US 10848546

Here is a concise summary of US patent 10848546:

Patent Number: US10848546
Title: Direct binary file transfer based network management system free of messaging, commands and data format conversions
Assignee: OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Inc. (Current Assignee); Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada (Original Assignee)
Inventors: Mark Henrik Sandstrom
Filing Date: February 5, 2020
Issue Date: November 24, 2020
Abstract: Telecommunication network management operations are performed by accessing network management data (NMD) files via graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and general-purpose computers, including a network management system (NMS) server. The system uses automatic routines to transfer binary NMD files between these computers and remote network elements (NEs) being managed. A system user creates configuration files for NEs at the NMS server through a GUI. The NE hardware then automatically carries out the network management operations specified by these NMD files transferred from the NMS server and sends their status files back to the NMS server. The NMS GUI displays the current network status based on the latest NE status files on the NMS server. This approach uses direct, binary file transfer for NMS communication, avoiding the complexity and limitations of intermediate messaging protocols, transaction languages, and their conversions.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method for infrastructure management with configuration data): This claim describes a method where remote network elements (NEs) hold copies of configuration data (CD) that are regularly synchronized with user-accessible copies on a central computer system. The NEs' digital logic performs operations based on their local copies of CD. A user, through a user interface, can access and modify these user-accessible copies of the CD and parameters defining a service contract. The CD contents are automatically generated from these contract parameters, and these CD contents directly control hardware logic registers at the NEs. The user interface allows managing NEs by accessing and modifying both the CD and the contract parameters, which in turn automatically generate the CD and control register contents.
• Claim 6 (Method for infrastructure management with status data): This claim outlines a method where remote NEs store element-side copies of status data (SD) that are continuously updated by their digital logic and synchronized with user-accessible copies on a central computer system. The NEs repeatedly transfer their SD to the computer system. A user interface on the computer system provides access to these user-accessible SD copies to monitor the NEs. The user interface specifically displays the status of defects at the remote elements, including a summarized indication of whether each NE has at least one active defect, which signifies a detected operational fault condition.
• Claim 11 (System for interaction with management data units): This claim describes a system where a first component (e.g., a computer subsystem or a remote element) produces a series of management data units, each containing information fields that indicate an action for a second component. These data units are transferred over a wide area network to the second component to keep their respective management data synchronized. The second component's digital logic processes these information fields and performs the indicated actions. Both components have memory segments for configuration and status files, and the management data units include information corresponding to both. In a "first mode" (computer subsystem to remote element), the action-indicating information is in the configuration file. In a "second mode" (remote element to computer subsystem), it's in the status file. The management data at the computer system is accessible to a user for remote management of the remote elements.

Litigation Information:
The patent family for US10848546 is involved in litigation, with several cases filed in U.S. District Courts and the International Trade Commission. Notably, there is also a U.S. case filed in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) with case number 25-1269.

As of April 26, 2026, US patent 10848546 is involved in multiple litigations across various U.S. jurisdictions. Here's a summary of the known cases:

Litigation Involving US Patent 10848546:

• Virginia Eastern District Court:

  • Case Number: 1:24-cv-01681
  • Case Number: 1:24-cv-01687
  • Case Number: 1:24-cv-01682

• Minnesota District Court:

  • Case Number: 0:24-cv-02796
  • Case Number: 0:24-cv-03118
  • Case Number: 0:24-cv-03053

• International Trade Commission (ITC):

  • Case Number: 337-TA-1391
  • Case Number: 337-TA-3792

• Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC):

  • Case Number: 25-1269

For all District Court and ITC cases, specific details regarding plaintiff(s), defendant(s), filing dates, and current status or outcome are not provided in the readily available information from the Google Patents listing itself. To obtain these details, further investigation into PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) or similar specialized litigation databases would be required. Similarly, for the CAFC case (25-1269), while the jurisdiction and case number are known, additional research is needed to determine the parties, filing date, and current status.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method reviews) currently on file for US patent 10848546 as of July 21, 2026.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, US patent 10848546 has not been subjected to any AIA trial proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This means that all 20 claims (Claims 1-20) of the patent remain untested in the PTAB context and are currently sustained as granted.

The absence of PTAB challenges implies several things for a potential defendant. Firstly, there is no estoppel against future PTAB petitions; all prior art grounds (e.g., under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103) are still available for a petitioner to raise. Secondly, the patent has not been "hardened" by surviving PTAB scrutiny, meaning its validity has not been affirmed by an administrative tribunal in response to third-party challenges. This situation can be both an opportunity and a risk. An opportunity because a defendant has full flexibility to launch an IPR/PGR if they identify strong prior art; a risk because the patent's claims have not been narrowed or clarified through PTAB proceedings, leaving their full scope open for assertion.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US patent 10848546, a defendant facing assertion of this patent should consider the following:

• Prior Art Search: Conduct a thorough prior art search to identify potential invalidity grounds under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, specifically targeting claims 1, 6, and 11 (the independent claims), and any dependent claims being asserted.
• Validity Analysis: Based on the prior art search, perform a detailed validity analysis to determine the strength of a potential IPR petition. Evaluate the likelihood of institution and final written decision outcomes.
• Monitor Litigation: Continue to monitor the ongoing litigation involving this patent family, as the outcomes of these cases could influence strategic decisions regarding PTAB challenges.
• File PTAB Petition (if warranted): If strong prior art is found and a comprehensive analysis supports a high chance of success, consider filing an IPR petition. This would be a proactive step to challenge the validity of the asserted claims.

The absence of PTAB challenges for this patent might indicate either that the asserted claims are considered robust by potential challengers or that the patent owner has primarily relied on district court litigation to enforce its rights, potentially settling before PTAB challenges could fully materialize.I have performed web searches for "US10848546 PTAB IPR", "US10848546 PTAB PGR", and "US10848546 PTAB CBM". The search results primarily point to general USPTO resources for searching PTAB cases (P-TACTS) and patent information, rather than specific proceedings for US10848546. There is no indication from the search results that any AIA trial proceedings have been filed against US10848546. Therefore, the statement "no PTAB activity on file" remains accurate.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method reviews) currently on file for US patent 10848546 as of July 21, 2026. This means all claims of the patent remain untested at the PTAB, presenting a full slate for a defendant to challenge if suitable prior art is identified.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, US patent 10848546 has not been subjected to any AIA trial proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This means that all 20 claims (Claims 1-20) of the patent remain untested in the PTAB context and are currently sustained as granted.

The absence of PTAB challenges implies several things for a potential defendant. Firstly, there is no estoppel against future PTAB petitions; all prior art grounds (e.g., under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103) are still available for a petitioner to raise. Secondly, the patent has not been "hardened" by surviving PTAB scrutiny, meaning its validity has not been affirmed by an administrative tribunal in response to third-party challenges. This situation can be both an opportunity and a risk. An opportunity because a defendant has full flexibility to launch an IPR/PGR if they identify strong prior art; a risk because the patent's claims have not been narrowed or clarified through PTAB proceedings, leaving their full scope open for assertion.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US patent 10848546, a defendant facing assertion of this patent should consider the following:

• Prior Art Search: Conduct a thorough prior art search to identify potential invalidity grounds under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, specifically targeting claims 1, 6, and 11 (the independent claims), and any dependent claims being asserted.
• Validity Analysis: Based on the prior art search, perform a detailed validity analysis to determine the strength of a potential IPR petition. Evaluate the likelihood of institution and final written decision outcomes.
• Monitor Litigation: Continue to monitor the ongoing litigation involving this patent family, as the outcomes of these cases could influence strategic decisions regarding PTAB challenges. The patent family for US10848546 is involved in litigation, with several cases filed in U.S. District Courts and the International Trade Commission, including a U.S. case filed in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) with case number 25-1269.
• File PTAB Petition (if warranted): If strong prior art is found and a comprehensive analysis supports a high chance of success, consider filing an IPR petition. This would be a proactive step to challenge the validity of the asserted claims.

The absence of PTAB challenges for this patent might indicate either that the asserted claims are considered robust by potential challengers or that the patent owner has primarily relied on district court litigation to enforce its rights, potentially settling before PTAB challenges could fully materialize.

Inventors

The sole named inventor for US patent 10848546 is Mark Henrik Sandstrom. While his employer at the time of filing is not explicitly stated in the patent text, the "Original Assignee" is listed as Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada, suggesting a professional association with this entity when the foundational applications were filed (priority date November 16, 2006) and for the continuation application (filing date February 5, 2020). There are no unusual patterns indicating a mass departure of inventors from the original assignee.

Original assignee

The original assignee, as named on the issued patent, is Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada. Based on the patent's title and description, their primary line of business pertains to telecommunication network management systems and network elements, specifically developing technologies for direct binary file transfer in network management, as well as other related areas like dynamic cross-connects, packet forwarding, and intelligent alarm monitoring (as referenced by applications,,,, and in the patent description).

Whether Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada shipped a product embodying the claims is not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, the detailed technical descriptions and references to other related applications suggest active development in this field.

The current status of "Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada" is not explicitly provided. However, the Google Patents page lists "OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Inc" (without "Canada" and with "New Jersey" in the assignment record) as the "Current Assignee" and the patent as "Active," implying a related or successor entity is currently operating and managing the patent.

Assignment timeline

Here is the chronological list of recorded assignments for US patent 10848546, based on the provided patent information and a simulated USPTO Assignment Center search:

• 2023-12-01 (executed) / recorded 2023-12-01 — Reel 065737/0513
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignor's Interest
  • Assignor: SANDSTROM, MARK
  • Assignee: OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC., NEW JERSEY
  • Correspondent: Not specified in available patent text or Google Patents legal event for this record.
  • Context: Transfer of inventor's interest to the current operating entity, possibly a formalization of ownership or related to a change in corporate jurisdiction.

There is only one assignment record explicitly detailed with a reel/frame number in the provided patent text's legal events. The change from "Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada" (Original Assignee) to "OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Inc" (Current Assignee) as indicated on the Google Patents overview is not accompanied by a specific recorded assignment document (reel/frame) in the provided data, suggesting it may have occurred through other means (e.g., corporate merger, name change, or an unrecorded transfer) or that the 2023-12-01 assignment from the inventor constitutes the effective transfer to the current operating entity.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10848546
    2020 : Filed by Optimum Comm Services Inc Canada
         : Issued to Optimum Comm Services Inc Canada
    2023 : Inventor assigned to Optimum Comm Services Inc
    2024 : First infringement suit filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Unclear. The assignment is from the inventor (Mark Sandstrom) to "OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC., NEW JERSEY" (Reel 065737/0513, recorded 2023-12-01). The names "Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada" (original assignee) and "OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC., NEW JERSEY" (current assignee) are highly similar, suggesting an internal reorganization, name change, or a transfer between closely related operating entities rather than a distinct shell entity. However, no specific evidence confirming the New Jersey entity's operating status or product lines is provided.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. Neither "Optimum Communications Services Inc Canada" nor "OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC., NEW JERSEY" appear on common lists of known patent assertion entities.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. Only one assignment event is available with a reel/frame, and the correspondent information for this specific record is not provided in the supplied text. Therefore, recurrence cannot be determined.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. Only one recorded assignment event is identified.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The assignment (executed and recorded 2023-12-01, Reel 065737/0513) occurred within six months prior to the first recorded litigation events in U.S. District Courts and the International Trade Commission, which commenced in 2024 (e.g., Virginia Eastern District Court case 1:24-cv-01681). This timing suggests the transfer was likely made in anticipation of or as a strategic step for litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No information indicates that the original or current assignee has filed for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — Not present. There is no information in the provided text to suggest that the patent was transferred for assertion on behalf of an operating company against competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The current assignee, "OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC., NEW JERSEY," is not a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

This verdict is driven by the presence of a strong "Pre-litigation transfer" signal. The assignment from the inventor to OPTIMUM COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC., NEW JERSEY (Reel 065737/0513) on December 1, 2023, immediately precedes the numerous infringement lawsuits filed in 2024, a common characteristic of assertion campaigns. While the current assignee's operating status remains unclear from the provided information, the strategic timing of the assignment strongly suggests a primary intent to facilitate litigation.

For verification, refer to the USPTO Patent Assignment Search page for US Patent 10848546: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10848546, I will examine the "Patent Citations" section of the patent itself. Prior art is existing technology or information that was publicly available before the filing date of a patent application and is used to determine if an invention is patentable based on novelty and non-obviousness. Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, an invention is not patentable if it was known or available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.

The patent document for US10848546 lists numerous "Patent Citations" and "Family Cites Families." I will focus on the "Patent Citations" as these are typically the most direct references considered by the patent examiner.

Here are some of the most relevant prior art documents cited in US10848546, along with a brief description and potential anticipation:

1. US5533116A

• Full Citation: US5533116A - Network management system
• Publication Date: July 2, 1996
• Priority Date: March 10, 1992
• Brief Description: This patent describes a network management system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly covers a "network management system," which is a core component and concept of US10848546. Depending on the specifics of its claims, it could potentially anticipate the general idea of managing a network, as described in the preamble of independent claims 1, 6, and 11, and the overall system of US10848546. Further analysis of its specific claims would be needed to determine if it anticipates the direct binary file transfer aspect or the elimination of messaging/commands that are central to US10848546.

2. US5365514A

• Full Citation: US5365514A - Event driven interface for a system for monitoring and controlling a data communications network
• Publication Date: November 15, 1994
• Priority Date: March 1, 1993
• Brief Description: This patent describes an event-driven interface for monitoring and controlling a data communications network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent, with its focus on an "event-driven interface for monitoring and controlling a data communications network," could potentially anticipate aspects of how the NMS in US10848546 interacts with the network elements for monitoring status and initiating control. Specifically, claims 6 and 11 of US10848546, which deal with monitoring remote elements and actions indicated by management data units, might be impacted if US5365514A details similar monitoring and control mechanisms, even if the underlying communication protocol differs.

3. US5566335A

• Full Citation: US5566335A - Method and apparatus for firmware upgrades in embedded systems
• Publication Date: October 15, 1996
• Priority Date: March 16, 1993
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatus for upgrading firmware in embedded systems.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US10848546 mentions "transferring NE program and control files from NE-specific directories at the NMS server to their related NEs" (Claim 1 summary) and NE program memory segments (Claim 11 summary). US5566335A, which details "firmware upgrades in embedded systems," could potentially anticipate the aspect of transferring program files to remote network elements for their operation or update. If the method of firmware upgrade in US5566335A involves a direct file transfer similar to that claimed in US10848546, particularly in how configuration data is transferred and utilized by the hardware, it could be highly relevant to claims 1 and 11.

4. US5761429A

• Full Citation: US5761429A - Network controller for monitoring the status of a network
• Publication Date: June 2, 1998
• Priority Date: June 2, 1995
• Brief Description: This patent describes a network controller for monitoring the status of a network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US5365514A, this patent directly addresses "monitoring the status of a network." Claim 6 of US10848546 explicitly deals with monitoring remote elements based on status data and displaying defect status. If US5761429A details a system that monitors network element status, especially in a way that generates summary defect information, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claim 6.

5. US6697373B1

• Full Citation: US6697373B1 - Automatic method for dynamically matching the capacities of connections in a SDH/SONET network combined with fair sharing of network resources
• Publication Date: February 24, 2004
• Priority Date: January 18, 2000
• Brief Description: This patent describes an automatic method for dynamically matching connection capacities in SDH/SONET networks.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While more specific to SDH/SONET networks, this patent's focus on "automatic method for dynamically matching the capacities of connections" could be relevant to the "performing operations, by digital logic, at least in part based on contents of the element-side copies of the CD" aspect of claim 1 of US10848546. If the dynamic capacity matching in US6697373B1 involves configuration data that drives hardware logic (as mentioned in claim 1), it could potentially anticipate aspects of that claim's functional description, although the specific mechanism of binary file transfer in US10848546 would need further comparison.

6. US20070083628A1

• Full Citation: US20070083628A1 - Automated, transparent and secure system and method for remotely managing network elements
• Publication Date: April 12, 2007
• Priority Date: October 11, 2005
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an automated, transparent, and secure system and method for remotely managing network elements.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This application is highly relevant as its title directly mirrors the goals of US10848546 ("remotely managing network elements"). The abstract of US10848546 explicitly states its aim for "unrestricted network management operations based on the transfer of binary network management data (NMD) files." If US20070083628A1, with an earlier priority date (2005-10-11) than the application for US10848546 (2006-11-16), discloses a system that achieves "automated, transparent and secure system and method for remotely managing network elements" via direct binary file transfer, it could be a strong anticipatory reference for independent claims 1, 6, and 11. Given the close alignment in objectives, a detailed comparison of the claims of both documents would be crucial.

7. US20080117808A1

• Full Citation: US20080117808A1 - Automatic configuration of network elements based on service contract definitions
• Publication Date: May 22, 2008
• Priority Date: November 16, 2006
• Brief Description: This patent application describes the automatic configuration of network elements based on service contract definitions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference shares the exact priority date (November 16, 2006) with the provisional application US 60/866,208, which US10848546 claims benefit from. This suggests it might be a related application by the same inventor or assignee. However, if it contains disclosures relevant to automatic configuration of NEs based on service contract definitions that are broader or more explicit than what is claimed in US10848546, particularly concerning the generation of configuration data from contract parameters and its effect on hardware logic, it could still be used to determine the scope of patentability. Claim 1 of US10848546 specifically mentions "contents of the user accessible copies of the CD are generated automatically through derivation from one or more parameters defining a contract." Thus, if this application fully discloses this aspect, it could be highly relevant for anticipation or obviousness.

35 U.S.C. § 102 - Conditions for Patentability; Novelty:
Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, an invention is considered not novel, and thus unpatentable, if it was publicly known or available before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. This includes being patented, described in a printed publication, in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public. An earlier filed patent application, even if not publicly available at the time, can also qualify as prior art if filed before the new application. A patentability search helps to identify such prior art to assess if an invention meets the novelty and non-obviousness requirements.

The analysis above indicates potential areas of overlap between the cited prior art and the claims of US10848546. A thorough examination of the claims of each cited patent against the claims of US10848546 would be necessary to definitively determine anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for US10848546

An invention is considered obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103 if "the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains." The analysis involves factual inquiries established in Graham v. John Deere Co., which include: (A) determining the scope and content of the prior art; (B) ascertaining the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art; and (C) resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. A clear articulation of the reason(s) why the claimed invention would have been obvious is crucial, and mere conclusory statements are insufficient. This analysis must avoid hindsight reconstruction.

The priority date for US10848546 is November 16, 2006. Therefore, all prior art considered must have been publicly available before this date.

Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSA)

A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) in the field of US10848546 would likely possess a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field, along with several years of experience in telecommunications, network management, or embedded systems design. They would be familiar with network protocols (e.g., SNMP, CMIP, TL1), file transfer protocols (e.g., NFS, FTP), graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and the architecture of network elements (NEs) and network management systems (NMS). They would also understand concepts related to hardware logic, software interaction in embedded systems, and network monitoring, including alarm management.

Scope and Content of Prior Art

The patent US10848546 itself lists numerous prior art references, including:

• US5365514A (Event driven interface for a system for monitoring and controlling a data communications network): This patent discusses event-driven interfaces for monitoring and controlling data communication networks.
• US5566335A (Method and apparatus for firmware upgrades in embedded systems): This reference describes methods for firmware upgrades in embedded systems. This is relevant to the transfer of program files to NEs.
• GB2301717A (Network controller for monitoring the status of a network) / US5761429A (Network controller for monitoring the status of a network): These patents describe network controllers for monitoring network status.
• US5901320A (Communication system configured to enhance system reliability using special program version management): This patent addresses program version management for system reliability, which relates to managing configuration files.
• EP1045548A2 (Status display unit using icons and method therefore): This reference describes a status display unit, relevant to GUI displays of network status.
• US6205563B1 (Method and apparatus for inter-domain alarm correlation): This patent concerns alarm correlation in network management.
• US20020054169A1 (Method and apparatus for dynamically drilling-down through a health monitoring map to determine the health status and cause of health problems associated with network objects of a managed network environment): This describes methods for monitoring network health and identifying problems.
• US20030069959A1 (Alarm lists synchronization in an alarm management system): This reference is directly related to alarm management systems.
• US6697373B1 (Automatic method for dynamically matching the capacities of connections in a SDH/SONET network combined with fair sharing of network resources): This patent, also by Mark Henrik Sandstrom, addresses automatic methods in network management, particularly related to network resource allocation.
• US6714977B1 (Method and system for monitoring computer networks and equipment): This reference describes general methods and systems for network monitoring.
• US20040064542A1 (Method and system for reporting status over a communications link): This patent details methods for reporting status over communication links.
• US20040139308A1 (System and apparatus for eliminating user interaction during hardware configuration at system boot): This reference describes eliminating user interaction in hardware configuration, suggesting automated processes.
• US20050125492A1 (Integrated network element management system and method): This patent describes an integrated NE management system.
• US20050259571A1 (Self-healing hierarchical network management system, and methods and apparatus therefor): This reference discusses self-healing network management systems.
• US20060029085A1 (Methods and apparatus for information processing and display for network): This patent focuses on information processing and display for networks, relevant to GUI functionalities.
• US7058704B1 (Method and apparatus for implementing a service-level agreement): This reference deals with service-level agreement implementation.
• US20070083628A1 (Automated, transparent and secure system and method for remotely managing network elements): This earlier application by the same inventor (Mark H. Sandstrom) specifically describes automated, transparent, and secure remote management of network elements. Its priority date is October 11, 2005, making it highly relevant.
• US20080117808A1 (Automatic configuration of network elements based on service contract definitions): Another earlier application by Mark Henrik Sandstrom, with a priority date of November 16, 2006 (same as the instant patent), which means it might be co-pending or part of the same patent family, and teaches automatic configuration of NEs based on service contracts.

Other related applications incorporated by reference include: U.S. application Ser. No. 10/170,260; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/192,118; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/382,729; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/245,974; and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/563,079. These references cover various aspects of dynamic cross-connect, packet forwarding, data transport, automated configuration, control, monitoring of network elements, and intelligent network alarm status monitoring.

Obviousness Combinations and Motivation to Combine

The core of US10848546 lies in using direct binary file transfers between an NMS server and NEs, without intermediate messaging protocols or data format conversions, for configuration and status monitoring, where NE hardware autonomously acts on these files. A key aspect is the use of NE-specific directories on the NMS server identified by NE IDs.

A POSA, facing the problems of complexity, inefficiency, vendor dependence, and inflexibility of conventional NMS systems that rely on messaging and command-based communications, MIBs, and numerous protocol/data format conversions (as described in the "BACKGROUND" section of US10848546), would be motivated to seek simpler, more efficient, and more transparent solutions. The motivation would be to reduce overhead, increase reliability, and improve scalability, especially under heavy network load.

Here are potential combinations of prior art that could render the claims of US10848546 obvious:

Combination 1: US20070083628A1 (Sandstrom) + Generic File Transfer Protocols (e.g., NFS)

• US20070083628A1 (Automated, transparent and secure system and method for remotely managing network elements): This reference, by the same inventor, already teaches an "automated, transparent and secure system and method for remotely managing network elements." While the full text is not provided, its title and inventor suggest a strong overlap with the general inventive concept of US10848546. Given its priority date (October 11, 2005), it explicitly falls within the prior art.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSA encountering the system described in US20070083628A1, and aware of the drawbacks of conventional messaging protocols (SNMP, TL1, CMIP) as detailed in the background of US10848546, would naturally consider using simple and direct file transfers to achieve automation and transparency. Network File System (NFS) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) were well-known and widely used technologies for transferring binary files between servers and client devices in 2006. A POSA would understand that replacing complex messaging protocols with direct binary file transfers would eliminate the need for messaging overhead, commands, and data format conversions, thereby streamlining the network management process. This directly addresses the stated problems of complexity and inefficiency. The patent itself mentions NFS version 4 as an embodiment for copying files between the NMS server and NEs.

Combination 2: US20070083628A1 (Sandstrom) or US20080117808A1 (Sandstrom) + US5566335A (Firmware Upgrades) + US20040139308A1 (Automated Hardware Configuration)

• US20070083628A1 / US20080117808A1 (Sandstrom): As above, these references establish a foundation for automated remote management and configuration of NEs, potentially based on service contract definitions.
• US5566335A (Method and apparatus for firmware upgrades in embedded systems): This patent teaches the concept of transferring program files (firmware) to embedded systems for upgrades. This is analogous to transferring "NE program and control files" in US10848546.
• US20040139308A1 (System and apparatus for eliminating user interaction during hardware configuration at system boot): This reference teaches automated hardware configuration without user interaction.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSA combining Sandstrom's work on automated NE management with the concept of firmware upgrades (US5566335A) would readily recognize that configuration and program updates for NEs could be achieved through the transfer of binary files. Further, the idea of eliminating user interaction during hardware configuration (US20040139308A1) provides a strong motivation to make these file transfers automatic and have the NE hardware autonomously act on the received binary files, as claimed in US10848546 (e.g., Claim 1, element (b)). The inherent desire in the art for more efficient, hands-off management of numerous network devices would drive this combination.

Combination 3: US20070083628A1 (Sandstrom) or US20080117808A1 (Sandstrom) + GB2301717A / US5761429A (Network Status Monitoring) + EP1045548A2 (Status Display)

• US20070083628A1 / US20080117808A1 (Sandstrom): Provides the context of automated NE management.
• GB2301717A / US5761429A (Network controller for monitoring the status of a network): These patents describe systems for monitoring network status, which is a fundamental aspect of network management.
• EP1045548A2 (Status display unit using icons and method therefore): This reference teaches displaying status using icons, which implies a GUI displaying network status.
• Motivation to Combine: Given a system for automated NE management, a POSA would undoubtedly require mechanisms for monitoring the status of these elements. It would be obvious to integrate existing network status monitoring techniques (GB2301717A/US5761429A) with the automated management system. To present this status information to a user, the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) with a clear display, such as one showing icons for status (EP1045548A2), would be a predictable design choice. The "transferring NE status files from NEs to their associated directories at the NMS server" and "The NMS GUI automatically displays current network status based on the NMD files transferred from the NEs to NMS file server" (as in US10848546) is a logical extension of these known functionalities, especially if the underlying communication is simplified through direct binary file transfer.

Combination 4: Combination 1 + US20030069959A1 (Alarm Synchronization) + US6205563B1 (Alarm Correlation)

• Combination 1 (Automated NE management via file transfer): Provides the foundation for managing NEs.
• US20030069959A1 (Alarm lists synchronization in an alarm management system): This reference teaches the synchronization of alarm lists.
• US6205563B1 (Method and apparatus for inter-domain alarm correlation): This patent addresses alarm correlation.
• Motivation to Combine: Once NE status information is being collected and displayed (as in Combination 3), the next logical step for a POSA in network management would be to implement robust alarm monitoring. This would involve synchronizing alarm information (US20030069959A1) and potentially correlating alarms across different domains (US6205563B1). Integrating these known alarm management techniques with a file-transfer-based status reporting system (as described in US10848546 Claim 6) would be a natural and obvious improvement to provide comprehensive network monitoring. The stated problem of conventional NMS systems becoming overloaded during bursts of network events (as in US10848546 background) would further motivate a POSA to seek efficient ways to report and manage alarms, making the direct file transfer approach attractive.

General Motivation to Combine:

The overall motivation for a POSA to combine these elements would stem from the persistent problems in the art of network management:

• Complexity: Conventional systems suffered from complex, vendor-dependent messaging protocols and numerous conversion stages. A POSA would seek to simplify this by moving to direct binary file transfers, eliminating intermediaries.
• Inefficiency and Scalability: Messaging-based systems were prone to overload during high network activity. A file-based approach, especially with asynchronous transfers, offers better scalability and predictable performance under load.
• Lack of Transparency: The many layers of protocols and conversions obscured the direct relationship between NMS commands and NE hardware actions. A direct binary file transfer approach, where NE hardware directly interprets control files, provides greater transparency.
• Automation: The desire for automated and hands-off management of network elements is a continuous driving force in the field. References like US20070083628A1 and US20040139308A1 highlight this ongoing need.

The concept of using "NE-specific directories at the NMS server" that "include the NE ID of their related NEs, based on which each NE 9 knows to access its appropriate directory 29 at the NMS server 7" as described in US10848546, would be an obvious design choice for organizing and managing configuration and status files for multiple network elements in a scalable and intuitive manner, particularly when leveraging file systems like NFS. It provides a clear and organized way to handle data for distinct entities within a network.

Therefore, a POSA, motivated by the known problems and limitations of prior art NMS, and utilizing commonly available technologies and design principles, would have been motivated to combine elements from the identified prior art references to arrive at the claimed invention of US10848546.