IP Verse

Wireless network negotiation and optimization

Patent No. US9967883 (titled "Wireless network negotiation and optimization") on Jun 30, 2016. The application was issued on May 8, 2018.

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Technical Landscape

In the mid-2010s when ’883 was filed, Internet of Things (IoT) deployments were typically implemented using short-range wireless protocols such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee, which commonly relied on fixed transmission parameters and high-frequency bands. At a time when system architectures were often constrained by a trade-off between data throughput and signal range, hardware limitations frequently forced devices to operate at maximum power levels to maintain link stability, even when such output was unnecessary for the specific proximity or data requirements of the node. Furthermore, many low-power wide-area network implementations were restricted by single-frequency operation and time-division multiplexing, which made managing interference and collisions non-trivial in RF-dense commercial or residential environments.

Prosecution Position

The disclosed invention represents a technical advancement through a dynamic negotiation architecture that optimizes wireless link parameters based on real-time environmental and functional requirements. By initially establishing a connection using a frequency-hopped spread spectrum (FHSS) signal at maximum range parameters—specifically maximum spreading factor and minimum bandwidth—the system enables long-range discovery of remote nodes. The subsequent architectural shift involves a bidirectional exchange where the user device reports its specific link budget and data rate needs, allowing the control device to calculate and set optimized spreading factors, power levels, and bandwidths. This integration of adaptive FHSS parameters achieves the technical effect of reducing power consumption and minimizing network collisions, as transmissions are tailored to the minimum necessary footprint for a stable link rather than defaulting to static, high-interference configurations.

Claims

This patent contains 20 claims, with claims 1 and 14 serving as the independent claims. The independent claims focus on a method for establishing wireless frequency hopping spread spectrum communications by negotiating and selecting optimum parameters, such as spreading factor, power, and bandwidth, based on a user device's link budget and data rate requirements. The dependent claims serve to define specific numerical ranges for these communication parameters and introduce additional geographic considerations, such as determining device distance and assigning devices to specific zones based on radius to further refine the selection of spreading factors and channel bandwidths.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Carrier frequency channel bandwidth
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The initialization parameters include a network maximum spreading factor, a network maximum power, and a minimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth. The optimum parameters include an optimum spreading factor, an optimum power, and an optimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth.The width of the frequency band used for the FHSS signal, which is adjusted between a minimum value for initialization and an optimized value for ongoing communication.
Maximum data rate required to control the user device
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		Additionally, different devices require different amounts of data to control those devices, and typical systems sacrifice range for speed. Thus, low-data devices are range limited by unnecessary data speed.The upper limit of data throughput necessary for the specific functional operations of a target IoT device, used to determine how much range can be traded for speed.
Minimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The signals are communicated on the 902-928 MHz unlicensed ISM band, and the parameters include spreading factor, output power, and carrier frequency channel bandwidth. The initialization parameters comprising a network maximum spreading factor, a network maximum power, and a minimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth.The narrowest frequency range allocated for a single channel within the 902-928 MHz ISM band, used during initialization to ensure the most robust and long-range signal transmission.
Minimum link budget
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The methods further include adjusting the initial parameters to optimal parameters based on a link budget and data rate requirements received in response to the negotiation signal. The response signal indicates a minimum link budget with the user device and a maximum data rate required to control the user device.A metric provided by a device during negotiation that represents the lowest signal-to-noise ratio or power level required to maintain a stable and reliable wireless connection between the control and user devices.
Network initialization parameters
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The initial parameters make the negotiation signal long-range but low-data. The initialization parameters include a network maximum spreading factor, a network maximum power, and a minimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth.A set of baseline communication settings used to establish a connection, specifically configured to maximize range and reliability at the cost of data speed by utilizing the highest available spreading factor and power with the narrowest bandwidth.
Network-negotiation signal
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The methods generally include transmitting a frequency-hopped and spread negotiation signal using network-maximum parameters. The method includes transmitting a wireless frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) network-negotiation signal using network initialization parameters.An initial wireless transmission sent using frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) to discover devices and begin the process of establishing optimized connection settings.
Optimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The signals are communicated on the 902-928 MHz unlicensed ISM band, and the parameters include spreading factor, output power, and carrier frequency channel bandwidth. Optimizing network connections for each device further limits collisions because signals intended for a particular device are range-limited to that device by the optimum parameters.A specific width of the frequency spectrum selected for communication that is optimized for a particular device's data needs and environmental conditions to improve network efficiency.
Optimum parameters
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		Optimizing network connections for each device further limits collisions because signals intended for a particular device are range-limited to that device by the optimum parameters. Devices within the range have unique parameters, such as different spreading factor or channel bandwidth, that further limit the effects of collisions and interference.A customized set of communication settings—including spreading factor, power, and bandwidth—calculated to satisfy a specific device's data needs and link budget while minimizing power consumption and interference.
Optimum spreading factor
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		Devices within the range have unique parameters, such as different spreading factor or channel bandwidth, that further limit the effects of collisions and interference. The optimum parameters include an optimum spreading factor, an optimum power, and an optimum carrier frequency channel bandwidth.A selected ratio between the chip rate and the baseband information rate that is tuned to balance the specific range requirements of a device against the necessary data throughput to minimize collisions and power drain.
Spreading factor
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The parameters include spreading factor, output power, and carrier frequency channel bandwidth. Devices within the range have unique parameters, such as different spreading factor or channel bandwidth, that further limit the effects of collisions and interference.A parameter in a spread spectrum signal that determines the ratio between the transmission rate of the chips and the baseband information rate, affecting both the range and the data rate of the connection.
Wireless frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) network-negotiation signal
(Claim 1, Claim 14)		The methods generally include transmitting a frequency-hopped and spread negotiation signal using network-maximum parameters. The network provides increased network security without consuming data because it is frequency-hopped.An initial broadcast signal transmitted across multiple frequencies within a band to discover and establish communication with IoT devices while providing inherent security and interference resistance.

Patent Summary

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
1:25-cv-01430Nov 24, 2025CAO Group, Inc. v. Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.
8:25-cv-02074Sep 12, 2025CAO Group Inc v. GuruNanda, LLC
2:24-cv-00175Mar 5, 2024CAO Group Inc v. Walmart Inc.

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US9967883

Application Number
US15198384A
Filing Date
Jun 30, 2016
Publication Date
May 8, 2018
External Links
Slate, USPTO , Google Patents