Description
To identify Toshiba’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.
Frequently asked questions
What does this report cover on Toshiba and Wi-Fi 6?
It examines the scope, relevance, and potential essentiality of Toshiba’s patent portfolio in relation to Wi-Fi 6. Ten unique patent families were identified as related to Wi-Fi 6 technology. The analysis is arranged around technologies that define the standard, including OFDMA, MU-MIMO, beamforming, BSS color, target wake time, and spatial streams. Each claim is read manually against the Wi-Fi 6 standard by the technical team to verify whether all claim elements are present before a classification is given.
Why is the search limited to patents with a priority date before February 2021?
The Wi-Fi 6 standard was officially published in February 2021, so the search focused on patents with a priority date on or before that month. Filings made after a standard is published are less likely to reflect contributions that shaped it. Applying a priority date cutoff keeps the set aligned with the technology as standardised and makes the result repeatable. Searches also used IPC and CPC classifications, including codes in the H04W and H04B groups, alongside Wi-Fi 6 specific keywords.
What do the essentiality classifications mean?
Three labels are used: potentially essential, potentially non-essential, and medium. 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, such as a contradictory requirement or description. Medium covers the cases in between, where alignment is arguable. The wording stays qualified because a final view on essentiality rests with licensing parties and, ultimately, with courts.
