US 11664926

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 11664926:

US Patent 11664926 Summary

• Title: Aggregated-MPDU, method for transmitting response frame thereto, and wireless communication terminal using same
• Assignee: Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc
• Inventors: Woojin AHN, Juhyung Son, Geonjung KO, Jinsam Kwak
• Filing Date: January 25, 2021
• Issue Date: May 30, 2023
• Abstract: The patent describes a wireless communication method and a wireless communication terminal for setting various formats of Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Units (A-MPDUs) and their corresponding response frames to perform efficient data communication. The invention aims to provide high-efficiency/high-performance wireless LAN communication in high-density environments. The method involves a processor generating an A-MPDU, transmitting it to a recipient, receiving a response frame, and determining the success of MPDU transmissions within the A-MPDU based on the received response frame.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent contains four independent claims (Claims 1, 9, 10, and 18).

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a wireless communication terminal (e.g., a device like a smartphone or laptop) that has a processor and a communication unit. The terminal's processor is configured to:

  1. Create an Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) that includes one or more MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) which specifically request an immediate acknowledgment.
  2. Send this A-MPDU to another device (recipient).
  3. Receive a response frame from the recipient that corresponds to the A-MPDU.
  4. Determine if the MPDU(s) sent within the A-MPDU were successfully transmitted based on the content of the received response frame.

• Independent Claim 9: This claim describes a wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication terminal. The method involves the following steps:

  1. Generating an Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) that contains one or more MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) which request an immediate response.
  2. Transmitting the generated A-MPDU to a recipient device.
  3. Receiving a response frame from the recipient, which corresponds to the A-MPDU.
  4. Determining whether the transmission of the MPDU(s) within the A-MPDU was successful based on the information in the received response frame.

• Independent Claim 10: This claim describes a wireless communication terminal that includes a processor and a communication unit. The processor in this terminal is configured to:

  1. Receive an Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) that is made up of one or more MPDUs.
  2. Decide what format the response frame for the received A-MPDU should take.
  3. Transmit a response frame using the determined format.

• Independent Claim 18: This claim describes a wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication terminal. The method involves the following steps:

  1. Receiving an Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) that consists of one or more MPDUs.
  2. Determining the appropriate format for a response frame that will acknowledge the received A-MPDU.
  3. Transmitting a response frame in the format that was determined.

Litigation Status:

As of April 26, 2026, the patent 11664926 is involved in litigation.

• A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-01165, was filed and is currently pending with institution. The petitioner is "Unified Patents PTAB Data".
• There are also multiple US cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court: 2:25-cv-00070, 2:25-cv-00069, and 2:24-cv-00766.
• The first worldwide family litigation was filed as well.

(No specific results from CAFC dockets for 2026 were found in the provided information, but the PTAB and District Court cases are noted.)

As a patent attorney, I have investigated litigation records for US patent 11664926. Here's what I've found:

Known Litigation Involving US Patent 11664926:

1. Case: IPR2025-01165

   • Plaintiff(s): Unified Patents LLC
   • Defendant(s): Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc (patent owner)
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01165
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets, but IPR cases are filed with the PTAB.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Pending - Instituted [cite: The patent text indicates "PTAB case IPR2025-01165 filed (Pending - Instituted)"]

2. Case: 2:25-cv-00070

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: The patent text indicates "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court"]
   • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00070
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (current status is "case filed") [cite: The patent text indicates "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court"]

3. Case: 2:25-cv-00069

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: The patent text indicates "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court"]
   • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00069
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (current status is "case filed") [cite: The patent text indicates "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court"]

4. Case: 2:24-cv-00766

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court [cite: The patent text indicates "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court"]
   • Case Number: 2:24-cv-00766
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided snippets.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (current status is "case filed") [cite: The patent text indicates "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court"]

It is also noted that the patent family has first worldwide family litigation filed, as indicated by Darts-ip. [cite: The patent text indicates "First worldwide family litigation filed"] However, specific details such as plaintiff(s), defendant(s), jurisdiction, case number, filing date, and outcome or current status for this worldwide litigation are not provided in the given information.

Proceedings overview

There is one active AIA trial proceeding associated with US patent 11664926, which is currently in the trial instituted phase. This means the patent's claims are actively being challenged, and no final decision on their validity has been issued yet. The defensive posture for a defendant is that some claims are under active review at the PTAB, but have not been invalidated.

IPR2025-01165 — [[[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.) v. Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-06-24
• Status: Trial Instituted (The PTAB has decided to initiate a review of the challenged claims).
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific Administrative Patent Judges on the panel is not readily available through general public search at this stage.
• Petition grounds: Specific details on which claims were challenged, the prior art asserted, and the statutory bases (§ 102 for anticipation, § 103 for obviousness) require access to the petition or institution decision document, which is not publicly available in detail through general search. However, based on the patent's nature (wireless communication, A-MPDU), the challenges would likely involve prior art related to aggregation methods and response frames in wireless LAN systems.
• Institution decision: The trial was instituted. The exact date of institution is not explicitly stated in the provided context, but given the filing date of 2025-06-24 and typical PTAB timelines, the institution decision would have occurred approximately six months after filing, around December 2025 or January 2026. The reasoning for institution would typically involve the PTAB panel determining that the petitioner demonstrated a reasonable likelihood that at least one of the challenged claims is unpatentable.
• Final Written Decision: Not yet issued. The PTAB has a statutory deadline of one year from institution to issue a Final Written Decision. Given an approximate institution date of late 2025/early 2026, the FWD would be expected around late 2026 or early 2027.
• Settlement / termination: No public information indicates a settlement or termination.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as a Final Written Decision has not been issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that some claims of US11664926 are currently facing a patentability challenge at the PTAB. While the trial is ongoing, no claims have been invalidated. A defendant should monitor this IPR closely, as an unfavorable outcome for the patent owner could significantly weaken the patent's enforceability. Conversely, if the patent owner prevails, the claims will be strengthened against similar prior art challenges.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, no claims of US11664926 have been canceled or sustained by a Final Written Decision at the PTAB. The patent is actively undergoing one Inter Partes Review, IPR2025-01165, where certain claims are being challenged. All claims are currently considered untested in terms of a final PTAB ruling.

The estoppel landscape has not yet fully formed for this patent. Once a Final Written Decision is issued in IPR2025-01165, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and its privies will be estopped from asserting invalidity grounds they raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR against the claims that survive. Other potential defendants not in privy with Samsung would not be subject to this estoppel for IPR2025-01165 and could still challenge the patent on grounds raised or unraised by Samsung.

Regarding pattern signals, the current assignee is Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc., which indicates a likely licensing or assertion entity. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a large operating company, and their decision to file an IPR suggests they are likely a defendant or potential defendant in litigation involving this patent. While Unified Patents is mentioned as a data source on the Google Patents page, the canonical list provided for IPR2025-01165 explicitly names Samsung as the petitioner.

Recommended next steps

The IPR2025-01165 proceeding is active and in the trial stage. Key upcoming milestones include:

• Oral Hearing: Typically held a few months before the Final Written Decision.
• Final Written Decision (FWD) Due Date: One year from the institution date (approximately late 2026/early 2027). The PTAB often issues FWDs close to this deadline.

A defendant facing assertion of this patent should closely monitor IPR2025-01165 via the USPTO PTAB E2E portal. The institution decision, when publicly available, would provide critical insight into the PTAB's initial assessment of the patentability of the challenged claims. The eventual Final Written Decision will definitively determine the patentability of the challenged claims, which will be highly influential in any ongoing or future litigation involving US11664926.

Inventors

• Woojin AHN (SK Telecom Co Ltd)
• Juhyung Son (SK Telecom Co Ltd)
• Geonjung KO (SK Telecom Co Ltd)
• Jinsam Kwak (SK Telecom Co Ltd)

Original assignee

The original assignee, SK Telecom Co Ltd, is a major South Korean telecommunications operator. They are an operating company that provides wireless, fixed-line, and other communication services. While direct evidence of a specific product embodying the claims of US11664926 was not found in the patent text, their core business of wireless communication would involve technologies like those described. SK Telecom Co Ltd is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

• 2022-12-18 (executed) / recorded 2022-12-18 — Reel 062152/0001
  • Conveyance: LICENSE (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS)
  • Assignor: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, JAEHWAN; SHIN & KIM
  • Context: exclusive license from operating company to another entity
• 2023-01-19 (executed) / recorded 2023-01-19 — Reel 062326/0003
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS)
  • Assignor: KWAK, JINSAM; AHN, WOOJIN; KO, GEONJUNG; SON, JUHYUNG (all inventors)
  • Assignee: SK TELECOM CO., LTD., WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, JAEHWAN; SHIN & KIM. This correspondent also appears on reel 062152/0001.
  • Context: Assignment of inventor's rights to both SK Telecom and Wilus.
• 2024-06-20 (executed) / recorded 2024-06-20 — Reel 064971/0002
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS)
  • Assignor: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, JAEHWAN; SHIN & KIM. This correspondent also appears on reel 062152/0001 and 062326/0003.
  • Context: Transfer of SK Telecom's interest to Wilus.
• 2025-02-26 (executed) / recorded 2025-02-26 — Reel 065715/0003
  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AGREEMENT DATE OF THE EXCLUSIVE LICENSE NOVEMBER 1, 2022 WRITTEN IN THE RECORDED AGREEMENT SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO AUGUST 31, 2020. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 62152 FRAME 1. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE EXCLUSIVE LICENSE.
  • Assignor: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
  • Assignee: WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Correspondent: SUH, JAEHWAN; SHIN & KIM. This correspondent also appears on reel 062152/0001, 062326/0003, and 064971/0002.
  • Context: Correction to a prior license agreement date.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11664926
    2021 : Filed by SK Telecom Co Ltd
    2022 : Licensed to Wilus Inst.
    2023 : Inventors assign to SKT & Wilus
         : Issued
    2024 : SKT assigns to Wilus Inst.
    2025 : Corrective assignment for license

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. While Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc. is now the current assignee, and its name could suggest a non-operating entity, there is no direct evidence in the provided patent text about its product lines, address (registered-agent service), or entity structure (e.g., single-member LLC) to confirm it is a shell entity.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. The current assignee, Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc., is not a publicly listed known NPE from the provided examples.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. SUH, JAEHWAN of SHIN & KIM appears as the correspondent on multiple assignments: 062152/0001 (2022-12-18), 062326/0003 (2023-01-19), 064971/0002 (2024-06-20), and 065715/0003 (2025-02-26).
4. Cascading transfers — not present. While there are multiple assignments, they occur over several years and are not consecutive transfers through chained LLCs in a short timeframe that would suggest a cascading pattern.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — present. The first district court case (2:24-cv-00766) was filed in 2024, and the final assignment of SK Telecom's interest to Wilus (Reel 064971/0002) was executed and recorded on 2024-06-20. This timing is within 6 months of the first litigation mentioned (though the exact filing date of 2:24-cv-00766 isn't provided, it's a 2024 case, so the June 2024 assignment is close enough to raise this signal). The IPR case was filed in 2025 (IPR2025-01165), also after the full assignment to Wilus.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication that SK Telecom Co Ltd filed for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — unclear. While SK Telecom initially licensed the patent and then assigned its interest, and litigation has commenced, there's no direct evidence (e.g., SEC filings) to confirm a privateering arrangement where Wilus is asserting on SK Telecom's behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The current assignee is Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc., which is not a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

This verdict is based on two key signals: the presence of a repeat correspondent (SUH, JAEHWAN of SHIN & KIM across reels 062152/0001, 062326/0003, 064971/0002, and 065715/0003) and the pre-litigation transfer of full ownership to Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc. on 2024-06-20, prior to the known 2024 and 2025 litigation (e.g., 2:24-cv-00766). While Wilus's nature as a shell entity is unclear, the pattern of an operating company transferring a patent shortly before assertion, handled by a consistent legal correspondent, suggests a likely assertion strategy by a non-practicing entity.

Verification on USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ [cite: The patent text indicates "USPTO Assignment"]

As a technical patent analyst, I will now identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 11664926 based on the provided patent text. The patent document itself lists prior art keywords and references cited during prosecution. I will extract the explicitly cited references within the patent to fulfill the request.

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 11664926

Based on the provided patent text, here are the prior art references explicitly mentioned in the document. The patent itself does not provide detailed descriptions of why each reference is cited or which specific claims it anticipates; therefore, I will infer general relevance based on their titles and the context of the present invention. Determining precise claim anticipation would require a more in-depth comparison of each claim's elements against the full disclosure of each prior art document.

The "Prior art keywords" listed are "mpdu", "frame", "response", "ack", and "tid" [cite: The patent text indicates "Prior art keywords mpdu frame response ack tid"].

The patent mentions "IEEE 802.11" standards extensively as background technology, including 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ad, and discusses next-generation wireless LAN standards [cite: The patent text indicates "IEEE 802.11 has commercialized or developed various technological standards since an initial wireless LAN technology is supported using frequencies of 2.4 GHz.", "the IEEE 802.11b supports a communication speed of a maximum of 11 Mbps while using frequencies of a 2.4 GHz band.", "IEEE 802.11a which is commercialized after the IEEE 802.11b uses frequencies of not the 2.4 GHz band but a 5 GHz band to reduce an influence by interference as compared with the frequencies of the 2.4 GHz band which are significantly congested and improves the communication speed up to a maximum of 54 Mbps by using an OFDM technology.", "IEEE 802.11g uses the frequencies of the 2.4 GHz band similarly to the IEEE 802.11b to implement the communication speed of a maximum of 54 Mbps and satisfies backward compatibility to significantly come into the spotlight and further, is superior to the IEEE 802.11a in terms of the communication distance.", "IEEE 802.11n As a technology standard established to overcome a limitation of the communication speed which is pointed out as a weak point in a wireless LAN, IEEE 802.11n has been provided.", "IEEE 802.11ac supports a wide bandwidth (80 to 160 MHz) in the 5 GHz frequencies.", "IEEE 802.11ad has been provided as a scheme that transmits data by using a 60 GHz band instead of the existing 2.4 GHz/5 GHz.", "next-generation wireless LAN standards after the 802.11ac and 802.11ad, discussion for providing a high-efficiency and high-performance wireless LAN communication technology in a high-density environment is continuously performed."]. These standards themselves, particularly those preceding the priority date of 2016-12-21, would constitute relevant prior art.

However, the patent text does not explicitly list specific patent or non-patent literature citations in the manner typically found in a "References Cited" section of a patent. Instead, it discusses the general state of the art and various IEEE 802.11 standards. To identify specific patent citations, I would typically look for a "References Cited" section, which is absent in the provided full patent text.

Therefore, I cannot provide a list of specific patent citations with full citation details, publication/filing dates, and descriptions, as that information is not present in the provided patent text.

If specific prior art documents (e.g., US Patents or Patent Applications) were cited by the examiner or applicant, they would typically be listed in a separate section of the patent document itself. Without such a section, any attempt to list "most relevant prior art" based solely on the provided text would be speculative.

To address the request about which claims might be anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102, I can offer general observations based on the common knowledge of wireless communication standards:

• Claims 1, 9 (Methods for transmitting A-MPDU and determining success): These claims revolve around generating A-MPDUs, transmitting them, receiving response frames, and determining transmission success. The concept of A-MPDU aggregation, immediate responses (like Acknowledgments or Block Acknowledgments), and mechanisms for determining transmission success are fundamental to various IEEE 802.11 standards, particularly 802.11n and 802.11ac, which introduced and refined A-MPDU [cite: The patent text indicates "the S-MPDU format may be used when only one MPDU is transmitted in the PPDU."]. Therefore, earlier versions of these standards or patents building upon them could potentially anticipate aspects of these claims, particularly regarding the basic aggregation and acknowledgment mechanisms. The novelty of the claimed invention likely lies in the specific formats of the A-MPDU and response frames, and the determination logic based on factors like the number of TIDs or MPDU delimiter information, especially in non-legacy (e.g., 802.11ax) systems [cite: The patent text indicates "the non-legacy wireless LAN system may refer to a wireless LAN system conforming to an IEEE 802.11ax standard"].
• Claims 10, 18 (Methods for receiving A-MPDU, determining response format, and transmitting response): These claims focus on the recipient's role in receiving an A-MPDU, determining the appropriate response frame format, and transmitting it. Similar to the above, the general concept of receiving aggregated frames and sending acknowledgments is long-standing in Wi-Fi. Prior art would likely be found in standards or patents that define how a recipient should generate different types of acknowledgment frames (e.g., Ack, BlockAck, Compressed BlockAck, Multi-STA BlockAck) based on the received data, particularly concerning the format of the A-MPDU (e.g., S-MPDU, single-TID A-MPDU, multi-TID A-MPDU) [cite: The patent text indicates "the structure of the response frame may be different according to the format of the A-MPDU received by the recipient."]. The novelty would likely reside in the specific criteria used for determining the response frame format, especially in high-density environments and with multiple TIDs as described in the patent.

To get the explicit list of prior art cited during the examination of US Patent 11664926, one would typically access the public PAIR (Patent Application Information Retrieval) system or Patent Center on the USPTO website. However, this information cannot be directly extracted from the provided patent text.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 11664926 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that could render the claims of US Patent 11664926 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA). The motivation to combine these references stems from the common objective in wireless communication to improve efficiency and throughput, especially in high-density environments, which is a well-known problem in the field.

A claim is obvious if, at the time of invention, a POSA would have been motivated to combine prior art teachings, or to modify prior art without a combination, to arrive at the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success. Motivation to combine can arise from the knowledge of those skilled in the art, the prior art reference itself, or the nature of the problem to be solved. Generalized assertions of technological predictability alone are insufficient.

Independent Claims 1 and 9 (Terminal and Method for Transmitting A-MPDU and Determining Success)

Claims 1 and 9 describe a wireless communication terminal and method for generating and transmitting an A-MPDU soliciting an immediate response, receiving a response frame, and determining transmission success based on the response.

Combination 1: IEEE 802.11 Standards (n/ac/ax) + US20170272138A1 + Common General Knowledge in WLAN

• IEEE 802.11n/ac/ax Standards: These standards widely disclose the use of A-MPDU aggregation to improve throughput and efficiency in WLANs by reducing overhead. A-MPDU aggregates multiple MPDUs, each with its own MAC header and FCS, allowing for selective retransmission of corrupted MPDUs. Block Acknowledgement (BA) mechanisms are also a key feature in these standards, enabling the acknowledgment of multiple received packets with a single BA frame, which is particularly relevant for A-MPDUs. The IEEE 802.11ax standard (non-legacy wireless LAN system) further enhances these capabilities, including increased A-MPDU sizes and support for multi-user (MU-MIMO) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) transmissions. The concept of an A-MPDU containing one or more MPDUs is fundamental to these standards. The patent itself notes that "the non-legacy wireless LAN system may refer to a wireless LAN system conforming to an IEEE 802.11ax standard."
• US20170272138A1 (Method for uplink multi-user transmission in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor): This reference explicitly mentions the use of an ACK frame as a response to an MPDU and a block ACK frame as a response to an A-MPDU. It also discusses the inclusion of padding bits for MPDU/A-MPDU configuration and the indication of A-MPDU length. This document, published in 2017, predates US11664926's priority date of 2016-12-21, making it relevant prior art.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSA in wireless communication would be motivated to combine the general A-MPDU aggregation techniques and BlockAck mechanisms of IEEE 802.11n/ac/ax with the explicit response frame definitions (ACK for MPDU, Block ACK for A-MPDU) found in US20170272138A1. The goal would be to efficiently manage acknowledgments for aggregated frames, especially in the context of high-throughput and multi-user environments addressed by 802.11ax. The problem of efficiently confirming successful transmission of aggregated data and managing retransmissions is inherent in these systems. The "nature of the problem to be solved" drives the combination, as optimizing data communication by effectively handling immediate responses for A-MPDUs is a continuous goal in WLAN development. A POSA would understand that a system transmitting A-MPDUs would require a robust mechanism for determining successful transmission, and that existing ACK/BlockAck frameworks could be adapted.

Independent Claims 10 and 18 (Terminal and Method for Receiving A-MPDU, Determining and Transmitting Response Frame Format)

Claims 10 and 18 describe a wireless communication terminal and method for receiving an A-MPDU, determining the format of a response frame, and transmitting that response.

Combination 2: IEEE 802.11 Standards (n/ac/ax) + KR20190089936A + Common General Knowledge in WLAN

• IEEE 802.11n/ac/ax Standards: As mentioned above, these standards lay the groundwork for A-MPDU structures, including MPDU delimiters, EOF fields, and the concept of different types of MPDUs (e.g., QoS data frames, Action frames, those soliciting immediate responses). They also establish the need for various response mechanisms like ACK and BlockAck (including Multi-STA BlockAck in 802.11ax). The evolution of A-MPDU formats, including multi-TID A-MPDUs, and the corresponding response mechanisms are discussed within the context of these standards.
• KR20190089936A (A set MPDU and a response frame transmission method therefor and a wireless communication terminal using the same): This patent application, with inventors identical to US11664926 and a priority date of 2016-12-21, describes generating an A-MPDU including MPDUs requesting an immediate response, transmitting it, receiving a response frame, and determining transmission success. While it is a similar invention, its publication date of July 26, 2019, makes it prior art to the filing date of US11664926 (January 25, 2021). Its claims directly mirror the independent claims of US11664926, indicating a very close relationship.
• Motivation to Combine: A POSA would be motivated to combine the established A-MPDU aggregation and response frame types of the IEEE 802.11 standards with the explicit methods for determining and transmitting response frame formats based on the content of the received A-MPDU as taught by KR20190089936A. This combination directly addresses the problem of efficiently handling various A-MPDU configurations and providing appropriate acknowledgments. The increasing complexity of A-MPDUs (e.g., multi-TID A-MPDUs) in newer standards like 802.11ax naturally leads to a need for intelligent determination of response frame formats to optimize channel utilization and reduce overhead. A POSA would aim to build on existing aggregation and acknowledgment schemes to create more flexible and efficient communication protocols in dense wireless environments. The shared problem of optimizing data communication in WLANs provides a strong motivation for such a combination.

Further Considerations for Obviousness:

• Increased A-MPDU Complexity: The patent US11664926 specifically addresses the challenges of "setting various formats of the aggregate MPDU and the response frame thereto" and dealing with "high-density environments." The evolution of WLAN standards, particularly with 802.11ax, has seen increased complexity in A-MPDU structures, including the aggregation of MPDUs from multiple Traffic IDs (TIDs) and various acknowledgment policies. This increasing complexity would inherently motivate a POSA to develop more sophisticated methods for processing received A-MPDUs and generating appropriate response frames.
• Efficiency and Overhead Reduction: A recurring theme in WLAN development is the reduction of overhead and improvement of efficiency. A-MPDU aggregation itself is a technique for reducing overhead. Therefore, any system that can intelligently adapt its response frame format based on the received A-MPDU content (e.g., number of TIDs, presence of immediate response requests) would be seen by a POSA as a desirable improvement to minimize unnecessary signaling and maximize throughput.
• Trigger Frames: The patent US11664926 also discusses the use of trigger frames to indicate information such as the maximum number of TIDs in an A-MPDU or to instruct channel sensing. The 802.11ax standard utilizes trigger frames for uplink multi-user transmissions, where an AP can trigger multiple stations to transmit. This pre-existing concept of using trigger frames to control station behavior in aggregated transmissions provides additional motivation for a POSA to use such information to optimize A-MPDU transmission and response mechanisms.

In conclusion, the core aspects of US Patent 11664926, involving flexible A-MPDU structures and intelligent response frame generation, appear to be a logical extension of existing IEEE 802.11 standards and common knowledge in the field, further supported by specific teachings in prior art such as US20170272138A1 and KR20190089936A, all driven by the continuous need to enhance efficiency and performance in wireless networks.

To provide a comprehensive analysis of US patent 11664926, I'll access the USPTO's Patent Center and Patent Public Search tools. However, as a large language model, I cannot directly interact with these live databases. My previous search results indicate that the USPTO does not calculate expiration dates but provides a calculator.

Based on the provided patent text and general patent law, here's what can be inferred and what would typically be sought from the USPTO databases:

For US Patent 11664926:

• Patent Term Adjustments (PTA): Patent Term Adjustments can be granted to compensate for delays caused by the USPTO during the patent prosecution process. These delays can include failing to issue a first office action within 14 months, failing to respond to an applicant's reply within four months, failing to issue a patent within four months of the issue fee payment, or failing to issue a patent within three years of the filing date. The exact amount of PTA would be indicated on the issue notification and the patent front page. To get the precise PTA, one would need to review the patent grant or the Patent Center file history.

• Patent Term Extensions (PTE): Patent Term Extensions are generally granted for delays related to regulatory review, such as by the FDA, or for certain appeals, interferences, or secrecy orders, though the primary context is often FDA approval. Since this patent appears to relate to wireless communication technology, it is less likely to have a PTE based on FDA approval. Any PTE would also be explicitly noted in the patent's record.

• Continuation Applications: A continuation application is filed to pursue additional claims to an invention disclosed in an earlier "parent" application that has not yet been issued or abandoned, using the same specification but different claims. It benefits from the priority date of the parent application. The patent text lists "US17/157,978" as an application number and "US20210152275A1" as another version. "US20210152275A1" is a patent application publication. To determine if US11664926 is a continuation of US17/157,978 (or if 17/157,978 is a continuation of something else), or if it has any continuations itself, one would typically examine the "Cross-Reference To Related Applications" section of the patent or its file wrapper in Patent Center.

• Divisional Applications: A divisional application contains subject matter from a previously filed "parent" application but is filed due to a "lack of unity of invention," meaning the parent application described more than one invention and the applicant was required to split it. Like continuations, divisionals retain the parent's filing date. The patent text does not explicitly mention any divisional applications. This information would be found in the "Cross-Reference To Related Applications" section or by reviewing the application family in Patent Center.

• Related Family Members: The patent text lists "US20210152275A1" as another version, which is a published patent application. This indicates a related family member. Further related family members (e.g., continuations-in-part, foreign equivalents, etc.) would be identified by searching patent family databases or the "Related U.S. Application Data" section on the patent's front page.

• Projected Expiration Date:

  • For U.S. utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally expires 20 years from the earliest filing date of the application, plus any Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) or Patent Term Extensions (PTE).
  • The earliest priority date for US11664926 is listed as December 21, 2016.
  • The filing date of the application leading to US11664926 is January 25, 2021.
  • The patent text states "Active, expires 2038-01-27" and "Adjusted expiration 2038-01-27".
  • Given the earliest priority date of 2016-12-21, a nominal 20-year term would end on 2036-12-21. The adjusted expiration date of 2038-01-27 suggests there has been a Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) of approximately 1 year, 1 month, and 6 days.

To precisely determine continuation/divisional status and official PTA/PTE, access to USPTO's Patent Center (patentcenter.uspto.gov) or Patent Public Search (ppubs.uspto.gov) would be necessary to review the full file history and any certificates of correction or PTA calculations.

Defensive Disclosure: Derivatives for US Patent 11664926

This document outlines various technical derivatives and combinations of the subject matter described in US Patent 11664926. The intent is to establish prior art for future incremental improvements by competitors, demonstrating the obviousness or lack of novelty of such variations within the scope of aggregated MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) handling and response frame mechanisms.

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Derivatives for Claims 1 & 9 (Transmitter Side: A-MPDU Generation, Transmission, and Success Determination)

1. Material & Component Substitution: Optical Transceiver for A-MPDU Communication

Enabling Description:
A wireless communication terminal integrates a coherent optical transceiver operating in the 1550 nm wavelength band for data transmission, replacing traditional radio frequency (RF) communication. The terminal's processor generates A-MPDUs, encapsulating one or more MAC Protocol Data Units (MPDUs) that solicit an immediate response. These electrical A-MPDU signals are fed into an optical modulator (e.g., Mach-Zehnder modulator with an external laser source) which converts them into coherent optical pulses. These pulses are transmitted over a free-space optical (FSO) link using a collimated beam. Upon receiving an optical response frame, a photodetector (e.g., InGaAs avalanche photodiode) converts the optical signal back into an electrical signal. The processor then analyzes this electrical response frame, performing cyclic redundancy checks (CRCs) and sequence number verification, to determine the successful transmission status of the constituent MPDUs within the original A-MPDU. This system utilizes forward error correction (FEC) coding within the optical payload for channel robustness, augmenting the A-MPDU's inherent error detection.

graph TD
    A[Processor] --> B{Generate A-MPDU};
    B --> C[Electrical Signal];
    C --> D[Optical Modulator];
    D --> E[FSO Link];
    E --> F[Optical Demodulator];
    F --> G[Photodetector];
    G --> H[Electrical Response];
    H --> I{Determine Success};
    I --> J[Output Status];

2. Operational Parameter Expansion: Nanoscale Inter-Chip A-MPDU Aggregation

Enabling Description:
Within a high-performance multi-core processor or System-on-Chip (SoC) architecture, the inter-core communication fabric employs A-MPDU aggregation. The "communication unit" consists of on-chip optical waveguides, plasmonic interconnects, or advanced electrical through-silicon vias (TSVs). A dedicated hardware accelerator (functioning as the "processor") on a source core aggregates micro-instruction blocks, cache coherence messages (e.g., MESI protocol messages), or memory access requests into a nanoscale A-MPDU. These MPDUs solicit immediate responses (e.g., cache line grants, memory write acknowledgments). The aggregated A-MPDU is transmitted at picosecond latencies across the on-chip interconnect. A receiving core's hardware accelerator processes the A-MPDU and generates a compact response frame (e.g., a single bit-vector acknowledgment) indicating the successful processing or execution of the aggregated messages.

graph TD
    A[Source Core Processor] --> B{Aggregate Micro-Instructions / Coherence Msgs into A-MPDU};
    B --> C[On-chip Interconnect (Optical/Plasmonic/TSV)];
    C --> D[Receiving Core Processor];
    D --> E{Generate Response Frame};
    E --> F[On-chip Interconnect (Optical/Plasmonic/TSV)];
    F --> G[Source Core Processor];
    G --> H{Determine Success (e.g., Cache Hit/Miss, Instruction Complete)};

3. Cross-Domain Application: Maritime Acoustic A-MPDU for Underwater AUVs

Enabling Description:
In an underwater acoustic sensor network, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) utilize A-MPDU aggregation for efficient communication. The AUV's main controller (processor) aggregates various data types such as sonar pings, environmental sensor readings (temperature, salinity), and mission status updates into A-MPDUs. Each MPDU within the A-MPDU is tagged to solicit an immediate acoustic response. These A-MPDUs are then transmitted via a directional acoustic transducer (communication unit) using frequency-hopping spread spectrum or orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) acoustic modulation. Upon reception by another AUV or a surface buoy, an acoustic hydrophone array detects the signal. The receiving AUV's processor demodulates and decodes the A-MPDU, determines the integrity of individual MPDUs, and generates an acoustic response frame (e.g., a compressed BlockAck or an M-BA equivalent) indicating which aggregated data blocks were successfully received, which is then acoustically transmitted back.

sequenceDiagram
    participant A as AUV Transmitter
    participant B as Underwater Channel
    participant C as AUV Recipient

    A->>B: Transmit Aggregated Sensor Data A-MPDU (Acoustic)
    activate B
    B-->>C: A-MPDU Received
    deactivate B
    C->>C: Process A-MPDU; Determine MPDU success
    C->>C: Generate Acoustic Response Frame (e.g., M-BA)
    C->>B: Transmit Response Frame (Acoustic)
    activate B
    B-->>A: Response Frame Received
    deactivate B
    A->>A: Determine A-MPDU Transmission Success based on Response

4. Integration with Emerging Tech: AI-Driven A-MPDU Content & Schedule Optimization

Enabling Description:
A wireless communication terminal's processor is augmented with an integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) inference engine (e.g., a specialized ASIC or a reconfigurable FPGA fabric running a lightweight neural network). This AI engine dynamically optimizes the A-MPDU generation process. It uses real-time channel quality indicators (CQI), predicted traffic load, historical retransmission rates, and application-specific Quality of Service (QoS) requirements as inputs. Before generating an A-MPDU, the AI engine predicts the optimal number of MPDUs to aggregate, the specific Traffic IDs (TIDs) to include for immediate response solicitation, and the optimal transmission parameters (e.g., MCS, transmit power). This dynamic optimization aims to maximize A-MPDU delivery success and minimize overall latency by predicting recipient acknowledgment capabilities and channel stability. The processor then generates the A-MPDU based on the AI's recommendations, transmits it, and uses the received response frame as feedback to further train or fine-tune the AI model.

graph TD
    A[Application Data] --> B{AI Optimizer};
    C[Channel State Info] --> B;
    D[Historical Tx Data] --> B;
    B --> E[Optimized A-MPDU Params];
    E --> F[Processor: Generate A-MPDU];
    F --> G[Communication Unit: Transmit A-MPDU];
    G --> H[Communication Unit: Receive Response];
    H --> I[Processor: Determine Success];
    I --> J[Feedback to AI Optimizer];
    I --> K[Output Tx Status];

5. Integration with Emerging Tech: IoT Sensor Gateway with Blockchain-Secured A-MPDU

Enabling Description:
An IoT sensor gateway, acting as a wireless communication terminal, aggregates data from a mesh network of low-power IoT devices. The gateway's processor collects sensor readings (e.g., temperature, humidity, vibration), device health metrics, and control signals from multiple devices. It then constructs an A-MPDU where each constituent MPDU contains not only the sensor data but also a cryptographic hash (e.g., SHA-256) of its payload and associated metadata (timestamp, sensor ID). The entire A-MPDU structure, including its sequence number and a Merkle tree root of all contained MPDU hashes, is digitally signed by the gateway's private key. This signed A-MPDU is transmitted to a central data sink. A blockchain integration module within the gateway (or the data sink) then records the Merkle root hash or the entire A-MPDU's metadata onto a distributed ledger, providing tamper-evident proof of data origin and integrity. The received response frame from the data sink or blockchain oracle confirms successful data reception and commitment to the ledger, enabling verifiable data provenance for critical IoT applications.

sequenceDiagram
    participant D as IoT Devices
    participant G as IoT Gateway (Tx)
    participant S as Data Sink (Rx)
    participant B as Blockchain Ledger

    D->>G: Send Sensor Data (Individual Frames)
    G->>G: Aggregate data into A-MPDU; Hash each MPDU; Create Merkle Tree; Sign A-MPDU
    G->>S: Transmit Blockchain-Secured A-MPDU
    S->>S: Validate A-MPDU Signature & Hashes
    S->>B: Commit A-MPDU Merkle Root/Metadata
    B-->>S: Confirmation of Ledger Entry
    S->>G: Transmit Response Frame (incl. Blockchain Status)
    G->>G: Determine A-MPDU Transmission Success & Blockchain Confirmation

6. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode: Degraded-Mode A-MPDU for Critical Infrastructure

Enabling Description:
In a wireless communication terminal deployed within critical infrastructure (e.g., an industrial control system managing a power plant), the processor implements a degraded-mode A-MPDU generation strategy upon detection of severe channel interference, high error rates, or partial network outages. In this mode, the processor strictly filters MPDUs, aggregating only safety-critical messages (e.g., emergency shutdown commands, alarm signals, essential telemetry) into the A-MPDU, while discarding or deferring non-essential traffic. The "communication unit" applies maximal redundancy coding (e.g., high-rate LDPC codes or repeat-until-correct schemes) to these critical MPDUs, sacrificing bandwidth for increased robustness. The A-MPDU format is simplified, potentially omitting non-critical header fields. The expected immediate response frame from the recipient is also simplified, possibly just a single bit acknowledgment or a concise error code indicating that only critical MPDUs were processed. If a full response (e.g., BlockAck with bitmap) is not received, the system assumes failure and immediately retransmits the critical A-MPDU in an even more robust format or triggers an alternative communication path.

stateDiagram
    [*] --> Normal_Mode: System Startup
    Normal_Mode --> Interference_Detected: Channel Degradation
    Interference_Detected --> Degraded_A-MPDU_Mode: Switch Mode
    Degraded_A-MPDU_Mode --> Generate_Critical_A-MPDU: Prioritize MPDUs
    Generate_Critical_A-MPDU --> Transmit_Robust_A-MPDU: Apply Max Redundancy
    Transmit_Robust_A-MPDU --> Await_Simplified_Response: Expect Minimal ACK
    Await_Simplified_Response --> Degraded_A-MPDU_Mode: Re-evaluate
    Await_Simplified_Response --> Critical_Failure_Detected: No Response / Unsuccessful Critical MPDUs
    Critical_Failure_Detected --> Activate_Alternative_Path: Switch to backup
    Degraded_A-MPDU_Mode --> Normal_Mode: Channel Restored

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Derivatives for Claims 10 & 18 (Receiver Side: A-MPDU Reception, Response Format Determination, and Transmission)

1. Material & Component Substitution: Quantum-Accelerated Response Format Determination

Enabling Description:
A wireless communication terminal, acting as an A-MPDU recipient, utilizes a specialized quantum co-processor or a quantum-accelerated Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) alongside its conventional processor for ultra-fast response frame format determination. Upon receiving an A-MPDU, the classical processor performs initial frame parsing. Complex decision logic for determining the response frame format (e.g., Ack, Compressed BlockAck (C-BA), Multi-STA BlockAck (M-BA))—which depends on factors like the number of Traffic IDs (TIDs) soliciting immediate responses, MPDU delimiter information (EOF field values), and the presence of specific acknowledgment policies across multiple MPDUs—is offloaded to the quantum accelerator. This accelerator performs parallel evaluation of all possible acknowledgment contexts (e.g., identifying conflicting BlockAck and immediate Ack requirements) at high speeds, exploiting quantum parallelism to quickly output the optimal response frame format. The classical processor then constructs and transmits the response frame using this determined format.

classDiagram
    class WirelessTerminal {
        -Processor classicalProcessor
        -QuantumAccelerator quantumCoProcessor
        -CommunicationUnit commUnit
        +receiveA-MPDU()
        +determineResponseFormat()
        +transmitResponseFrame()
    }
    class A-MPDU {
        -MPDU[] mpdus
        -TID[] tidsSolicitingResponse
        -MPDUDelimiter[] delimiters
    }
    class ResponseFrame {
        -ResponseFormat format
        -ACKContext ackContext
    }
    WirelessTerminal "1" *-- "1" A-MPDU : receives
    WirelessTerminal "1" *-- "1" ResponseFrame : transmits
    classicalProcessor "1" *-- "1" quantumCoProcessor : offloads_decision
    quantumCoProcessor ..> ResponseFrame : determines_format

2. Operational Parameter Expansion: Terahertz (THz) A-MPDU Receiver for High-Throughput Backhaul

Enabling Description:
A wireless communication terminal functioning as a network node (e.g., a backhaul aggregation point) in a Terahertz (THz) communication system (operating, for instance, at 300 GHz) is configured to receive A-MPDUs. The communication unit comprises a THz receiver front-end, employing highly directional parabolic antennas and ultra-low noise amplifiers, coupled with a high-speed analog-to-digital converter (ADC) capable of multi-GSPS sampling. The terminal's processor, implemented as a custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) with specialized parallel processing units, is optimized for THz data rates. Upon reception of a THz A-MPDU, the ASIC performs rapid frame synchronization, channel equalization, and MAC layer parsing. It determines the response frame format (e.g., an extremely compact M-BA frame) by evaluating the successfully received MPDUs, their respective TIDs, and acknowledgment policies within picoseconds. This determination must occur within strict timing windows to maintain the high throughput and low latency characteristics of THz links, ensuring efficient acknowledgment and retransmission cycles.

graph TD
    A[THz Antenna Array] --> B[THz Receiver Front-End];
    B --> C[High-Speed ADC];
    C --> D[ASIC Processor];
    D --> E{Parse A-MPDU};
    E --> F{Determine Response Format (picosecond latency)};
    F --> G[Generate Response Frame];
    G --> H[THz Transmitter Front-End];
    H --> I[THz Antenna Array];

3. Cross-Domain Application: Autonomous Driving - Sensor Fusion A-MPDU Receiver

Enabling Description:
In an autonomous vehicle, the central sensor fusion unit acts as a wireless communication terminal receiving A-MPDUs from various on-board sensors (e.g., LiDAR, radar, camera, ultrasonic) and potentially from Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications. Each sensor/V2X module aggregates its raw data or processed perceptions (e.g., object detection bounding boxes, distance measurements, road conditions) into A-MPDUs, which are then transmitted over an internal high-speed network (e.g., automotive Ethernet, proprietary wireless bus). The vehicle's main processor (acting as the recipient processor) receives these A-MPDUs. It rapidly determines the format of a control response frame based on the aggregated information's immediacy requirements and criticality. For example, a response could be an immediate "emergency braking" command (Ack-like for a single critical MPDU) or a consolidated "lane keeping assist adjustment" (M-BA-like for multiple non-critical but relevant MPDUs). This response frame is then transmitted directly to vehicle actuators (e.g., braking system, steering control) or broadcast to other V2X units, requiring ultra-low latency decision-making for real-time safety.

graph TD
    A[LiDAR Sensor] -- A-MPDU --> D(Sensor Fusion Unit Processor);
    B[Radar Sensor] -- A-MPDU --> D;
    C[Camera Module] -- A-MPDU --> D;
    D --> E{Determine Response Format (e.g., "Brake", "Steer")};
    E --> F[Generate Control Response Frame];
    F --> G[Actuator Controller];
    G --> H[Vehicle Actuators (Brakes, Steering)];

4. Integration with Emerging Tech: Neural Network-Based Adaptive Response Format Selection

Enabling Description:
A wireless communication terminal's processor for A-MPDU reception is enhanced with an embedded Deep Learning Neural Network (DNN) inference engine. This DNN, continuously updated through on-device learning or cloud-based training, receives as input the parsed contents of a received A-MPDU (e.g., number of TIDs, acknowledgment policies, MPDU types, measured signal-to-noise ratio, current network congestion status). Based on these inputs, the DNN predicts the optimal response frame format (Ack, C-BA, M-BA, or a fine-grained custom acknowledgment) that will maximize network throughput, minimize latency, and satisfy the sender's Quality of Service (QoS) requirements under current conditions. This adaptive format selection, moving beyond static rule-based decisions, allows for more nuanced and efficient acknowledgment strategies, particularly in highly dynamic and congested wireless environments.

graph TD
    A[Received A-MPDU] --> B{A-MPDU Parser};
    B --> C[Feature Extractor];
    C --> D[DNN Inference Engine];
    E[Channel Metrics] --> D;
    F[Network Load] --> D;
    D --> G[Optimal Response Format];
    G --> H[Processor: Generate Response Frame];
    H --> I[Communication Unit: Transmit Response];

5. Integration with Emerging Tech: Digital Twin Feedback Loop Response Generation

Enabling Description:
In a cyber-physical system, a wireless communication terminal located at an edge computing node hosts a digital twin of a complex physical asset (e.g., a robotic arm, a manufacturing assembly line, or an environmental monitoring station). This edge node acts as the recipient, receiving A-MPDUs containing aggregated real-time sensor data (e.g., motor temperatures, strain gauges, operational parameters) from the physical asset. The edge node's processor feeds this A-MPDU data into the digital twin's simulation engine. The digital twin processes the aggregated inputs, simulates the physical asset's current and predicted future state, and identifies any anomalies or required adjustments. Based on the digital twin's analysis, the processor determines the format of a control response frame. This response could be a detailed diagnostic report (M-BA-like with extensive per-component status), an immediate corrective action command (Ack-like), or a predictive maintenance alert (C-BA-like for grouped but less urgent information). The response frame is then transmitted back to the physical asset's local controllers.

sequenceDiagram
    participant P as Physical Asset (Sensors)
    participant E as Edge Node (Recipient/Digital Twin)
    participant C as Asset Controllers

    P->>E: Transmit Aggregated Sensor Data A-MPDU
    activate E
    E->>E: Process A-MPDU; Feed to Digital Twin
    E->>E: Digital Twin Simulates; Analyzes State
    E->>E: Determine Optimal Control Response Format
    E->>C: Transmit Control Response Frame
    deactivate E
    C->>P: Apply Control Actions

6. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode: Prioritized A-MPDU Response for Emergency Systems

Enabling Description:
In a wireless communication terminal designed for emergency services (e.g., a first responder's ruggedized communication device), the processor implements a prioritized A-MPDU response strategy during extreme network congestion or partial frame corruption. Upon receiving an A-MPDU, the processor first attempts to identify and parse mission-critical MPDUs (e.g., location coordinates, emergency alerts, critical voice packets). If the entire A-MPDU cannot be successfully received or fully processed (e.g., due to insufficient processing power or severe interference), the system defaults to generating a simplified response frame. This response might be a single, immediate Acknowledgement (Ack) specifically for the highest-priority MPDU that was successfully parsed, or a Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) combined with a limited error code indicating that only a subset of critical data was decipherable. The response frame explicitly omits bitmap-based BlockAck information for lower-priority TIDs to conserve transmission resources and provide timely, albeit partial, feedback to the sender regarding the most vital information.

stateDiagram
    [*] --> Idle_Rx
    Idle_Rx --> A-MPDU_Received: New A-MPDU
    A-MPDU_Received --> Parse_Critical_MPDUs: Prioritize Parsing
    Parse_Critical_MPDUs --> All_MPDUs_Valid: Full Success
    All_MPDUs_Valid --> Generate_Full_Response: (e.g., M-BA)
    Parse_Critical_MPDUs --> Partial_Success_Critical_Only: Critical MPDUs Valid, Others Failed/Corrupt
    Partial_Success_Critical_Only --> Generate_Partial_Response: (e.g., Ack for critical, NACK others)
    Parse_Critical_MPDUs --> All_Failed: No Critical MPDUs Parsed
    All_Failed --> Generate_Error_Response: (e.g., NACK with error code)
    Generate_Full_Response --> Transmit_Response
    Generate_Partial_Response --> Transmit_Response
    Generate_Error_Response --> Transmit_Response
    Transmit_Response --> Idle_Rx

---

Combination Prior Art Scenarios

1. US11664926 + IEEE 802.11ay (NG60) Standard

Description:
The inventive concepts of US Patent 11664926, pertaining to the dynamic generation and processing of Aggregate MAC Protocol Data Units (A-MPDUs) and the determination of corresponding response frame formats based on factors like the number of Traffic IDs (TIDs) soliciting immediate responses and MPDU delimiter information (e.g., EOF field values), are directly applied to the operational framework defined by the IEEE 802.11ay standard. IEEE 802.11ay, often referred to as Next Generation 60 GHz (NG60), is designed for extremely high throughput, typically in the multi-gigabit per second range, utilizing wide bandwidths in the 60 GHz spectrum. This standard extensively employs A-MPDU aggregation and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) to achieve its performance targets. Integrating the patent's logic would enhance 802.11ay's efficiency by allowing transmitting devices to intelligently construct A-MPDUs tailored to anticipated channel conditions and recipient capabilities, and enabling receiving devices to precisely determine optimal acknowledgment frames (such as multi-STA BlockAck, M-BA) for rapidly acknowledging vast amounts of aggregated data across multiple users. This combination makes the patent's teachings a natural and obvious extension for optimizing data flow and acknowledgment processes in 60 GHz high-density, high-throughput wireless networks.

2. US11664926 + OpenWrt/Linux Wireless MAC Layer Implementation

Description:
The methodologies detailed in US Patent 11664926 for generating A-MPDUs, determining the success of MPDU transmissions (as in Claims 1 and 9), and for receiving A-MPDUs, determining appropriate response frame formats, and transmitting them (as in Claims 10 and 18), are implemented within the open-source Linux kernel's wireless subsystem, specifically the mac80211 framework, and/or within custom firmware/drivers integrated into an OpenWrt distribution. This involves modifying existing A-MPDU aggregation and de-aggregation routines within the MAC layer to incorporate the patent's logic concerning multi-TID A-MPDUs and the nuanced criteria for selecting response frame types (Ack, C-BA, M-BA) based on the characteristics of the received A-MPDU and reception status. For example, a patch to mac80211 could introduce a configurable policy that, upon detecting an A-MPDU containing MPDUs from multiple TIDs soliciting immediate responses, automatically generates an M-BA frame, as described in the patent. This integration transforms the patent's claims into core functionalities within widely adopted open-source wireless networking stacks, making such implementations an obvious engineering choice for enhancing Wi-Fi performance.

3. US11664926 + IETF QUIC Protocol (RFC 9000 series)

Description:
The principles of efficient data aggregation and selective acknowledgment described in US Patent 11664926 are applied to optimize the framing and acknowledgment mechanisms of the IETF QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) transport layer protocol, as defined by RFC 9000 and subsequent specifications. A specialized network interface controller (NIC) or an optimized operating system's transport layer implementation, supporting QUIC, uses the patent's logic. On the transmitting side, the NIC aggregates multiple small QUIC STREAM frames or coalesces multiple QUIC ACK frames destined for the same recipient into a single A-MPDU-like structure before encapsulation in UDP and IP for physical transmission. On the receiving side, a "QUIC-aware" NIC or driver processes the incoming A-MPDU, extracts the individual QUIC frames, and utilizes the patent's method for determining the most efficient acknowledgment response. For example, if the received A-MPDU contains multiple QUIC STREAM frames across different application streams (analogous to TIDs) requiring acknowledgment, the NIC dynamically determines and generates a single, aggregated QUIC ACK frame (analogous to an M-BA or C-BA) that efficiently acknowledges all received streams, reducing overhead and improving QUIC's inherent latency advantages. This extension moves the patent's MAC layer optimization concepts into the realm of transport layer framing and acknowledgment.