two recorded transactions have different correspondents of record.

4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There is only one initial assignment and one subsequent license recorded.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The assignment from the inventor to ONE-E-WAY Inc. occurred long before any known litigation. The license to PEAG, LLC also does not appear to be immediately followed by litigation.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for any entity in the chain.

7. Privateering — Not present. The recorded transaction is a license, not a transfer of ownership to an entity that would then litigate on behalf of ONE-E-WAY Inc.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain does not involve any known defensive aggregators.

Verdict

• Operating-company assertion

ONE-E-WAY Inc., the original assignee, is a company that develops and sells wireless audio products and also licenses its technology. They have also actively enforced their patent rights through litigation. The only other entity in the chain, PEAG, LLC (JLab Audio), is also an operating company in the audio products space. Therefore, this patent is being asserted by an operating company, not a non-practicing entity.

Verification available at the USPTO Patent Assignment Search.

In my capacity as a senior US patent analyst, I have conducted a thorough review of US Patent No. 10,129,627, issued on November 13, 2018. The following analysis details the most relevant prior art cited against this patent and discusses the potential for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The analysis is based on the patent's own cited references.

The core of patent 10,129,627 revolves around a wireless digital audio system using spread spectrum and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to ensure private communication between a transmitter (connected to a portable audio source) and a receiver (headphones). Key features recited in the independent claims (1, 3, and 5) include the use of a unique user code for a dedicated connection, the transmission of high-quality audio (20 Hz to 20 kHz), encoding to reduce intersymbol interference, and a combination of Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) and non-DPSK modulation/demodulation.

Analysis of Most Relevant Prior Art

Based on a review of the sixteen patent citations listed in US 10,129,627, the following references are identified as most pertinent to the claims of the patent.

---

1. US Patent 5,771,441 A

• Full Citation: Altstatt; John E., "Small, battery operated RF transmitter for portable audio devices for use with headphones with RF receiver."
• Publication Date: June 23, 1998
• Filing Date: April 10, 1996
• Brief Description: This patent describes a compact, battery-powered RF transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack of a portable audio device (like a CD player). It transmits the audio signal wirelessly to a corresponding RF receiver integrated into a pair of headphones. The system is designed for personal, wire-free listening.
• Potential Anticipation Analysis:
  • Claim 5 (Transmitter): Altstatt '441 discloses a "wireless...transmitter operatively coupled to a portable audio player" and that is "configured to be moved in any direction during operation." It describes transmitting an audio signal to a receiver. However, Altstatt appears to transmit an analog FM signal, not a digital coded audio spread spectrum signal. It does not teach the use of a unique user code, CDMA, an encoder to reduce intersymbol interference, or the specific combination of DPSK and non-DPSK modulation. Therefore, Altstatt '441 does not anticipate claim 5.
  • Claims 1 & 3 (Receiver): Similarly, the receiver in Altstatt is designed for analog FM reception, not digital spread spectrum. It does not disclose a direct conversion module for spread spectrum signals, the use of a unique user code for CDMA, a decoder for intersymbol interference, or the claimed demodulation techniques. Thus, claims 1 and 3 are not anticipated by this reference.

---

2. US Patent 5,946,343 A

• Full Citation: Schotz; Lawrence, "Digital wireless speaker system."
• Publication Date: August 31, 1999
• Filing Date: November 22, 1994
• Brief Description: Schotz '343 discloses a system for wirelessly transmitting digital audio to speakers. It details a transmitter that converts an analog audio signal to a digital format and uses spread spectrum techniques (specifically direct sequence spread spectrum) to transmit the digital audio data. The receiver then converts the signal back to analog for playback. The system includes features to minimize interference.
• Potential Anticipation Analysis:
  • Claim 5 (Transmitter): Schotz '343 teaches a "digital coded audio spread spectrum transmitter" that transmits a "representation of an audio signal." It also teaches using spread spectrum. However, the reference does not explicitly teach the use of independent CDMA with a transmitted unique user code to distinguish its signal from other similar systems for private communication in the manner claimed. Furthermore, it does not appear to disclose the specific modulation scheme of using both DPSK and a non-DPSK modulation as required by the claim.
  • Claims 1 & 3 (Receiver): The receiver in Schotz '343 is a digital audio spread spectrum receiver. It processes a spread spectrum signal and converts it to audio. However, it does not explicitly teach using a received unique user code for independent CDMA communication with only one specific transmitter. It also does not appear to disclose performing both DPSK and non-DPSK demodulation. Therefore, Schotz '343 does not appear to anticipate the receiver claims.

---

3. US Patent Application Publication 2002/0065043 A1

• Full Citation: Hamada; Osamu, "Radio transmission device and method, radio receiving device and method, radio transmitting/receiving system, and storage medium."
• Publication Date: May 30, 2002
• Filing Date: August 28, 2000
• Brief Description: Hamada describes a radio communication system that uses direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS). It discusses methods for transmitting and receiving digital data, including audio, and mentions various modulation techniques. The system uses spreading codes to differentiate signals.
• Potential Anticipation Analysis:
  • Claims 1, 3, & 5 (Transmitter and Receiver): Hamada discloses a digital spread spectrum communication system. It teaches the use of spreading codes, which are a fundamental component of CDMA. It also discusses various modulation schemes. However, a key aspect of the '627 patent claims is the combination of all the specific elements in a single system: a portable audio application, high-quality audio (20 Hz-20 kHz), encoding specifically to reduce intersymbol interference, the use of a unique user code for independent private communication for the duration of a connection, and the specific combination of DPSK and non-DPSK modulation/demodulation. It is not apparent that Hamada discloses all of these elements together in a single, cohesive system as claimed. For instance, the specific combination of DPSK and another non-DPSK modulation for transmitting high-quality audio from a portable player is a detailed feature not clearly taught by Hamada.

Conclusion

While the cited prior art references disclose various elements of the invention claimed in US Patent 10,129,627, none of the individual references appear to disclose every element of any of the independent claims. Altstatt '441 describes the general physical configuration but lacks the digital and spread spectrum specifics. Schotz '343 and Hamada '043 teach digital spread spectrum audio but do not appear to disclose the specific combination of independent CDMA with a unique user code for private listening and the dual-mode modulation/demodulation (DPSK and non-DPSK) as recited in the claims. Therefore, based on this analysis of the cited art, there is no clear anticipation of the independent claims of US Patent 10,129,627 by a single reference.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 10,129,627

An analysis of US Patent 10,129,627, titled "Wireless digital audio music system," and its cited prior art indicates that the patent's claims would have been considered obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 103. The claims of the '627 patent are rendered obvious by a combination of prior art references that disclose the key elements of the invention, with a clear motivation for their combination.

The independent claims of the '627 patent generally describe a wireless digital audio spread spectrum receiver and transmitter system. Key features of this system include the use of a unique user code for communication, the transmission of a high-quality audio signal (20 Hz to 20 kHz), the use of spread spectrum communication (specifically including Differential Phase Shift Keying - DPSK), and independent code division multiple access (CDMA) to prevent interference between users.

A compelling case for obviousness can be constructed by combining the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 5,771,441 to Altstatt (hereinafter "Altstatt"), U.S. Patent No. 5,946,343 to Schotz et al. (hereinafter "Schotz"), and general knowledge in the field of digital communications at the time.

Breakdown of Prior Art and Motivation to Combine:

• Altstatt (US 5,771,441): This patent discloses a small, battery-operated RF transmitter that connects to the headphone jack of a portable audio device and wirelessly transmits the audio signal to headphones with an RF receiver. This directly teaches the fundamental concept of the '627 patent: a wireless audio system for portable devices. Altstatt's system, however, is primarily analog (FM transmission).

• Schotz (US 5,946,343): This patent describes a digital wireless speaker system that utilizes spread spectrum communication to transmit high-quality digital audio. Schotz explicitly addresses the problem of interference in the crowded radio spectrum and teaches the use of digital transmission and spread spectrum techniques to overcome this. The patent details the conversion of an analog audio signal to a digital format, processing it, and transmitting it wirelessly.

• General Knowledge of Digital Communication Techniques: At the time of the invention of the '627 patent (priority date of December 21, 2001), digital communication techniques such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and various modulation schemes like Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) were well-established and widely used in the telecommunications industry. CDMA was known for its ability to allow multiple users to share the same frequency band with minimal interference by assigning unique codes to each user. DPSK was a known and implemented digital modulation technique.

The Motivation to Combine these references would have been readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art:

A skilled artisan, starting with the portable wireless headphone system taught by Altstatt, would recognize the limitations of its analog FM transmission, particularly its susceptibility to noise and interference. To improve upon Altstatt's system and create a more robust and higher-fidelity wireless audio experience, this artisan would naturally look to the field of digital wireless audio transmission.

Schotz provides a direct solution to the interference and quality issues inherent in Altstatt's analog approach. Schotz teaches the advantages of digital spread spectrum communication for audio signals. A person of ordinary skill would have been motivated to replace the analog FM transmitter and receiver in Altstatt's system with the digital spread spectrum transmitter and receiver architecture described by Schotz. This combination would be a predictable solution to a known problem: improving the signal quality and reducing interference in a wireless headphone system.

Furthermore, to address the issue of multiple users in the same environment, which is a key aspect of the '627 patent, the skilled artisan would have been motivated to incorporate known multi-user communication techniques. The use of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a widely understood technology at the time, would be an obvious choice to allow for private listening without interference from other nearby users, as claimed in the '627 patent. The concept of assigning a "unique user code," as claimed in the '627 patent, is the fundamental principle of CDMA.

The inclusion of Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) as a modulation technique, as specified in the '627 patent claims, would also have been an obvious design choice for a digital communication system. DPSK was a known and implemented modulation scheme, and its selection would fall within the routine design considerations of a communications engineer.

In conclusion, the combination of Altstatt's portable wireless headphone concept with Schotz's digital spread spectrum audio transmission system, further enhanced with the well-known principles of CDMA for multi-user access and DPSK for digital modulation, would have rendered the claims of US Patent 10,129,627 obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The motivation to combine these elements stems from the desire to improve upon existing technology by addressing known limitations with established and predictable solutions.

Analysis of U.S. Patent 10,129,627: A Deep Dive into its Term and Family

Washington D.C. - An in-depth analysis of United States Patent 10,129,627, titled "Wireless digital audio music system," reveals a complex prosecution history involving a long chain of continuation applications and a significant Patent Term Adjustment (PTA). This report details the patent's term adjustments, related applications, and its projected expiration date.

Issued on November 13, 2018, the patent is assigned to ONE-E-WAY Inc. The application for this patent (15/003,242) was filed on January 21, 2016. However, to determine its expiration, one must look back to its earliest priority date.

Patent Term and Adjustments

The standard 20-year term for a U.S. patent is calculated from the filing date of the earliest non-provisional application in its family. For patent 10,129,627, this date is December 21, 2001, the filing date of application number 10/027,391. This would typically place the expiration date at December 21, 2021.

However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a significant Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) of 683 days due to delays in the examination process. This adjustment extends the patent's life to compensate the patentee for time lost. The USPTO calculated 683 days of non-overlapping agency delay, with zero days of delay attributed to the applicant.

There are no recorded Patent Term Extensions (PTE), which are typically granted for patents covering products that undergo a lengthy regulatory review process, such as pharmaceuticals.

Continuation and Family Data

U.S. Patent 10,129,627 is a continuation of application 13/775,754, filed on February 25, 2013 (now patent 9,282,396). This is part of a long chain of continuing applications, with the original application being 10/027,391, filed on December 21, 2001. No divisional applications have been identified in the prosecution history.

The patent is part of an extended patent family that includes several other U.S. patents and patent applications, reflecting a long-term strategy to protect the core invention. Key members of this family include:

• US 7,412,294 B1
• US 7,684,885 B2
• US 7,865,258 B2
• US 8,131,391 B2
• US 9,107,000 B2
• US 9,282,396 B2
• US 10,468,047 B2 (a continuation of the patent in question)

Projected Expiration Date

The initial 20-year term from the earliest priority date of December 21, 2001, would end on December 21, 2021. Adding the 683-day Patent Term Adjustment to this date results in a projected expiration date of November 4, 2023.

It is crucial to note that the enforceability of a patent is contingent upon the timely payment of maintenance fees. As of today's date, the maintenance fees for patent 10,129,627 have been paid, and the patent is active. Failure to pay subsequent maintenance fees could lead to an earlier expiration. This analysis is based on the publicly available data and does not account for any potential terminal disclaimers that may not be readily apparent or any future legal challenges that could affect the patent's validity or term.

Here is a comprehensive "Defensive Disclosure" document analyzing and deriving variations from US patent 10,129,627 to establish prior art against future incremental inventions.

---

Defensive Disclosure and Prior Art Derivations of US Patent 10,129,627

Publication Date: 2026-05-13
Subject: "Wireless digital audio music system"
Core Patent: US 10,129,627 B2

This document discloses a series of technical variations, applications, and integrations related to the core concepts described in US Patent 10,129,627. The intent is to place these concepts into the public domain, thereby establishing them as prior art. The enabling descriptions provided herein are sufficient for a person skilled in the art (POSITA) to practice the inventions disclosed.

---

Part 1: Derivatives of the Wireless Receiver (per Claims 1 & 3)

The core concept is a portable spread spectrum receiver that uses a unique user code for CDMA communication and can perform both DPSK and non-DPSK demodulation to reproduce a high-quality audio signal.

1.1 Material & Component Substitution: Bone Conduction Transducer

• Enabling Description: The conventional dynamic speaker (75 in the patent) is replaced with a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive bone conduction transducer. The output of the Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC 70) is routed to a power amplifier (74) specifically designed to drive the high-impedance, reactive load of the bone conduction element. The amplification stage includes a digital signal processor (DSP) that applies a pre-equalization curve to compensate for the non-linear frequency response of bone transmission, typically boosting frequencies between 250 Hz and 1 kHz and attenuating frequencies above 4 kHz to ensure intelligibility and comfort. The entire receiver is housed in a lightweight, water-resistant polymer shell designed to press the transducer firmly against the user's temporal bone.

• Diagram:

  flowchart TD
      subgraph Receiver Module
          A[Antenna] --> B[Direct Conversion Module];
          B --> C{Demodulator (DPSK/non-DPSK)};
          C --> D[Decoder];
          D --> E[DAC];
          E --> F[DSP Pre-Equalizer];
          F --> G[High-Impedance Power Amp];
          G --> H[Bone Conduction Transducer];
      end
  

1.2 Operational Parameter Expansion: Cryogenic Operation

• Enabling Description: A version of the receiver is designed for operation in cryogenic environments (77 Kelvin / -196°C). All passive components (resistors, capacitors) are specified with near-zero temperature coefficients. The semiconductor components, including the direct conversion module and decoders, are fabricated using a Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS process known for its stable performance at low temperatures. The battery is a custom lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) cell, which maintains a stable discharge curve down to -200°C. The local oscillator for the direct conversion module uses an oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) in a miniature vacuum-insulated package to maintain a stable frequency reference, which is critical for coherent demodulation in extreme cold. The receiver housing is a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to prevent thermal shock and cracking.

• Diagram:

  stateDiagram-v2
      [*] --> Ambient: Power On
      Ambient --> Cryo_Cooling: Temperature < 0°C
      Cryo_Cooling --> Cryo_Stable: Temperature <= -190°C
      Cryo_Stable --> Cryo_Cooling: Temperature > -190°C
      Cryo_Cooling --> Ambient: Temperature >= 0°C
  
      state Ambient {
          description Full performance, standard oscillator.
      }
      state Cryo_Cooling {
          description OCXO heater active, performance scaling.
      }
      state Cryo_Stable {
          description OCXO stable, peak performance at 77K.
      }
  

1.3 Cross-Domain Application: Aerospace Intra-Cockpit Communication

• Enabling Description: The receiver technology is integrated into a pilot's flight helmet for secure, high-G tolerant, intra-cockpit communication. The "high quality audio" is optimized for voice clarity (300 Hz - 8 kHz). The CDMA system, using the "unique user code," allows multiple crew members (pilot, co-pilot, weapons officer) to have separate, non-interfering wireless audio channels within the same shielded cockpit. An adaptive demodulation subsystem constantly monitors the channel's bit error rate (BER). Under electronic warfare (jamming) conditions, it automatically switches from a high-order modulation (e.g., 64-QAM) to a more robust, lower-order modulation like DPSK to preserve the communication link, albeit at a lower data rate. The system is hardened against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and is certified under DO-160 standards.

• Diagram:

  flowchart LR
      A[RF Signal In] --> B{Channel Quality Monitor};
      B -- High SNR --> C[Select 64-QAM Demodulator];
      B -- Low SNR/Jamming --> D[Select DPSK Demodulator];
      C --> E[Decode Audio Stream];
      D --> E;
      E --> F[Audio Output to Helmet Speakers];
  

1.4 Integration with Emerging Tech: AI-Driven Adaptive Equalization & Code Cleaning

• Enabling Description: The receiver integrates a low-power neural processing unit (NPU). This NPU runs a real-time convolutional neural network (CNN) that processes the output of the DAC. The network is trained to identify and remove specific types of ambient noise (e.g., wind, engine hum, crowd noise) while preserving the fidelity of the desired audio stream. Furthermore, a second AI model analyzes the raw I/Q data from the direct conversion module before demodulation. It uses the known properties of the "unique user code" to identify and subtract co-channel interference signals from other CDMA users, effectively cleaning the signal and improving the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) before it reaches the demodulator. This allows for clearer audio in extremely crowded radio environments.

• Diagram:

  sequenceDiagram
      participant Antenna
      participant RF_Frontend
      participant NPU_Model1
      participant Demodulator
      participant Decoder
      participant NPU_Model2
      participant DAC
      participant Speaker
  
      Antenna->>RF_Frontend: Receive Signal
      RF_Frontend->>NPU_Model1: Pass I/Q Data
      NPU_Model1->>RF_Frontend: Return Cleaned I/Q Data
      RF_Frontend->>Demodulator: Demodulate
      Demodulator->>Decoder: Decode Bitstream
      Decoder->>DAC: Pass Digital Audio
      DAC->>NPU_Model2: Pass Analog Audio
      NPU_Model2->>Speaker: Output Noise-Cancelled Audio
  

1.5 Inverse Mode: Failsafe Emergency Beacon

• Enabling Description: The receiver is designed with a dual-function "failsafe" mode. Under normal operation, it functions as an audio receiver. However, if it loses its connection to the designated transmitter for a predetermined period (e.g., 5 minutes) and the battery level is above a failsafe threshold (e.g., 50%), it reconfigures itself into a low-power emergency transmitter. The receiver's local oscillator is repurposed as a carrier source, the power amplifier is re-biased for transmission, and the speaker is used as a rudimentary microphone. It then begins to transmit the unique user code on a predefined emergency frequency using a simple, robust modulation (like OOK - On-Off Keying), acting as a personal locator beacon that can be detected by a search and rescue party with a corresponding receiver.

• Diagram:

  stateDiagram-v2
      [*] --> Receiving
      Receiving --> Lost_Signal_Watchdog: Connection Lost
      Lost_Signal_Watchdog --> Receiving: Connection Re-established
      Lost_Signal_Watchdog --> Beacon_Mode: Timeout_Expired AND Battery > 50%
      Lost_Signal_Watchdog --> Low_Power_Off: Timeout_Expired AND Battery <= 50%
      Beacon_Mode --> Low_Power_Off: Battery Drained
  
      state Beacon_Mode {
          description Reconfigured as transmitter. Broadcasting user code.
      }
  

---

Part 2: Derivatives of the Wireless Transmitter (per Claim 5)

The core concept is a portable transmitter that encodes an audio signal to reduce intersymbol interference, uses a unique user code for CDMA, and can perform both DPSK and non-DPSK modulation.

2.1 Material & Component Substitution: Gallium Nitride (GaN) RF Front-End

• Enabling Description: The transmitter's final stage RF power amplifier (48) is implemented using a Gallium Nitride (GaN) High-Electron-Mobility Transistor (HEMT) instead of a conventional silicon LDMOS or GaAs transistor. The GaN amplifier provides significantly higher power efficiency (over 70% vs. 40-50%), allowing for a 50% increase in battery life for the same RF output power. The higher breakdown voltage of GaN also allows the transmitter to operate with a wider range of battery voltages, simplifying power management circuitry. The higher thermal conductivity of the SiC substrate used for the GaN HEMT allows for a smaller heat sink, reducing the overall size and weight of the transmitter unit.

• Diagram:

  flowchart TD
      subgraph Transmitter Module
          A[ADC] --> B[Encoder];
          B --> C{Modulator (DPSK/non-DPSK)};
          C --> D[Signal to PA];
          subgraph Power Amplifier
              D -- Input --> E{GaN HEMT Driver Stage};
              E --> F{GaN HEMT Final Stage};
          end
          F -- Amplified RF --> G[Antenna];
          H[Battery] --> I[Power Management IC];
          I --> F;
      end
  

2.2 Operational Parameter Expansion: High-Frequency Data Transmission

• Enabling Description: The system is scaled to operate in the 60 GHz ISM band. At this frequency, the system can support a much higher bandwidth, allowing for the transmission of uncompressed, high-fidelity 24-bit/192kHz studio-quality audio, far exceeding the 20Hz-20kHz range specified in the patent. The encoding to reduce intersymbol interference (claimed in the patent) becomes critical at these frequencies to combat the severe delay spread. The transmitter and receiver use patch antennas integrated directly into the device's printed circuit board (PCB). The CDMA implementation allows for multiple uncompressed audio streams to coexist in a small area, such as a recording studio or live performance stage, without interference.

• Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph 60GHz_Transmitter
          A["Audio Source (24-bit/192kHz)"] --> B(ADC);
          B --> C(ISI Reduction Encoder);
          C --> D(CDMA Spreader);
          D --> E["60GHz Modulator (e.g., 256-QAM)"];
          E --> F(GaN Power Amplifier);
          F --> G["PCB Patch Antenna"];
      end
  

2.3 Cross-Domain Application: Agricultural Drone Swarm Control

• Enabling Description: A master transmitter is located at a ground control station, and each agricultural drone in a swarm is equipped with a corresponding receiver. The transmitter broadcasts control and telemetry data, not audio. The "unique user code" is assigned to each drone, allowing the ground station to address them individually or in groups using CDMA. The system's ability to switch between DPSK and non-DPSK modulation allows the ground station to use a robust, low-rate channel (DPSK) for critical commands to all drones simultaneously and high-rate channels (64-QAM) for sending specific, data-intensive instructions (like a high-resolution spray map) to individual drones. This provides a robust and flexible command-and-control network for coordinating the actions of the swarm.

• Diagram:

  sequenceDiagram
      participant GCS as Ground Control Station (Transmitter)
      participant Drone1 as Drone 1 (Receiver)
      participant Drone2 as Drone 2 (Receiver)
  
      GCS->>+Drone1: Send Spray_Map_Data (High-Rate, Code 1)
      GCS->>+Drone2: Send Spray_Map_Data (High-Rate, Code 2)
      Note right of GCS: Uses 64-QAM Modulation
      Drone1-->>-GCS: Acknowledge
      Drone2-->>-GCS: Acknowledge
  
      GCS->>Drone1: Send Return_To_Base (Robust, Group Code A)
      GCS->>Drone2: Send Return_To_Base (Robust, Group Code A)
      Note right of GCS: Uses DPSK Modulation
  

2.4 Integration with Emerging Tech: IoT Sensor Fusion & Transmission

• Enabling Description: The transmitter acts as an IoT hub. It is equipped with multiple sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, temperature, humidity via an I2C bus). The transmitter's microcontroller performs sensor fusion, combining the data from these sensors into a single, coherent data stream. Instead of an analog audio signal, this digital data stream is fed into the encoder. The unique user code identifies the specific IoT hub, and the data is transmitted wirelessly to a central gateway (receiver). This system is used for industrial machine monitoring, where the "audio" channel is repurposed to carry real-time vibration, orientation, and environmental data for predictive maintenance.

• Diagram:

  flowchart LR
      subgraph IoT_Transmitter
          A[Accelerometer] --> E;
          B[Gyroscope] --> E;
          C[Temp Sensor] --> E;
          D[Humidity Sensor] --> E;
          E[Microcontroller w/ Sensor Fusion Algorithm] --> F[Encoder];
          F --> G[CDMA Spreader];
          G --> H[Modulator];
          H --> I[RF Out];
      end
  

---

Part 3: Combination with Open-Source Standards

3.1 Combination with WebRTC and Opus Codec

• Enabling Description: The system is integrated with the Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) open standard. An audio source, such as a web browser on a smartphone, captures audio via the getUserMedia API. This audio is then encoded using the open-source, high-quality Opus audio codec. The compressed Opus packets are then fed to the transmitter hardware (per Claim 5). The transmitter's "encoder" is repurposed for channel coding (e.g., adding FEC) rather than source coding. It then applies the CDMA spreading and DPSK/non-DPSK modulation for wireless transmission to a paired receiver. This creates a high-performance wireless audio link that originates from a standard web browser, using an open codec, but benefits from the robust physical layer transmission scheme of the patent.

• Diagram:

  flowchart TD
      A["Web App (JavaScript)"] -- getUserMedia --> B["Browser WebRTC Engine"];
      B -- Raw Audio --> C["Opus Encoder"];
      C -- Opus Packets --> D["'627 Transmitter Hardware"];
      subgraph D
          D1[Channel Coder (FEC)];
          D2[CDMA Spreader];
          D3[Modulator];
      end
      D --> E["Antenna"];
      E --> F["Wireless Channel"];
      F --> G["'627 Receiver Hardware"];
      G --> H["Audio Output"];
  

3.2 Combination with LoRaWAN Physical Layer

• Enabling Description: The specific signal processing techniques of the patent are combined with the LoRaWAN open standard for low-power, wide-area networks. The Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) technique of LoRa is replaced by the Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) method from the patent, using the "unique user code" as the pseudorandom noise (PN) code. This allows for CDMA operation, enabling more devices to transmit simultaneously in the same channel than is possible with standard LoRa. The receiver (gateway) uses the patent's decoder to mitigate intersymbol interference, a common problem in urban IoT deployments. This creates a new physical layer option for LoRaWAN that trades some of LoRa's range for higher network capacity and interference rejection in dense deployments.

• Diagram:

  graph TD
      subgraph LoRaWAN Stack
          A[Application Layer]
          B[MAC Layer (LoRaWAN)]
          C["PHY Layer ('627 DSSS/CDMA)"]
      end
      A --> B --> C;
      C <--> D[ISM Band Channel];
  
      subgraph End Node
          C1[Sensor] --> A1[App Data] --> B1[MAC Packetization] --> C1_PHY["'627 Transmitter"];
          C1_PHY --> D;
      end
  
      subgraph Gateway
          D --> C2_PHY["'627 Receiver"];
          C2_PHY --> B2[MAC Depacketization] --> A2[App Data] --> E[Network Server];
      end
  

3.3 Combination with RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture

• Enabling Description: The core signal processing algorithms of the patent are implemented as a set of custom instructions within the open-source RISC-V ISA. A specialized co-processor, or "accelerator," is designed in Verilog or VHDL to execute these instructions. For the transmitter, new instructions like CDMA_SPREAD(reg_in, reg_code, reg_out) and MOD_DPSK(reg_in, reg_out) are created. For the receiver, instructions like DEMOD_64ARY(reg_in, reg_out) and VITERBI_DECODE(reg_in, reg_out) are added. These custom instructions allow a standard RISC-V processor to perform the patented functions with hardware-level speed and efficiency. This entire System-on-Chip (SoC) design, including the RISC-V core and the custom audio-processing accelerator, is published as an open-source hardware project on a platform like GitHub, allowing anyone to synthesize it onto an FPGA for research or product development.

• Diagram:

  classDiagram
    class RISC_V_Core {
      +Integer ISA
      +Control & Status Registers
      +Memory Interface
    }
    class Audio_DSP_Coprocessor {
      <<custom instruction set>>
      +CDMA_SPREAD()
      +MOD_DPSK()
      +MOD_64ARY()
      +DEMOD_DPSK()
      +DEMOD_64ARY()
      +VITERBI_DECODE()
      +ISI_ENCODE()
    }
    RISC_V_Core "1" -- "1" Audio_DSP_Coprocessor : Extends with