6G Waveform & Modulation Patent Landscape 2026
Samsung Electronics holds an overwhelming lead in 6G waveform and modulation, and the field is still expanding on a multi-year basis though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak. Activity is highly concentrated among a small number of filers, with the EPO the leading filing destination, reflecting a technology race still in its early commercialization build-up.
Samsung commands the field; the top five dominate the largest filers
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd holds first rank with 1,870 patent families, a margin that dwarfs every other applicant in the corpus. The Massengill Family Trust ranks second with 192 patent families and Newman David E ranks third with 152, forming a distinct second tier that is still far behind the leader.
The top five filers account for 92% of the combined total across the hundred largest filers, signalling extreme concentration. The gap between rank one and rank two is roughly tenfold, meaning no challenger is yet positioned to contest Samsung’s structural lead on volume alone.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 1,870 | |
| 2 | The Massengill Family Trust | 192 | |
| 3 | Newman David E | 152 | |
| 4 | AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P | 29 | |
| 5 | Huawei Technologies Co Ltd | 18 | |
| 6 | Nokia Technologies OY | 13 | |
| 7 | Intel Corporation | 12 | |
| 8 | Qualcomm Inc | 10 | |
| 9 | BEIJING SAMSUNG TELECOM R&D CENT | 10 | |
| 10 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) | 8 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | MediaTek Inc | 6 | |
| 12 | Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 6 | |
| 13 | Lenovo United States Inc | 6 | |
| 14 | National University of Defense Technology | 4 | |
| 15 | Southeast University | 4 | |
| 16 | Parallel Wireless Inc | 4 | |
| 17 | Radisys India Pte Ltd | 4 | |
| 18 | UI Yonsei University Foundation | 3 | |
| 19 | UNIV OF SCI & TECH BEIJING | 2 | |
| 20 | The 54th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation | 2 |
Samsung’s position implies that its patent portfolio effectively sets the reference architecture for 6G waveform and modulation design choices. Entrants seeking freedom to operate or licensing leverage will need to map their work carefully against Samsung’s H04L/H04W claims before committing to a development path.
Filing counts for 2024–2026 are understated due to the typical 18–24 month publication lag; the apparent easing from the 2023 peak should not be read as a real decline in activity. 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 digital transmission and wireless networking
The annual filing trend and technology composition together show a field that mobilised quickly from 2019 onward and is anchored overwhelmingly in two IPC branches. Adjacent classes remain sparsely populated, suggesting focused rather than diversified R&D across the ecosystem.
Annual filing trend
Filings were negligible before 2019, then accelerated sharply through 2022 and peaked in 2023 at 754 patent families. The 2024 and 2025 counts reflect publication lag and should be treated as floor estimates rather than real-activity measures; the multi-year growth rate of 1,463% over the recent window confirms the field is still in an expansionary phase.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H04L (Digital information transmission) and H04W (Wireless communication networks) together account for the bulk of activity, establishing these as the core technical routes. H04B (Transmission, general) forms a meaningful secondary cluster. G06N (AI models), H04J (Multiplex communication), and G01S (Radar, sonar and positioning) each hold low single-digit shares, marking them as under-served adjacent branches relative to the dominant 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 selecting modulation sche…
The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. A method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting, to a terminal, a request to provide first information for capability related to selection of a modulation scheme, receiving the first… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Method and apparatus for transceiving signal using… | 148 |
| 2 | Demodulation for Phase-Noise Mitigation in 5G and 6G | 22 |
| 3 | Low-complexity demodulation of 5G and 6G messages | 19 |
| 4 | Methods and apparatus for UE power saving using TR… | 18 |
| 5 | Modulation Including Zero-Power States in 5G and 6G | 16 |
| 6 | Method and device for reporting uplink power headr… | 15 |
| 7 | Method and apparatus for transmitting and receivin… | 13 |
| 8 | Segmented PSS and SSS transmission for 5g and 6g n… | 13 |
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 structure means for R&D investment decisions
The combination of extreme applicant concentration, rapid multi-year growth, and sparse coverage in adjacent IPC branches creates both risks and openings for teams entering the space. The four dimensions below translate the landscape data into actionable signals.
Growth stage — multi-year expansion with 2023 peak
The lifecycle evidence places this field firmly in Growth. Recent three-year filings sit well above the prior three-year window at a growth rate of 1,463%, confirming sustained expansion. Annual volume peaked in 2023 and has eased since, but publication lag means the true recent-year count is understated; teams should not interpret the post-peak dip as market saturation.
Lifecycle: GrowthExtreme top-one dominance; challenger tier is thin
Samsung’s 1,870 patent families represent a lead that no current challenger approaches. The top five filers collectively hold 92% of the combined volume across the hundred largest filers, leaving limited room for independent portfolio leverage. New entrants face a high bar for differentiation and should prioritise claim-level freedom-to-operate analysis before investing in adjacent areas Samsung already covers.
High concentrationSamsung anchors the co-filing network; Nokia shows internal co-filing
Samsung Electronics co-filed most actively with Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center (12 joint families), Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (5 families), and the UI Yonsei University Foundation (3 families). Smaller co-filings link Samsung with Sungkyunkwan University and POSTECH. Nokia Technologies co-filed with Nokia (Shanghai) Bell and Nokia Solutions and Networks, reflecting internal group coordination rather than external partnerships.
Samsung-led ecosystemEPO leads; PCT and US form the core trio
Europe (EPO) is the leading filing destination, followed closely by WIPO (PCT) and the United States. China ranks fourth. South Korea, despite being Samsung’s home jurisdiction, shows very low record counts, suggesting that applicants are prioritising international protection over domestic filing. Teams planning to enter this space should ensure their freedom-to-operate analysis covers EPO and PCT grants, as these represent the broadest geographic reach.
EPO · PCT · USGo 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 | 12 |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 5 |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | UI Yonsei University Foundation | 3 |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Sungkyunkwan University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 2 |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | POSTECH Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation | 1 |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Seoul National University R&DB Foundation | 1 |
| Nokia Technologies OY | Nokia (Shanghai) Bell Co Ltd | 1 |
| Nokia Technologies OY | Nokia Solutions and Networks OY | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Samsung leads on volume; challengers are new entrants or retreating incumbents
The applicant ranking reveals a single dominant player and a fragmented set of challengers. Momentum data show Samsung accelerating sharply while AT&T is the only ranked filer showing a significant retreat.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Samsung holds 1,870 patent families and recorded a momentum of 24× versus the prior three-year window, confirming that its dominance is accelerating rather than consolidating. Its technology emphasis is concentrated in H04L 5 (digital transmission), H04W 72 (wireless network resource management), and H04B 7 (transmission general), covering the full waveform-to-network stack. Co-filing with its Beijing R&D center and Korean universities reinforces its ecosystem reach.
patent families: 1,870Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Huawei ranks fifth with 18 patent families and is classified as a new entrant in the recent momentum window, indicating it is building a 6G-specific waveform portfolio from a near-zero base. Its focus spans H04L 27 (modulation/demodulation), H04L 5, and H04W 72 — the same core routes as Samsung — signalling direct technical competition in the dominant sub-classes. Given Huawei’s broader 5G portfolio depth, its small current count likely understates strategic intent.
patent families: 18| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 1,524 | ▲ 24× vs prior 3-yr |
| Newman David E | 190 | ▲ new entrant |
| Massengill R Kemp | 190 | ▲ new entrant |
| AT&T知识产权一部有限合伙公司 | 4 | ▼ -84% |
| Huawei Technologies Co Ltd | 12 | ▲ new entrant |
| Nokia Technologies OY | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
| Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center | 11 | ▲ new entrant |
| Qualcomm Inc | 4 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served adjacent branches worth monitoring
Three IPC classes sit at the margin of the dominant H04L/H04W core with low patent counts relative to field size. These are observations of relative sparsity; where plausible technical value and a realistic entry path exist, they are noted accordingly.
G06N · AI-driven waveform design
G06N (Computing based on AI models) accounts for 81 patent records — approximately 2% of the technology composition — despite AI-based waveform shaping and adaptive modulation being active research themes in 6G pre-standardisation work. The sparse filing relative to the dominant transmission classes suggests that most applicants are not yet integrating AI-layer claims into their waveform portfolios. Teams with ML-for-PHY expertise could find this an accessible adjacent entry point, provided they anchor claims to concrete 6G air-interface implementations rather than generic AI methods.
Search this in Eureka →G01S · Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC)
G01S (Radar, sonar and positioning) holds 49 patent records — roughly 1% of the composition — despite Integrated Sensing and Communication being a named 6G use-case in multiple standardisation bodies. The low count relative to the overall field size indicates that the sensing dimension of 6G waveform design remains under-claimed. This branch has plausible technical value given that dual-function waveforms are a distinct design problem from pure communications waveforms, and the sparse filing density suggests room for differentiated IP. The entry path requires cross-disciplinary expertise spanning radar signal processing and cellular PHY design.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology sub-class emphasis
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | H04L 5 · Digital information transmission | H04W 72 · Wireless communication networks | H04B 7 · Transmission (general) | H04L 27 · Digital information transmission | H04L 1 · Digital information transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | Strong · 1,682 | Strong · 1,243 | Moderate · 625 | Emerging · 276 | Moderate · 365 |
| Massengill R Kemp | Strong · 87 | Moderate · 31 | Absent | Strong · 119 | Strong · 98 |
| Newman David E | Strong · 87 | Moderate · 31 | Absent | Strong · 119 | Strong · 98 |
| AT&T Intellectual Property I L P | Strong · 20 | Strong · 17 | Strong · 13 | Strong · 20 | Strong · 12 |
| Huawei Technologies Co Ltd | Strong · 9 | Strong · 7 | Absent | Strong · 9 | Absent |
| Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center | Strong · 10 | Strong · 8 | Emerging · 2 | Absent | Emerging · 2 |
| Nokia Technologies OY | Strong · 12 | Moderate · 5 | Moderate · 3 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus contains 2,255 patent families in scope, with filings traceable to 2019 and the field growing at 1,463% over the recent three-year window versus the prior one.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd ranks first with 1,870 patent families, a position achieved with 24× momentum versus the prior three-year period. No other applicant comes close on volume.
Europe (EPO) is the leading filing destination, followed by WIPO (PCT) and the United States. China ranks fourth. Any freedom-to-operate analysis should prioritise EPO grants and PCT national phase entries in key markets.
The field is in the Growth stage. Multi-year filing volume is well above the prior window, though annual filings peaked in 2023 and have eased since. Publication lag means recent-year counts are understated, so the apparent post-peak dip should not be interpreted as decline.
Samsung Electronics is the hub of the co-filing network, most actively partnering with Beijing Samsung Telecom R&D Center (12 joint families) and Yonsei University’s industry-academic foundation (5 families). Nokia shows internal group co-filing between Nokia Technologies, Nokia Shanghai Bell, and Nokia Solutions and Networks.
G06N (AI models, 81 records) and G01S (Radar, sonar and positioning, 49 records) are the most notable under-served adjacent branches. Both correspond to recognised 6G design themes — AI-driven waveform optimisation and Integrated Sensing and Communication — that have generated limited patent activity relative to the dominant transmission and wireless networking classes.
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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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