Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The global push for advanced digital infrastructure, fueled by increasing demand for high-bandwidth applications and the proliferation of IoT devices, creates immense pressure on existing communication networks. This technology directly supports this trend by maximizing spectrum utilization and enabling seamless integration of diverse data streams, critical for next-generation wireless standards and industrial digitalization initiatives worldwide.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Maximizes Transmission Efficiency: Could improve existing system transmission efficiency by approximately 15% by minimizing multiplexing overhead through integer-multiple OFDM frame length settings.

02

Simplifies System Integration: Expected to reduce development time by approximately 20% by simplifying system design in multi-service environments, as diverse OFDM frames can be handled within a single multiplexed transmission frame.

03

Establishes Market Advantage with High Uniqueness: Could establish a clear technological advantage over competitors due to the distinct uniqueness of this technology, evidenced by only two prior art documents cited by the examiner.

Market Opportunity
Digital Broadcasting & Streaming
$800M–$1.5B globally (AI est.)
High-definition video services like 4K/8K broadcasting and IPTV require stable and efficient delivery of high-quality content within limited bandwidth. This technology serves as a foundational solution to meet this growing demand.
Major broadcasting networks IPTV service providers Content delivery network (CDN) operators Digital media equipment manufacturers
Smart Factories & Industrial IoT
$550M–$1.0B globally (AI est.)
Smart factories require low-latency, high-reliability transmission of real-time data from numerous sensors and robots. This technology helps resolve communication infrastructure bottlenecks in these environments.
Industrial automation solution providers IoT platform developers for manufacturing Network equipment providers for industrial use Large-scale manufacturing corporations
5G & Beyond 5G Communications
$650M–$1.5B globally (AI est.)
Efficiently processing high-volume, diverse traffic is essential for 5G and Beyond 5G communications. This technology provides a flexible communication foundation to meet various service requirements.
Telecommunications infrastructure vendors Mobile network operators Wireless technology developers Edge computing solution providers
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent represents a robust right, having been granted after thorough prior art searches and examination by the examiner, including successful responses to two office actions. It specifically protects the core technological advantage of OFDM frame length setting control, indicating a stable right less susceptible to invalidation.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the control logic for optimizing OFDM frame lengths. Adjacent white space exists in developing novel hardware architectures for variable frame processing or advanced error correction schemes tailored for dynamic multiplexing environments.

Economic Impact
~$100K/year estimated communication infrastructure cost reduction per facility (est.).
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Assuming an average 5% improvement in communication infrastructure bandwidth utilization efficiency. For an adopting enterprise with annual communication infrastructure costs of $2.0M (AI est.), the estimated annual savings would be $2.0M × 5% = $100K (AI est.). This is achieved by enhancing existing infrastructure performance while curbing new capital expenditures.

Speed to Market
4× faster than in-house development
This technology focuses on OFDM frame control logic, allowing for rapid deployment through software updates or firmware modifications to existing communication protocol stacks. Since the concept is established and it maximizes existing OFDM-compatible hardware assets, it avoids large-scale capital investment or new hardware development. This significantly shortens the phases from theoretical development to proof-of-concept and commercialization, potentially reducing time to market by approximately 2.7 years.
Competitive Positioning

X: Communication Efficiency & Stability
Y: Multi-Service Adaptability

Business Models & Applications
📝 Technology Licensing
Provide licenses for this technology to communication equipment manufacturers and broadcasting equipment vendors, supporting product enhancement and strengthening market competitiveness, thereby generating royalty revenue.
📦 Module & Chipset Sales
Develop and sell high-efficiency multiplexed transmission modules or chipsets implementing this technology, offering them to system integrators and IoT device manufacturers to open new markets.
💡 Solution Provision
Build high-efficiency multiplexed transmission systems centered on this technology and offer them as turnkey solutions to broadcasters, telecommunication carriers, and smart factory operators.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
📡 衛星通信
High-Efficiency Satellite Communication
This technology could be adapted for ground station systems that efficiently multiplex and transmit multiple satellite communication services with different standards, or high-definition satellite image data. This has the potential to maximize the utilization efficiency of limited satellite resources, contributing to reduced data distribution costs and improved service quality.
🚗 車載通信V2X
Next-Generation Vehicular Communication (V2X)
Applicable to vehicular communication (V2X) systems to efficiently multiplex and transmit in-vehicle sensor information and Intelligent Transport System (ITS) data with varying communication protocols and data rates. This could enable highly real-time information exchange, enhancing the safety and reliability of autonomous driving.
💡 スマートグリッド
High-Reliability Smart Grid Communication
Can be repurposed for smart grid communication infrastructure to efficiently multiplex and transmit power grid monitoring/control data, smart meter information, and data from distributed energy sources. This could contribute to stable power supply and optimal integrated management of renewable energy sources.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Technical Suitability & PoC
Duration: 4 months
Conduct a Proof of Concept (PoC) for this technology to evaluate its compatibility with the adopting enterprise's existing systems. Develop a basic prototype for the frame length optimization function.
Phase 2: System Integration & Development
Duration: 6 months
Based on the prototype evaluation, proceed with system design and implementation tailored to the enterprise's specific communication requirements. Integrate with existing communication infrastructure and perform functional testing.
Phase 3: Deployment & Optimization
Duration: 8 months
Deploy the communication apparatus or system incorporating this technology into a live operational environment. Verify performance optimization and stable operation, ensuring maximum effectiveness through continuous monitoring and adjustments.
Technical Feasibility
This technology primarily focuses on a control unit that optimizes OFDM frame lengths, making it implementable via firmware or software updates in existing OFDM-compatible communication devices. It does not require extensive hardware changes and can be relatively easily integrated into established communication infrastructure and devices, enabling adopting enterprises to build efficient multiplexed transmission systems with minimal capital investment. The 'control unit' described in Claim 1 can be realized with existing digital signal processors or FPGAs, indicating low technical hurdles.
Success Scenario
Upon adoption, this technology could improve the bandwidth utilization efficiency of existing communication infrastructure by an estimated 15%. This may allow for an increased number of simultaneous high-definition video content streams or higher data collection frequencies from IoT devices, enabling service expansion and quality improvement without additional infrastructure investment.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-034828
REGISTRATION NO.
7692708
FILING DATE
2021年03月04日
GRANT DATE
2025年06月06日
EXPIRATION DATE
2041年03月04日
PATENT HOLDER
日本放送協会
Examination History
2024年02月01日
出願審査請求書
2024年09月10日
拒絶理由通知書
2024年11月11日
意見書
2024年11月11日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2025年01月21日
拒絶理由通知書
2025年03月21日
意見書
2025年03月21日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2025年05月07日
特許査定