6G Network Optimization (SON) Patent Landscape 2026
Samsung Electronics dominates a highly concentrated field, holding the majority of the 170 patent families in scope, with the top five filers collectively accounting for 77% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total. The field is still expanding on a multi-year basis, though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak and the most recent years remain further understated by publication lag.
Samsung leads a heavily concentrated emerging field
Samsung Electronics holds the top position by a wide margin in 6G SON patent families, with AT&T Intellectual Property, Huawei, and Intel occupying the next three ranks at significantly lower counts.
The top five filers account for 77% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, signaling a highly concentrated competitive structure where a single player’s portfolio dwarfs the rest of the field. The gap between the leader and the second-ranked filer is substantial.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 105 | |
| 2 | AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P | 13 | |
| 3 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | 11 | |
| 4 | Intel Corporation | 8 | |
| 5 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) | 3 | |
| 6 | Tejas Networks Ltd | 3 | |
| 7 | Boost Subscriberco LLC | 2 | |
| 8 | Northeastern University (US) | 2 | |
| 9 | Chandigarh University | 2 | |
| 10 | Fractal Networks LLC | 2 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | HNNOIX India Pte Ltd | 2 | |
| 12 | Sichuan Communications Research Planning and Design Co., Ltd. | 1 | |
| 13 | Dr. Abhilash C N | 1 | |
| 14 | Symbiosis International Deemed University | 1 | |
| 15 | Wuhan University | 1 | |
| 16 | Shanghai Committee China Telecom Group Labor Union | 1 | |
| 17 | Dalian Maritime University | 1 | |
| 18 | Dr. Chetan R | 1 | |
| 19 | Dr. Babji Prasad Chapa | 1 | |
| 20 | Dr. M Ananthalakshmi | 1 |
Samsung’s commanding position reflects an early, systematic filing strategy in wireless network management and AI-driven optimization, giving it a structural advantage as 6G standardization progresses. Challengers entering now face both a volume gap and an entrenched claim position in core H04W subclasses.
Filing counts for the most recent 18–24 months are understated due to standard patent publication lag; the apparent easing from 2023 levels should not be interpreted as a slowdown until more publications clear. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Rapid multi-year growth anchored in wireless network management, with AI emerging as a secondary axis
The filing trend and technology composition together reveal a field that grew sharply from 2020 onward, concentrated in wireless network protocols but increasingly intersecting AI and signal-processing branches.
Annual filing trend
Activity in this field was negligible through 2018, then rose steadily from 2019, accelerating sharply to a recorded peak in 2023. The recent-window growth figure reflects a substantial multi-year expansion. Years 2024–2026 are materially understated by publication lag and should not be read as a real-terms decline.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H04W (Wireless Communication Networks) is the dominant IPC class, covering virtually all families in scope, with H04L (Digital Information Transmission) and H04B (Transmission General) as secondary classes. G06N (AI/ML Models) is the fourth-largest branch, indicating that AI-native network management is becoming a meaningful thread in the portfolio mix, though it remains far smaller than the core wireless classes.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Method and apparatus for optimizing mobility and c…
The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. Embodiments herein provide a method and system for optimizing mobility in a NR in a wireless communication network. The method includes logging, by a UE (100), measurements associated with a neighbor cell in a SPR or a SHR. Further, the method includes… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intelligence and Learning in O-RAN for 5G and 6G C… | 95 |
| 2 | Policy enhancement to support group application fu… | 30 |
| 3 | Device contexts, operational modes, and policy dri… | 21 |
| 4 | Method and apparatus for implementation of ai/ML i… | 13 |
| 5 | Exchange of time of day between two IoT devices | 11 |
| 6 | Facilitating heterogeneous network analysis and re… | 11 |
| 7 | Intelligence and learning in O-RAN for 5G and 6G c… | 10 |
| 8 | 一种基于6G空中基站信号增强及智能按需覆盖优化方法 | 8 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
The combination of high concentration, early-stage lifecycle, and an AI-adjacent white space defines where incremental investment can still differentiate versus where it will face entrenched positions.
Growth stage: expanding on a multi-year basis, past its 2023 annual peak
The field is classified at the Growth stage, with the recent three-year filing window sitting well above the prior three-year window. Annual volume peaked in 2023 and has since eased, though publication lag means the true recent rate is higher than recorded figures suggest. For R&D teams, this window still offers the opportunity to stake foundational claims before the field reaches maturity.
Growth stageSingle-player dominance creates a high barrier but also visible gaps
With the top five filers holding 77% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total and one player holding a disproportionate share, the field is structurally concentrated. Challengers are unlikely to displace the leader through volume alone. The viable strategy is differentiation by subclass — particularly in AI-driven optimization (G06N), antenna design (H01Q), or positioning and sensing (G01S), where the leader’s relative position is weaker.
High concentrationIntra-group co-filing is the only observed collaboration pattern
The only co-applicant relationship in evidence is between Samsung Electronics (Korea) and its Beijing research center, representing a single shared family. No cross-company or industry-academia collaboration is recorded among the top filers. This absence of ecosystem co-development is notable given that 6G SON is expected to require multi-vendor interoperability; it may represent an early-stage gap that opens as standardization bodies begin coordinating.
Minimal co-filingUS, PCT, and EPO account for the bulk of filings; China is a minor jurisdiction despite Chinese applicants
The United States leads as a filing jurisdiction, closely followed by WIPO PCT and Europe (EPO), indicating that the dominant players are pursuing broad international protection. India is the fourth jurisdiction, driven by its active academic and startup filers. China, despite having Huawei and Chinese academic applicants in the ranking, shows relatively few filings in this specific corpus, suggesting either strategic restraint or that domestic Chinese filings in this subspace are not yet fully indexed.
US/PCT/EPO ledGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Samsung Electronics leads decisively; AT&T, Huawei, and Intel compete in a distant second tier
All momentum-tracked filers entered this specific space recently, reflecting the nascent state of 6G SON as a defined filing category. Samsung’s technology focus spans network monitoring, session management, and digital transmission management.
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics holds 105 patent families in this space — more than eight times the nearest rival — with its primary technical emphasis on H04W 24 (wireless network monitoring and testing), H04W 76 (connection management), and H04L 41 (network management and configuration). Its applicant momentum is flagged as a new entrant to this defined subspace, with 87 recent families, consistent with a concentrated push as 6G standardization has accelerated. The intra-group collaboration with its Beijing R&D center adds marginal further coverage.
105 patent familiesAT&T Intellectual Property
AT&T Intellectual Property holds 13 patent families, ranking second, with its technical focus on H04W 28 (resource management), H04W 64 (locating users), and H04W 68 (paging). Like Samsung, its momentum in this subspace is flagged as a new entrant, with 5 recent families. AT&T’s emphasis on resource management and user-location functions suggests a network-operator perspective that complements Samsung’s equipment-vendor orientation, creating some differentiation in claim space.
13 patent families| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 87 | ▲ new entrant |
| AT&T知识产权一部有限合伙公司 | 5 | ▲ new entrant |
| Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
| Intel Corporation | 8 | ▲ new entrant |
| Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
| Tejas Networks Ltd | 1 | ▲ new entrant |
| HNNOIX India Pte Ltd | 2 | ▲ new entrant |
AI-native optimization and integrated sensing are under-served branches worth watching
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant H04W core carry low filing counts relative to the field’s overall activity, representing areas where technical contributions could still establish meaningful positions.
G06N · AI/ML Models for network optimization
With 22 records, G06N is the largest of the under-served adjacent branches — present but still a small share of the overall corpus. AI-native SON functions such as reinforcement-learning-based load balancing, federated learning for distributed RAN optimization, and neural-network-driven handover prediction sit here. The most-cited prior art explicitly references AI/ML in O-RAN for 5G and 6G contexts, and HNNOIX India has already staked an early G06N position alongside its H04W filings. Entry is plausible for teams with telecom-domain AI expertise, though Samsung’s growing presence in this subclass means the window for foundational claims is narrowing.
Search this in Eureka →G01S · Radar, Sonar & Positioning for integrated sensing and communication
G01S holds only 4 records in this corpus, making it the sparsest technically plausible adjacent branch. Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) is a recognized 6G architectural pillar, and SON functions that incorporate real-time positioning and environmental sensing fall squarely in G01S territory. The combination of low current filings, clear technical relevance to 6G network self-optimization (e.g., beam management informed by radar sensing), and limited incumbency from the dominant players makes this branch worth monitoring. Entry would require cross-domain expertise in both radar signal processing and RAN management protocols.
Search this in Eureka →How leading filers differ across technology subclasses
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H04W 24 · Wireless communication networks | H04W 76 · Wireless communication networks | H04W 28 · Wireless communication networks | H04L 41 · Digital information transmission | H04W 36 · Wireless communication networks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Strong · 100 | Moderate · 40 | Emerging · 13 | Moderate · 37 | Emerging · 20 |
| Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Emerging · 2 | Absent | Strong · 11 | Absent | Absent |
| Intel Corporation | Strong · 8 | Moderate · 3 | Absent | Absent | Emerging · 1 |
| AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Emerging · 1 | Absent | Strong · 10 | Emerging · 1 | Absent |
| HNNOIX India Pte Ltd | Strong · 2 | Absent | Absent | Absent | Strong · 2 |
| Northeastern University (US) | Absent | Absent | Strong · 2 | Absent | Strong · 2 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus analyzed contains 170 patent families in scope, representing filings from 2017 through 2026 across all major jurisdictions.
Samsung Electronics is the dominant filer with 105 patent families, which is more than eight times the count of the second-ranked applicant, AT&T Intellectual Property, at 13 patent families.
The field was essentially inactive before 2019, then grew substantially, reaching a recorded peak in 2023. The field is in a Growth lifecycle stage, with the recent three-year window sitting well above the prior three-year window. Filing counts for 2024–2026 are understated due to publication lag.
The United States leads as a filing jurisdiction, followed closely by WIPO PCT and Europe (EPO). India ranks fourth, reflecting activity from local academic and startup filers. China shows comparatively few filings in this specific corpus.
The two most technically plausible under-served branches are G06N (AI/ML models applied to network optimization, with 22 records) and G01S (radar and positioning for integrated sensing and communication, with only 4 records). Both are sparse relative to the dominant H04W class and have clear technical relevance to 6G SON architecture.
Observed collaboration is minimal. The only co-applicant relationship in evidence is an intra-group filing between Samsung Electronics (Korea) and its Beijing Samsung Communications Technology Research center, representing a single shared family. No cross-company or industry-academia co-filings are recorded among the top-ranked filers.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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