Wireless & Telecommunications IP
Patent Strategy for Cellular, Wi-Fi, and IoT Technologies
Wireless innovation depends on how devices, software, protocols, and networks work together. Protecting that innovation requires patent counsel who understands the technology, the applicable standards, and its commercial implementation.
Divergent Patent Law helps companies developing cellular systems, Wi-Fi technologies, and Internet of Things (IoT) products develop, protect, and evaluate patent portfolios. Our team combines experienced patent attorneys with wireless engineering and technical-analysis experience, including prior work at Motorola, Bell Northern Research, and BlackBerry.
Our experience with 3GPP specifications and IEEE standards informs targeted patent prosecution, portfolio development, licensing, and enforcement. We connect technical disclosures and patent claims to the procedures, interfaces, and system behavior used in commercial devices and networks.
Experience With 3GPP and IEEE Standards
Communications standards provide a detailed framework for understanding how wireless systems operate. Our team has experience analyzing 3GPP cellular specifications and IEEE standards, including IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standards, in connection with patent prosecution and enforcement.
We examine the relevant specifications, releases, amendments, and feature configurations to understand the relationship among an invention, its claims, and the technology implemented in the marketplace.
Cellular & Mobile
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LTE, LTE-M & 5G
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Radio-Resource Management
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Network Signaling
Network Infrastructure
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Base Stations & Gateways
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RF Systems
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Network Equipment
Wi-Fi & Wireless LANs
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IEEE 802.11
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Access Points & Roaming
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Mesh Networking
Protocols & Software
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Message Exchanges
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Network Control Software
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Communications Security
IoT & Connected Devices
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Connected Sensors
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Embedded Connectivity
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Device-to-Gateway Systems
Commercial Implementation
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Carrier Services
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Device Acceptance Testing
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Network Monitoring
Standards analysis helps us identify commercially significant aspects of an invention, guide supported claims, and evaluate how claimed features operate in commercial devices and networks.
Wireless Technologies We Handle
Wireless inventions may span hardware, firmware, connectivity, protocols, software, and data processing. We evaluate potential protection across these layers and the interactions among devices, access points, base stations, gateways, and network systems.
Cellular Networks & Mobile Communications
LTE, LTE-M, and 5G technologies; cellular infrastructure; mobile devices; radio-resource management; signaling protocols; and interactions between devices and carrier networks.
Our analysis draws on relevant 3GPP specifications to understand standardized procedures and their relationship to patent claims and commercial implementations.
Representative Technologies:
LTE & LTE-M
5G Technologies
Radio-Resource Management
Cellular Infrastructure
Mobile Devices
Signaling Protocols
Voice over LTE & IMS
Carrier Network Operations
We develop supported claims directed to device functionality, network procedures, and interactions among system components, with commercially relevant implementations in view.
Wi-Fi & Wireless LANs
Wi-Fi access points, client devices, routers, mesh networks, roaming, connection management, traffic handling, and wireless-network administration.
We use relevant IEEE 802.11 standards to evaluate communications procedures, device and access-point behavior, feature requirements, and implementation choices.
Representative Technologies:
IEEE 802.11 Standards
Wireless Access Points
Client Devices & Routers
Communications Procedures
Mesh Networks
Roaming & Connection Management
Traffic Handling
Network Administration
We connect IEEE 802.11 standards analysis with device and access-point behavior to develop supported claims and evaluate commercially relevant implementations.
IoT and Connected Devices
Connected sensors, embedded communications, device-to-gateway connectivity, power management, provisioning, authentication, and integration with cloud and edge systems.
IoT inventions may span hardware, firmware, connectivity, and data processing. We evaluate potential protection across those layers, including the use of cellular and Wi-Fi technologies and interactions among devices, gateways, and remote systems.
Representative Technologies:
Connected Sensors
Embedded Communications
Device-to-Gateway Connectivity
Power Management
Provisioning & Authentication
Cloud & Edge Integration
Gateways & Remote Systems
Cellular & Wi-Fi Connectivity
We consider protection for device, gateway, and remote-system functions, including the hardware, firmware, communications, and processing that enable connected products.
Network Infrastructure and Radio-Frequency Systems
Wireless base stations, access points, gateways, network equipment, radio-frequency systems, digital and analog circuitry, and communications hardware.
Our experience also includes carrier services and network operations, including Voice over LTE, IMS-based services, device acceptance testing, network monitoring, and performance-management technologies.
Representative Technologies:
Wireless Base Stations
Access Points & Gateways
Network Equipment
Radio-Frequency Systems
Digital & Analog Circuitry
Communications Hardware
Voice over LTE & IMS
Network Monitoring
We examine how functions are allocated across devices and network infrastructure, including the components responsible for performing claimed operations and the available implementation evidence.
Protocols, Software, and Communications Security
Network protocols, data-flow management, communications security, software-controlled communications functions, and coordination among hardware and software components.
We connect patent claims to communications procedures, interfaces, message exchanges, resource-management functions, and relationships among system components.
Representative Technologies:
Network Protocols
Data-Flow Management
Communications Security
Software-Controlled Functions
Message Exchanges
Resource Management
Hardware–Software Coordination
Device & Network Behavior
We consider required and optional features, operating configurations, and the roles of hardware and software when developing claims and evaluating commercial implementations.
Supporting the Patent Lifecycle
Our experience with communications standards supports patent drafting and prosecution, portfolio development, licensing, enforcement, and patent disputes. We connect claim language with system behavior and technical evidence while preserving supported claim opportunities across the patent lifecycle.
Targeted Patent Drafting and Prosecution
Standards analysis can help identify commercially significant aspects of an invention and guide supported claims. We compare the technical disclosure with relevant standards provisions to evaluate procedures, interfaces, message exchanges, resource-management functions, and relationships among system components. We consider required and optional features and how functions are allocated among devices, access points, base stations, gateways, and network systems.
That work informs application drafting, claim amendments, examiner interviews, and continuation strategy. For pending applications, we evaluate claims directed to standardized functions and implementation choices within the existing disclosure. Our objective is claims that capture the technical contribution and can be evaluated against commercially relevant implementations.
Patent Licensing and Enforcement
Our standards experience supports the evaluation of issued patents against products and networks. We map claim limitations to relevant 3GPP and IEEE provisions and examine the particular implementation, including the applicable standards version, supported features, operating configuration, and components performing the claimed functions.
Standards mapping helps focus technical investigations and claim-chart development. We connect it with product documentation, protocol behavior, testing results, and other implementation evidence to support attorney-led infringement analysis, licensing discussions, and enforcement strategy.
Connecting Prosecution Decisions to Later Enforcement
Understanding how a wireless feature may be identified in a commercial implementation can inform patent drafting and prosecution.
We consider how claim language relates to observable communications, device behavior, network functions, and available technical evidence. That perspective helps us evaluate the consequences of claim amendments, preserve supported alternatives, and develop prosecution strategies with later licensing and enforcement in view.
Portfolio Development and Continuation Strategy
Wireless products evolve through new hardware, firmware releases, protocol features, network capabilities, and deployment requirements. IoT platforms may expand through additional sensors, gateways, applications, and processing services.
We help clients identify filing priorities, evaluate portfolio coverage, preserve supported claim opportunities, and consider additional applications as technology develops. Standards analysis can help identify relevant features and claim opportunities within an existing patent family.
Technical Investigation and Portfolio Evaluation
Our technical support can include standards analysis, claim-chart development, review of protocol logs and testing data, reverse engineering, and evidence-of-use analysis.
These activities support attorney-led evaluations of patent portfolios, potential acquisitions, licensing opportunities, and disputes. We distinguish relevant standards provisions, evidence concerning the implementation, and questions requiring further investigation. The scope of technical analysis and any testing are established for the engagement.
Post-Grant Proceedings and Patent Disputes
Wireless patent challenges often require detailed analysis of technical disclosures, communications standards, prior art, and claim language.
Our attorneys handle PTAB proceedings, ex parte reexamination, appeals, and patent disputes, drawing on prosecution experience and technical support appropriate to the matter. We consider how positions taken in one proceeding may affect related prosecution, licensing, and enforcement objectives.
Working With In-House Teams and Foreign Associates
Engagements Tailored to Your Objectives
We support companies managing established wireless portfolios, teams developing cellular and Wi-Fi technologies, businesses building IoT products, and foreign associates seeking U.S. patent counsel.
Engagements can address a particular invention, standards-related feature, technology area, portfolio, or proceeding. We establish responsible attorneys, technical-support roles, communication channels, review procedures, and reporting expectations at the outset.
Clear Scope and Pricing
We discuss the proposed work, staffing, timing, and professional fees before substantive work begins. Patent prosecution services may use agreed professional fees, while standards analysis, portfolio evaluation, testing, and enforcement-related work are scoped to the engagement.
Government fees and anticipated third-party expenses are identified separately so clients can evaluate the expected cost.
Related Divergent Patent Law Blog Articles
Experience Across Devices, Networks, and Patent Portfolios
Ganesh J. Prabu leads our wireless team’s technical work. Together with Gregory B. Gulliver and our patent attorneys, he connects wireless engineering and standards analysis with prosecution, licensing, and enforcement.
Gregory B. Gulliver
Partner · Registered Patent Attorney · Former Software Engineer
A former software engineer with nine years of industry experience, Gregory has prepared and prosecuted hundreds of applications involving wireless communications, software, computer hardware, semiconductors, and network technologies.
Brandon R. Theiss
Partner · Registered Patent Attorney · Licensed Professional Engineer
A licensed professional engineer and former industrial-control and medical-device engineer, Brandon advises on patent prosecution, § 101 strategy, portfolio development, and post-grant proceedings involving AI, software, cloud systems, medical devices, and automation.
Robert Hyun Chang
Of Counsel · Registered Patent Attorney · Materials Engineer
A registered patent attorney with more than 25 years of intellectual-property experience and degrees in metallurgical and materials science engineering and physics, Robert helps technology companies draft and prosecute U.S. patent applications, build and monetize portfolios, and develop claim and licensing strategies grounded in complex technology and commercial objectives.
Ganesh J. Prabu
Technical Advisor · Wireless Engineer · Patent Analysis and Licensing Support
Ganesh J. Prabu is a wireless engineer and technical advisor with more than two decades of experience, including roles at Motorola and BlackBerry. He supports patent prosecution, licensing, and litigation through technical analysis of 5G, LTE, and IoT technologies, claim-chart development, reverse engineering, and evidence-of-use analysis.
Discuss Your Wireless Patent Needs
Whether you are developing a cellular, Wi-Fi, or IoT invention, pursuing targeted claims informed by 3GPP or IEEE standards, or evaluating a portfolio for licensing or enforcement, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your objectives.
Please do not include confidential information in an initial inquiry. An attorney-client relationship is formed only through a written engagement agreement.