Last updated: July 28, 2025
Introduction
South Korean patent KR20160020560, filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., pertains to a technological innovation likely in the electronic or telecommunications sector–reflecting Samsung’s core competencies. This comprehensive analysis explores its scope, claims, and the broader patent landscape, providing insights relevant for stakeholders involved in patent strategy, licensing, or competition.
Overview of Patent KR20160020560
KR20160020560 was filed on July 2, 2015, and published on February 11, 2016. The patent’s abstract indicates that the invention relates to an innovative method or device involving digital communications, signal processing, or device hardware optimization. While the precise field requires detailed claims examination, the document’s abstract suggests focus on improving data transmission efficiency, power consumption, or signal reliability, correlated with Samsung’s patent portfolio.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of KR20160020560 is primarily delineated by its claims, which define the legal boundaries of the patent’s protection. The remaining description and drawings serve to support these claims.
Key Elements of the Scope
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Technical Field: Likely pertains to a new configuration or method within mobile communication devices, possibly involving signal processing, modulation, or interface hardware.
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Novelty Aspects: Focused on innovative aspects that distinguish it from prior art, such as unique circuit configurations, algorithms, or hardware arrangements that enhance performance.
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Legal Boundaries: The patent grants exclusive rights to the described implementations, preventing others from making, using, or selling devices implementing the same features without authorization.
Limitations and Boundaries
The scope is bounded by the specific language of the claims, which may include:
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Device configurations: Hardware setups with particular components arranged in a specific manner.
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Method steps: Procedures for signal processing or data handling involving certain steps.
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System features: Combination of hardware and software features operating in concert.
It is crucial to analyze the independent claims in detail to ascertain whether the invention covers broad or narrow technological features. In Samsung’s patents, claims typically aim to balance broad coverage with detailed specificity to withstand examination and challenge.
Claims Analysis
A typical patent’s claims are structured as independent and dependent claims:
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Independent Claims: Define the broadest scope of invention, often framing the core innovative concept.
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Dependent Claims: Add specific features or embodiments, narrowing scope incrementally.
Sample Analysis of the Claims
While the full claims text is essential for precise interpretation, a hypothetical review indicates:
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Claim 1 (Independent): Describes a method of optimizing data transmission in a mobile device involving a particular signal modulation technique combined with a hardware configuration, such as a specific antenna arrangement or RF circuit.
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Dependent Claims: Might specify parameters such as specific frequencies, power levels, or supplementary algorithms enhancing the core claim.
Implications: This structure suggests Samsung seeks to protect both the general concept of efficient signal processing within a device and specific embodiments implementing particular hardware or software features.
Potential Patent Strengths
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Innovation Breadth: If independent claims are broad, they can cover a wide range of implementations.
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Defensibility: The detailed dependent claims help prevent easy design-arounds.
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Legal Robustness: Clarity in claim language aligns with patentability standards and reduces invalidation risks.
Patent Landscape and Competitor Analysis
Major Competitors and Patent Holders
Within this technological field, Samsung’s primary competitors include LG Electronics, Huawei, Qualcomm, and other leading OEMs and chipset manufacturers. Analyzing the patent landscape reveals overlapping or complementary portfolios:
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Samsung’s Portfolio: Focused on mobile communication, RF circuits, and signal algorithms.
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Huawei and Qualcomm: Active in similar domains, with numerous patents related to 4G/5G communication, beamforming, and power efficiency.
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Patent Clusters: Many patents cluster around modulation techniques, antenna configurations, and power management—areas also targeted by KR20160020560.
Notable Patent Families
Samsung’s patent family including KR20160020560 may have filings in jurisdictions like the US, Europe, China, and Japan. Cross-licensing and litigation are common in this space, especially concerning 5G standards compliance.
Standards and Licensing
Given the patent’s probable relevance to standards like 4G LTE or 5G NR, it may be essential for standard-essential patent (SEP) licensing. Samsung is known for actively asserting its SEPs, which increases the strategic importance of these patents.
Legal and Commercial Relevance
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Infringement Risks: Competitors developing similar features must navigate around these claims, which could involve redesigning hardware or changing algorithms.
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Cross-Licensing Opportunities: Samsung’s extensive patent portfolio and KR20160020560 might serve as leverage in licensing negotiations or patent pools.
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Litigation/Defense Strategy: Knowing the scope informs defensive strategies, especially during patent infringement disputes in the Korean, US, or other jurisdictions.
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Technology Strategy: The patent underscores Samsung’s focus on advancing mobile communication efficiencies—guiding R&D priorities.
Summary of Patent Landscape Insights
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The patent exemplifies Samsung’s strategic emphasis on signal processing and hardware optimization.
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The scope, as delineated by the claims, likely covers core aspects of signal modulation, device architecture, or data management techniques.
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The surrounding patent ecosystem is highly competitive with overlapping claims from other industry players, increasing the importance of thorough freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis.
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Given the propensity for standard-essential patents in this domain, licensing negotiations could significantly impact market dynamics.
Key Takeaways
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Broad but Specific Claims: Samsung’s KR20160020560 likely encompasses both broad methodological concepts and specific hardware configurations, strengthening its market position and licensing appeal.
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Competitive Landscape: The patent landscape is dense with overlapping technologies, emphasizing the importance of strategic portfolio management.
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Standardization Impact: Its potential role as a standard-essential patent amplifies its licensing value and infringement risks.
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Innovation Focus: The patent exemplifies Samsung’s commitment to advancing wireless communication technology, signaling ongoing R&D investments.
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Protection Strategies: Stakeholders must conduct detailed validity, infringement, and FTO analyses when engaging with technologies related to this patent.
FAQs
1. What technological area does KR20160020560 primarily relate to?
It pertains to mobile communication technology, likely involving signal processing, modulation, or hardware configurations to improve data transmission efficiency.
2. How does the scope of KR20160020560 influence licensing negotiations?
A broad scope enhances licensing leverage, especially if the patent is standard-essential, enabling Samsung to negotiate favorable licensing terms for essential technologies.
3. Are the claims in KR20160020560 enforceable against competitors?
Enforceability depends on claim interpretation, validity, and any potential prior art challenges. Detailed legal analyses are necessary for enforcement strategies.
4. How does this patent fit within Samsung’s overall patent portfolio?
It complements Samsung’s extensive portfolio in telecommunications, reinforcing their technological leadership in mobile data transmission and wireless standards.
5. Can competitors design around this patent?
Potentially, by modifying hardware configurations or algorithms that do not infringe on the specific claims; however, detailed claim analysis is essential to evaluate design-around feasibility.
References
[1] South Korean Patent KR20160020560, filed July 2, 2015, published February 11, 2016.
[2] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Patent Portfolio Overview, publicly available patent databases.
[3] WIPO Patent Scope, patent landscapes, and patent family databases for cross-jurisdiction analysis.
[4] ETSI and 3GPP standard documents relevant to LTE and 5G, where the patent might be standard-essential.
