Who is Leading the 5G Patent Race for Edge Computing?
Anticipated predictions indicate that in the future, half of global data will stem not from human interactions but from vehicles, sensors, and networked devices. Ericsson, a telecom equipment supplier, forecasts a fivefold surge in global data traffic to 136 exabytes per month within five years. A typical user might generate 1.5 gigabytes of data daily, while a vehicle could produce even more. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), responsible for cellular standards, designed 5G with these demands in mind—offering 100-fold higher data rates, millisecond latency, and heightened network reliability.
However, the proliferation of devices, escalating data volumes, and the demand for minimal latency present challenges beyond 5G’s capabilities. Edge computing emerges as a solution, which involves bringing cloud computing closer to users for sub-10 millisecond runtimes without forsaking cloud advantages. In simpler terms, it means shifting processes from the cloud to local devices like smartphones, computers, IoT devices, or edge servers.
Though edge computing reduces device-to-cloud communication, it relies heavily on connectivity standards like 5G or Wi-Fi, which are encumbered by thousands of patents, including standard essential patents (SEPs). Companies possessing essential patents for technologies like 5G and Wi-Fi will lead in a fully connected world. To understand patent, SEP, and standards dynamics in edge computing, this report utilizes LexisNexis IPlytics, identifying standard developers and essential asset holders.
This executive technology report, based on a Managing IP article, presents the latest stats on filed patents, SEP families, and standards contributions related to edge computing, categorized by current assignees and standards developers.