US6782264B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring of call information in a wireless location system
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
•
Filing: 2001-07-18
•
Granted: 2004-08-24
•
Expires: 2021-07-18
Abstract
Abstract In an overlay Wireless Location System, an Abis interface is monitored to obtain information used to locate GSM phones. Signaling links of the Abis interface are passively monitored to obtain certain information, such as control and traffic channel assignment, called number, and mobile identification, which is not available from the GSM air interface of the reverse channel. This approach also applies to IDEN and can be broadened to include CDMA systems where the GSM architecture has been used and the system includes a separated BTS to BSC interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W64/00; G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/01; G01S5/02; G01S5/0205; G01S5/021; G01S5/06; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/022; G01S1/026; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/01; G01S2205/06; H04W24/00; H04W4/00; H04W4/90; H04W76/00; H04W76/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 75
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS uses radio resources and location processing resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, comprising the steps of: continuously, passively monitoring communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, extracting MS information from the monitored communications, said extracted MS information including radio frequency channel information sufficient to enable the WLS to receive transmissions from the MS for location purposes; and using the extracted MS information to trigger TDOA and/or AOA location processing for said MS and to determine which radio frequency channel to use in performing location processing for said MS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS uses radio resources and location processing resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, comprising the steps of: continuously, passively monitoring communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, extracting MS information from the monitored communications, said extracted MS information including radio frequency channel information sufficient to enable the WLS to receive transmissions from the MS for location purposes; and using the extracted MS information to trigger TDOA and/or AOA location processing for said MS and to determine which radio frequency channel to use in performing location processing for said MS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the extracted MS information further comprises at least one of: the mobile station identification (MSID), the called number dialed by the user of the MS, or the contents of messages sent to the MS or from the MS.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the extracted MS information further comprises at least one of the following presently in use by the MS the control channel, the traffic channel, the mobile directory number (MDN), the Electronic Serial Number (ESN), the Mobile Identity Number (MIN), the Mobile Subscriber Identification (MSI), the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the temporary mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or the mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the WLS stores the extracted MS information in a database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the WLS removes the extracted MS information from the database after the extracted MS information is no longer valid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the extracted MS information is determined to be no longer valid because the MS is no longer registered with the wireless communications system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the extracted MS information is determined to be no longer valid because a predetermined period of time has expired.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the extracted MS information is determined to be no longer valid because a predetermined period of time has expired without an update to the extracted MS information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the WLS discards the extracted MS information if the extracted MS information does not match any of a set of predetermined criteria.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the set of predetermined criteria includes at least one of the following: information about the identity of the MS or the number called by the MS.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the extracted MS information comprises an establishment cause of a channel request message indicative of an emergency call.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1 .
Claim 14
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of a wireless communications system that includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment operatively coupled to base station controller (BSC) equipment via an interface, comprising the steps of: passively monitoring communications on the interface between at least one BTS and at least one BSC; identifying certain prescribed mobile station (MS) information from the monitored communications, said information including an emergency call indication, radio frequency channel number and timeslot number; using the MS information to determine whether to perform location processing for said MS and to determine which radio channel to use in performing location processing for said MS; and performing time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing for said MS, whereby an accurate location estimate is obtained for said MS.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of a wireless communications system that includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment operatively coupled to base station controller (BSC) equipment via an interface, comprising the steps of: passively monitoring communications on the interface between at least one BTS and at least one BSC; identifying certain prescribed mobile station (MS) information from the monitored communications, said information including an emergency call indication, radio frequency channel number and timeslot number; using the MS information to determine whether to perform location processing for said MS and to determine which radio channel to use in performing location processing for said MS; and performing time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing for said MS, whereby an accurate location estimate is obtained for said MS.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the MS information includes one or more of the following: a mobile station identification (MSID), a called number, contents of messages sent to the MS or from the MS, and/or frequency assignment information sent to the MS.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the MS information includes one or more of the following presently in use by the MS: control channel, traffic channel, mobile directory number (MDN), Electronic Serial Number (ESN), Mobile Identity Number (MIN), Mobile Subscriber Identification (MSI), international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), temporary mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and/or mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the WLS stores the MS information in a database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the WLS removes the MS information from the database after the MS information is no longer valid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the MS information is determined to be no longer valid because the MS is no longer registered with the wireless communications system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the MS information is determined to be no longer valid because a predetermined period of time has expired.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the MS information is determined to be no longer valid because a predetermined period of time has expired without an update to the MS information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the WLS discards the MS information if the MS information does not march any of a set of predetermined criteria.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the set of predetermined criteria includes information about the identity of the MS or the number called by the user of the MS.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the extracted MS information comprises an establishment cause of a channel request message indicative of an emergency call.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 13 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
112 words
A wireless location system (WLS) that overlays at least a portion of a wireless communications system that includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment operatively coupled to base station controller (BSC) equipment via an interface, comprising: means for passively monitoring communications on the interface between at least one BTS and at least one BSC; means for identifying certain prescribed mobile station (MS) information from the monitored communications, said information including an emergency call indication, radio frequency channel number and timeslot number; and means for using the MS information to determine whether to perform location processing for said MS and to determine which radio channel to use in performing location processing for said MS.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
112 words
A wireless location system (WLS) that overlays at least a portion of a wireless communications system that includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment operatively coupled to base station controller (BSC) equipment via an interface, comprising: means for passively monitoring communications on the interface between at least one BTS and at least one BSC; means for identifying certain prescribed mobile station (MS) information from the monitored communications, said information including an emergency call indication, radio frequency channel number and timeslot number; and means for using the MS information to determine whether to perform location processing for said MS and to determine which radio channel to use in performing location processing for said MS.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein the MS information includes one or more of the following: a mobile station identification (MSID), a called number, contents of messages sent to the MS or from the MS, and/or frequency assignment information sent to the MS.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein the MS information includes one or more of the following presently in use by the MS: control channel, traffic channel, mobile directory number (MDN), Electronic Serial Number (ESN), Mobile Identity Number (MIN), Mobile Subscriber Identification (MSI), international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), temporary mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and/or mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , further comprising a database, wherein the WLS stores the MS information in said database.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 28 , wherein the WLS removes the MS information from the database after the MS information is no longer valid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as recited in claim 29 , wherein the MS information is determined to be no longer valid because the MS is no longer registered with the wireless communications system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 29 , wherein the MS information is determined to be no longer valid because a predetermined period of time has expired.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 29 , wherein the MS information is determined to be no longer valid because a predetermined period of time has expired without an update to the MS information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein the WLS discards the MS information if the MS information does not match any of a set of predetermined criteria.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as recited in claim 33 , wherein the set of predetermined criteria includes information about the identity of the MS or the number called by the user of the MS.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein the extracted MS information comprises an establishment cause of a channel request message indicative of an emergency call.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS includes radio resources and location processing resources and uses said resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, and wherein said radio resources of the WLS may be at least partially co-located with said BTS equipment of the wireless communications system but are different from said BTS equipment, comprising the steps of: continuously passively monitoring the communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, and extracting MS information from the monitored communications, and using the extracted MS information to trigger location processing and to determine channel assignment information for said MS, to enable the WLS to receive transmissions from the MS for location purposes; wherein the extracted MS information comprises at least one of: the mobile station identification (MSID), the called number dialed by the user of the MS, the contents of messages sent to the MS or from the MS, or frequency assignment information sent to the MS.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS includes radio resources and location processing resources and uses said resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, and wherein said radio resources of the WLS may be at least partially co-located with said BTS equipment of the wireless communications system but are different from said BTS equipment, comprising the steps of: continuously passively monitoring the communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, and extracting MS information from the monitored communications, and using the extracted MS information to trigger location processing and to determine channel assignment information for said MS, to enable the WLS to receive transmissions from the MS for location purposes; wherein the extracted MS information comprises at least one of: the mobile station identification (MSID), the called number dialed by the user of the MS, the contents of messages sent to the MS or from the MS, or frequency assignment information sent to the MS.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 36 .
Claim 42
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS includes radio resources and location processing resources and uses said resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, and wherein said radio resources of the WLS may be at least partially co-located with said BTS equipment of the wireless communications system but are different from said BTS equipment, comprising the steps of: continuously passively monitoring the communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, and extracting MS information from the monitored communications, and using the extracted MS information to trigger location processing and to determine channel assignment information for said MS; to enable the WLS to receive transmissions from the MS for location purposes; wherein the extracted MS information comprises at least one of the following presently in use by the MS: the control channel, the traffic channel, the mobile directory number (MDN), the Electronic Serial Number (ESN), the Mobile Identity Number (MIN), the Mobile Subscriber Identification (MSI), the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the temporary mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or the mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN).
Claim 43
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS includes radio resources and location processing resources and uses said resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, and wherein said radio resources of the WLS may be at least partially co-located with said BTS equipment of the wireless communications system but are different from said BTS equipment, comprising the steps of: continuously passively monitoring the communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, and extracting MS information from the monitored communications, and using the extracted MS information to trigger location processing and to determine channel assignment information for said MS; to enable the WLS to receive transmissions from the MS for location purposes; wherein the extracted MS information comprises at least one of the following presently in use by the MS: the control channel, the traffic channel, the mobile directory number (MDN), the Electronic Serial Number (ESN), the Mobile Identity Number (MIN), the Mobile Subscriber Identification (MSI), the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the temporary mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or the mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN).
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 38 .
Claim 45
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS uses radio resources and location processing resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, comprising the steps of: passively monitoring communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, wherein the monitored communications contain indications of a call origination or call termination; and using the monitored information to trigger location processing for said MS and to determine which radio resources to use in performing TDOA and/or AOA location processing for said MS.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS uses radio resources and location processing resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, comprising the steps of: passively monitoring communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, wherein the monitored communications contain indications of a call origination or call termination; and using the monitored information to trigger location processing for said MS and to determine which radio resources to use in performing TDOA and/or AOA location processing for said MS.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as recited in claim 40 , wherein the step of monitoring communications includes monitoring messages containing radio frequency channel information, and wherein the radio frequency channel information as used to identify a radio channel to which receivers of the WLS are tuned.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said radio frequency channel information includes Standalone Digital Control Channel Information.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said radio frequency channel information includes Digital Control Channel Information.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said radio frequency channel information includes Traffic Channel Information.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein the radio frequency channel information includes an Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number, Timeslot number, Subchannel number, and Training Sequence Code.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein the radio frequency channel information includes a Hopping Sequence number, Mobile Allocation Index Offset, Hopping Flag, Mobile Allocation, and Cell Allocation.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 40 , wherein the step of monitoring communications includes monitoring messages containing the identity of the mobile station.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 47 , wherein the identify of the MS is compared to a table of mobile stations of interest.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 40 , wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring communications containing indications of an emergency call origination.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the emergency call indication is contained in a Channel Request message as an Establishment cause value of binary 10100000 to 10111111.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 50 , wherein a Request Reference is used to link A-bis messages to location events.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the said emergency call indication is determined from monitoring use of an Emergency Setup message.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 40 , wherein the step of monitoring communications includes monitoring for an Immediate Assignment Command.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for carrying out the method of claim 40 .
Claim 61
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS uses radio resources and location processing resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, comprising: means for passively monitoring communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, wherein the monitored communications contain indications of a call origination or call termination; and means for using the extracted MS information to trigger location processing for said MS and to determine which radio resources to use in performing TDOA and/or AOA location processing for said MS.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for use in a wireless location system (WLS) that estimates the geographic location of a mobile station (MS), wherein the WLS overlays at least a portion of the geographic area of a wireless communications system, wherein the WLS uses radio resources and location processing resources to locate said MS using a process involving receiving a transmission from the MS at multiple signal collection sites and processing the received transmissions to estimate the location of the MS using time difference of arrival (TDOA) and/or angle of arrival (AOA) location processing techniques, wherein the wireless communications system includes base transceiver station (BTS) equipment connected to base station controller (BSC) equipment, comprising: means for passively monitoring communications between at least one BTS and at least one BSC, wherein the monitored communications contain indications of a call origination or call termination; and means for using the extracted MS information to trigger location processing for said MS and to determine which radio resources to use in performing TDOA and/or AOA location processing for said MS.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as recited in claim 55 , wherein the means for monitoring communications monitors messages containing radio frequency channel information.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 56 , wherein said radio frequency channel information includes Standalone Digital Control Channel Information.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 56 , wherein said radio frequency channel information includes Digital Control Channel Information.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 56 , wherein said radio frequency channel information includes Traffic Channel Information.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 56 , wherein the radio frequency channel information includes an Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number, the Timeslot number, Subchannel number, and Training Sequence Code.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 56 , wherein the radio frequency channel information includes Hopping Sequence number, Mobile Allocation Index Offset, Hopping Flag, Mobile Allocation, and Cell Allocation.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 55 , wherein the means for monitoring communications monitors messages containing the identity of the mobile station.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 62 , further comprising means for comparing the identify of the mobile station to a table of mobile stations of interest.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 55 , wherein the means for monitoring monitors communications containing indications of an emergency call origination.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 64 , wherein the emergency call indication is contained in a Channel Request message as an Establishment cause value of binary 10100000 to 10111111.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 65 , wherein a Request Reference is used to link A-bis messages to location events.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 64 , wherein the emergency call indication is determined from monitoring of use of an Emergency Setup message.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 55 , wherein the monitored communications includes an Immediate Assignment Command.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4169245A
Cited
US3921076A
Cited
USRE31254E
Cited
US5191342A
Cited
US4740792A
Cited
US5499031A
Cited
US5265121A
Cited
US5155590A
Cited
US5208756A
Cited
US5251232A
Cited
US5526357A
Cited
US5577087A
Cited
EP0598484A2
Cited
US5557547A
Cited
US5621664A
Cited
US5428667A
Cited
EP0621734A2
Cited
US5608410A
Cited
US5327144A
Cited
US5402347A
Cited
US5500648A
Cited
US5668837A
Cited
US5570099A
Cited
US5553101A
Cited
US5606575A
Cited
US5521902A
Cited
EP0658032A1
Cited
US5726972A
Cited
EP0669771A1
Cited
US5469409A
Cited
US5612949A
Cited
EP0688122A1
Cited
US5512908A
Cited
US5602903A
Cited
WO1996025673A1
Cited
US5812522A
Cited
US5844522A
Cited
US5874916A
Cited
US5949871A
Cited
EP0792074A2
Cited
US6061565A
Cited
US5774802A
Cited
US6119000A
Cited
EP0805608A1
Cited
US5884175A
Cited
EP0805609A2
Cited
US6034635A
Cited
US5859612A
Cited
US5812609A
Cited
EP0836312A2
Cited
US6249252B1
Cited
US6236365B1
Cited
GB2354129A
Cited
US5890068A
Cited
US6088587A
Cited
EP0848567A1
Cited
US5936571A
Cited
US5786790A
Cited
WO1998047019A1
Cited
EP0920228A1
Cited
US6236856B1
Cited
WO1999031925A1
Cited
US6430397B1
Cited
US6014102A
Cited
EP1093312A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-08-24 | 2008-02-23 | 2008-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-24 | 2012-02-23 | 2012-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-24 | 2016-02-23 | 2016-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |