CSIRO's High-Frequency Wireless Network Technology
This 1996 patent from CSIRO describes a wireless local area network system that can send data reliably using radio waves above 10 GHz, even when signals bounce off walls.
Original patent title: “Wireless LAN”
This 1996 patent from CSIRO describes a wireless local area network system that can send data reliably using radio waves above 10 GHz, even when signals bounce off walls. Granted to Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO in 1996 with 82 claims and 120 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent covers a wireless local area network (LAN) system designed to work even when radio signals bounce around, a common issue in indoor spaces. It uses transceivers, which are devices that can both send and receive signals. These transceivers operate at radio frequencies higher than 10 GHz. The key innovation is how they process data: they break the data into smaller pieces called symbols. The duration of each symbol is made longer than the expected delay caused by bounced signals. This technique, along with methods to improve data reliability like error correction and interleaving data blocks, ensures that data can be transmitted and received accurately despite signal reflections. The system includes hub transceivers that connect to data sources and destinations, and mobile transceivers that connect to computers or other processing devices.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Wireless systems operating at frequencies below 10 GHz
- Wireless systems that do not specifically address multipath transmission environments
- Methods of transmitting data that do not involve breaking data into symbols longer than expected signal delay times
- Wireless systems that do not include data reliability enhancement techniques like Forward Error Correction or interleaving
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The invention's cleverness lies in its method for handling signal reflections, or 'multipath'. By ensuring data symbols are longer than the time difference between direct and bounced signals, the system can effectively 'see' through the echoes and reconstruct the original data, a significant hurdle for high-frequency wireless communication.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Early Wi-Fi standards (IEEE 802.11)
High-speed wireless networking equipment
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational for early high-speed wireless networking. It describes core technologies that enabled Wi-Fi to function effectively in real-world environments where signals reflect off surfaces. The techniques patented here were crucial for developing robust wireless local area networks that could compete with wired connections.
Filed
November 23, 1993
Granted
January 23, 1996
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The core technologies described in this patent were licensed by CSIRO to various companies, and they formed the basis for the development of Wi-Fi. Many companies in the telecommunications and consumer electronics sectors, including those that developed early Wi-Fi chipsets and routers, built upon this foundational intellectual property.
Market impact
This patent's technology was critical for the commercial viability of wireless local area networks. It addressed key technical challenges that allowed for the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi, transforming how people connect to networks and creating a massive global market for wireless devices and infrastructure.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent covers a wireless local area network (LAN) system designed to work even when radio signals bounce around, a common issue in indoor spaces. It uses transceivers, which are devices that can both send and receive signals. These transceivers operate at radio frequencies higher than 10 GHz. The key innovation is how they process data: they break the data into smaller pieces called symbols. The duration of each symbol is made longer than the expected delay caused by bounced signals. This technique, along with methods to improve data reliability like error correction and interleaving data blocks, ensures that data can be transmitted and received accurately despite signal reflections. The system includes hub transceivers that connect to data sources and destinations, and mobile transceivers that connect to computers or other processing devices.
The clever bit
The invention's cleverness lies in its method for handling signal reflections, or 'multipath'. By ensuring data symbols are longer than the time difference between direct and bounced signals, the system can effectively 'see' through the echoes and reconstruct the original data, a significant hurdle for high-frequency wireless communication.
What it does not cover
- Wireless systems operating at frequencies below 10 GHz
- Wireless systems that do not specifically address multipath transmission environments
- Methods of transmitting data that do not involve breaking data into symbols longer than expected signal delay times
- Wireless systems that do not include data reliability enhancement techniques like Forward Error Correction or interleaving
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
High impact
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$101K – $323K
Midpoint $202K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
82 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Percival, T. M. P., Deane, J. F., Ostry, D. I., Daniels, G. R., & O'Sullivan, J. D. (1996). CSIRO's High-Frequency Wireless Network Technology (U.S. Patent No. 5,487,069). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5487069/wifi-csiro-wireless-lan
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CSIRO's High-Frequency Wireless Network Technology cover?
This 1996 patent from CSIRO describes a wireless local area network system that can send data reliably using radio waves above 10 GHz, even when signals bounce off walls.
Who owns patent US 5487069?
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CSIRO owns this patent, granted in 1996.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5487069 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 120 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational for early high-speed wireless networking. It describes core technologies that enabled Wi-Fi to function effectively in real-world environments where signals reflect off surfaces. The techniques patented here were crucial for developing robust wireless local area networks that could compete with wired connections.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Wireless systems operating at frequencies below 10 GHz
Patent monitoring