Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.

Petition

Petition summary

Prosecution History analysis

Examiner Search analysis

Invalidity Framework analysis

## 1. Case Identification
- Case #: [IPR2025-01164](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164)
- Patent #: [12,004,262](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1001)
- Filed: 06/30/2025
- Petitioner(s): [Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/samsung-electronics-america-inc) and [Samsung Electronics America, Inc.](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/samsung-electronics-america-inc)
- Patent Owner(s): [Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/wilus-institute-of-standards-technology-inc)
- Challenged Claims: 1-4

## 2. Patent Overview
- Title: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD USING BSS IDENTIFIER AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TERMINAL USING SAME
- Brief Description: The [’262](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1001) patent describes a method for a wireless communication terminal operating in a wireless LAN. The method involves setting a Basic Service Set (BSS) color for an uplink trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) based on whether the received downlink trigger frame includes a BSS color field.

## 3. Grounds for Unpatentability

#### Ground 1: Claims 1-4 are obvious over 802.11ax/D1.0 alone or in combination with Yang and 802.11-2016.
  - **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005) (IEEE Draft Specification, Nov. 2016), [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) (Application # 2017/0367129), and [802.11-2016](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1010) (IEEE Standard, Dec. 2016).
  - **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** Petitioner argued that the IEEE draft standard [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005) discloses all limitations of the challenged claims. Specifically, [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005) described a system where a station (STA) receives a trigger frame from an access point (AP) and transmits a trigger-based PPDU in response. The key inventive concept—conditionally setting the BSS color of the responsive PPDU—was allegedly taught by [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005). If the received trigger frame is a High-Efficiency (HE) PPDU containing a BSS color field, the STA sets the BSS color of its responsive PPDU to match that value. Conversely, if the trigger frame is a non-HE PPDU (lacking a BSS color field), the STA sets the BSS color of its responsive PPDU based on the "active BSS color" from a previously received HE Operation element. This mapping directly addressed independent claims 1 and 4. Dependent claim 2 (setting a time point based on target beacon transmission time) and claim 3 (determining intra-BSS vs. inter-BSS PPDU using a Partial AID field) were also argued to be disclosed within [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005) and the foundational [802.11-2016](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1010) standard it amends.
    - **Motivation to Combine (for §103 grounds):** Petitioner asserted that [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005) alone renders the claims obvious. To the extent it does not explicitly disclose conventional components, a person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) would combine it with [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) and [802.11-2016](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1010). A POSITA would look to [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) to supply a conventional processor and transceiver for implementing the functions of the STA described in [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005). A POSITA would combine [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005) with the [802.11-2016](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1010) standard because the former is a proposed amendment to the latter, making their teachings complementary and intended to be used together to form a complete system.
    - **Expectation of Success (for §103 grounds):** A POSITA would have a reasonable expectation of success because the combination involved implementing known wireless communication techniques using conventional components and integrating a draft standard with the base standard it was designed to amend.

#### Ground 2: Claims 1, 2, and 4 are obvious over Yang in view of 802.11-17/0250r2 and 802.11-16/1415r0.
  - **Prior Art Relied Upon:** [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) (Application # 2017/0367129), [802.11-17/0250r2](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1007) (IEEE Submission, Mar. 2017), and [802.11-16/1415r0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1008) (IEEE Submission, Nov. 2016).
  - **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** Petitioner argued that [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) taught a base system where an AP sends a trigger frame to a STA to solicit an uplink transmission, but it contained deficiencies regarding BSS color management. The IEEE submission [802.11-17/0250r2](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1007) was argued to supply the missing details, explicitly teaching the conditional logic claimed: setting the BSS color of a trigger-based PPDU based on the BSS color in the received trigger frame if present, and otherwise using an active BSS color from an HE Operation element. The other IEEE submission, [802.11-16/1415r0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1008), was argued to teach a superior, synchronized BSS color change procedure using a "Color Switch Countdown" field, which addresses the limitations of claim 1 concerning BSS color changes and the timing element of claim 2.
    - **Motivation to Combine (for §103 grounds):** A POSITA, starting with [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006)'s system, would recognize its deficiencies in handling BSS color signaling and changes. To improve reliability and avoid collisions, a POSITA would look to contemporary IEEE standards development for solutions. A POSITA would combine [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) with [802.11-17/0250r2](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1007) to implement a robust, conditional BSS color signaling mechanism and with [802.11-16/1415r0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1008) to implement an efficient, synchronized BSS color change procedure that avoids using a "Transitory BSS Color" as proposed in [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006).
    - **Expectation of Success (for §103 grounds):** Success would be expected as the combination involved improving a known system ([Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006)) with specific, compatible solutions (the IEEE submissions) developed for the same technical field (WLANs) to solve known problems.

- **Additional Grounds:** Petitioner asserted an additional obviousness challenge against claim 3 (Ground 2B) based on a combination of [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006), [802.11-17/0250r2](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1007), [802.11-16/1415r0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1008), [802.11ax/D1.0](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1005), [802.11-2016](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1010), and [802.11-17-0230r1](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1011). This ground argued that while [Yang](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1006) taught HE PPDU formats, it did not address legacy formats like Very High Throughput (VHT), and a POSITA would have combined the references to ensure the system could determine intra-BSS vs. inter-BSS status for both HE and legacy PPDUs using the Partial AID field.

## 4. Arguments Regarding Discretionary Denial
- Petitioner argued that discretionary denial is unwarranted. Petitioner noted its intent to use the bifurcated briefing process outlined in the Stewart Memorandum and referenced a `[Fintiv](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1017)` stipulation, suggesting that arguments against institution based on parallel district court litigation should be precluded.

## 5. Relief Requested
- Petitioner requests institution of an inter partes review and cancellation of claims 1-4 of the [’262](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-01164/doc/1001) patent as unpatentable.

Samsung targets wireless LAN BSS color patent: IEEE 802.11ax prior art cited for claims 1-4 as obvious over trigger-based PPDU signaling rules.