SmartSky Networks, LLC v. Gogo Business Aviation LLC et al.

Prosecution History analysis

Examiner Search analysis

Invalidity Framework analysis

Petition

Petition summary

## 1. Case Identification
- Case Number: [IPR2025-00672](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672)
- Patent #: [9,954,600](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1001)
- Filed: February 28, 2025
- Petitioner(s): [SmartSky Networks LLC](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/smartsky-networks-llc)
- Patent Owner(s): [Gogo Business Aviation LLC](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/gogo-llc)
- Challenged Claims: 1-19

## 2. Patent Overview
- Title: Servicing cell selection in air to ground communication systems
- Brief Description: The [’600](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1001) patent relates to a system for selecting serving cells in an air-to-ground (ATG) communication network. The system aims to maximize throughput, particularly in unlicensed bands, by having an aircraft measure signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for multiple ground stations, calculate capacity estimates, and use a decision matrix to select the optimal communication link.

## 3. Grounds for Unpatentability

#### Ground 1: Anticipation over Chapelle - Claims 1-4, 6, 13-15, 17, and 19 are anticipated by Chapelle.
- **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) (Patent [9,306,657](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005)).
- **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** Petitioner argued that [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) discloses all limitations of the challenged claims. [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) teaches an ATG system that uses directional antennas and performs handoffs between base transceiver stations (BTSs) based on signal quality to provide a "higher quality communications link." Petitioner contended that [Chapelle's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) use of a "best Signal/Interference (S/I) ratio" algorithm is functionally equivalent to the [’600](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1001) patent's use of SNR, as a person of ordinary skill in the art (POSA) would understand S/I and SNR to be interchangeable metrics for link quality and capacity. The "forward-link user capacity matrix" of claim 1 was argued to be inherently disclosed, as comparing quality-related parameters (signal strength, interference, noise) between multiple BTSs in a computer necessarily requires storing those parameters in a tabular or matrix-like data structure to perform the comparison.
    - **Key Aspects:** The core of the anticipation argument rested on the interchangeability of S/I and SNR and the assertion that a "matrix" is an inherent requirement for any computer-based comparison of multiple data points as described by [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) for handoff decisions.

#### Ground 2: Obviousness over Chapelle and Jalali - Claims 1-4, 6-15, and 17-19 are obvious over Chapelle in view of Jalali.
- **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) ([’657](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) patent), [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) (Application # [2014/0200045](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006)).
- **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** This ground asserted that [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) provides the foundational ATG system with handoffs based on signal quality metrics. [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) was introduced as teaching a similar ATG system that uses signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR) to select an "optimal beam" for "improved performance" and a high data rate. Petitioner argued that [Jalali's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) disclosure of ranking pilot signals and using SINR to optimize handoffs explicitly teaches the creation and use of a decision matrix (termed "user capacity matrix" in the [’600](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1001) patent) based on measured channel parameters. The combination of [Chapelle's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) SNR-based system with [Jalali's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) SINR-based optimization and beam ranking renders the claimed invention obvious.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** A POSITA would combine [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) and [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) because they address the same problem of optimizing ATG handoffs and disclose using well-known, interchangeable metrics (SNR and SINR) to do so. The combination simply applies known techniques to achieve predictable improvements in link quality and data rate.
    - **Expectation of Success:** Success would be expected because the combination involves substituting one known signal quality metric (SNR) for another (SINR) and using a conventional computer-based decision process (ranking/matrix comparison) to achieve the predictable result of an improved handoff decision.

#### Ground 3: Obviousness over Chapelle, Jalali, and Nelson - Claims 5 and 16 are obvious over Chapelle and Jalali in view of Nelson.
- **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) ([’657](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) patent), [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) ([’045](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) application), [Nelson](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1007) (Patent [7,177,939](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1007)).
- **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** This ground specifically targeted claims 5 and 16, which add the limitation of transmitting the forward-link or return-link capacity matrix "using an out-of-band communication channel." Petitioner asserted that the combination of [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) and [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) teaches the creation and transmission of the capacity matrix between the aircraft and ground station controllers. [Nelson](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1007) was added to teach that using an "out-of-band" protocol for communicating data is a well-known technique in aircraft communication systems.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** A POSITA would be motivated to incorporate [Nelson's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1007) teaching of out-of-band communication into the [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005)/[Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006) system to improve overall system performance. Transmitting control data like a capacity matrix on a separate, out-of-band channel would avoid consuming valuable bandwidth on the primary data channels, a well-known and advantageous design choice.
    - **Expectation of Success:** The combination would have a high expectation of success as it applies a known technique (out-of-band signaling) to a known system to achieve the predictable benefit of conserving data bandwidth.

- **Additional Grounds:** Petitioner asserted an additional obviousness challenge (Ground 4) based on the combination of [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005), [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006), [Nelson](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1007), and [Mcguffin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1008) (European Patent No. [2,207,275](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1008)) for all claims 1-19. [Mcguffin](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1008) was introduced to provide explicit disclosure of using tables (i.e., matrices) to store and compare signal strength data for handoff decisions, further arguing that the "matrix" limitation was well-known and obvious if not inherently disclosed by [Chapelle](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1005) and [Jalali](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1006).

## 4. Arguments Regarding Discretionary Denial
- Petitioner argued that the Board should not exercise discretionary denial.
- **Under §325(d) (*Advanced Bionics*):** Petitioner contended that denial is improper because none of the cited prior art references or proposed combinations were before the Examiner during prosecution, and the arguments are not cumulative of those previously considered. Petitioner alleged a material error by the Examiner in not considering equivalent terminology for "matrix."
- **Under §314(a) (*Fintiv*):** Petitioner argued against denial, stating the parallel district court case is in its early stages with minimal investment, and the scheduled trial date is after the statutory deadline for a Final Written Decision (FWD) in the IPR. Petitioner asserted the merits of the IPR are strong and address all challenged claims, favoring institution.

## 5. Relief Requested
- Petitioner requests institution of inter partes review and cancellation of claims 1-19 of Patent [9,954,600](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00672/doc/1001) as unpatentable.

Air-to-ground communication patent faces challenge to all 19 claims on anticipation & obviousness grounds based on Chapelle & Jalali prior art.