Description
To identify Cisco’s patents related to Wi-Fi 6, we employed Wi-Fi 6 relevant keywords such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Target Wake Time (TWT), Basic Service Set (BSS) Color, High-Efficiency (HE), 802.11ax, 160 MHz, beamforming, spatial streams, 78.125 kHz, 1024-QAM, spatial reuse, Resource Unit (RU) allocation, etc. The CPCs used for filtering included H04W, H04W 84/12, H04W 72/04, H04W 72/12, H04W 52/02, H04W 52/36, H04W 88/08, H04B, H04B 7/06, etc.
To assess a patent’s essentiality, each claim is manually analysed by our technical expert team with respect to the Wi-Fi 6 standard to verify whether all claim elements are present. We have classified a patent as potentially essential, potentially non-essential, or medium based on the following criteria:
- A patent is classified as potentially essential if claim elements align with the Wi-Fi 6 specifications.
- Conversely, the patent is classified as potentially non-essential if any element is missing or conflicts with the standard, such as contradictory requirements or descriptions.
- A patent is marked as medium if the main technical aspects are present in the Wi-Fi 6 standard, but some elements are not explicitly defined and can only be reasonably inferred from the identified sections.
We have analysed one patent per family. If that patent is found to be essential, we did not evaluate the remaining family members. However, if it is found to be non-essential, we analysed other patents within the same family to assess their essentiality.
Frequently asked questions
What does this report cover about Cisco’s Wi-Fi 6 patents?
The report reviews Cisco’s patent portfolio in relation to the Wi-Fi 6 standard and assesses the scope, relevance and potential essentiality of that portfolio. A total of 29 unique and active granted patent families were identified for Cisco. The analysis looks at how those patents relate to key Wi-Fi 6 technologies, including OFDMA, MU-MIMO, beamforming, BSS color, Target Wake Time and spatial streams. Each claim is read manually against the standard by a technical expert team rather than scored by an automated tool.
How were the 29 Cisco patent families selected?
Searches were run across multiple patent databases using a combination of search strings, IPC and CPC classifications, and Wi-Fi 6 specific keywords. The keywords included OFDMA, Target Wake Time, BSS Color, High-Efficiency, 802.11ax, 160 MHz, beamforming, spatial streams, 78.125 kHz, 1024-QAM, spatial reuse and Resource Unit allocation. CPC filters covered H04W, H04W 84/12, H04W 72/04, H04W 72/12, H04W 52/02, H04W 52/36, H04W 88/08, H04B and H04B 7/06. Because the standard was published in February 2021, only patents with a priority date on or before that month were kept.
What do the potentially essential and potentially non-essential labels mean?
Each claim is analysed manually against the Wi-Fi 6 standard to check whether all claim elements are present. A patent is classified as potentially essential when its claim elements align with the Wi-Fi 6 specifications. It is classified as potentially non-essential when an element is missing or conflicts with the standard, for example through contradictory requirements. A medium classification sits between the two. The labels record a technical reading of the claims against the published specification and are not a legal determination.
How can I obtain this report?
The report is supplied on request through the contact page on the website. There is no online checkout and no instant download, so send an enquiry with the details of what you need and the report will be shared with you. Scope can be adjusted before delivery. If you want a different set of Wi-Fi 6 features, a different patent group, or a comparison with another portfolio, say so in the enquiry and the analysis can be shaped around that requirement.
