Assignment history

Based on the search results:

• Michael Halverson is listed as an inventor. His professional background appears to be in higher education fundraising and development resources, with expertise in technology solutions and data analysis. There is no indication of him being directly employed by Ricmic LLC or a company that manufactures life safety systems at the time of filing.
• There are multiple LLCs with "Ricmic" in their name (e.g., RICMIC CORP., RIC(MIAMI) LLC, RIC & MIC LLC). One prominent "Rithmic, LLC" is a provider of direct market access trade execution software to the global financial community, which is unrelated to life safety systems. It is important to distinguish between "Ricmic LLC" (the assignee) and "Rithmic, LLC" (the trading software company).
• The patent describes an "interactive wireless life safety communications system for caregivers to connect with patients, residents, other caregivers, and staff, and a reporting platform." This suggests Ricmic LLC is involved in developing or licensing such a system.
• "Marmic Fire & Safety" and "Mircom" are examples of companies that provide fire and life safety solutions. "MFI Medical" and "CareLinc" provide assisted living facility equipment and medical supplies. These are examples of operating companies in the relevant field, but there's no direct evidence linking Ricmic LLC to the actual manufacturing or provision of such services/products.
• Given Michael Halverson's background and the fact that the initial assignments are from individual inventors to individuals, then to a law firm, and finally to Ricmic LLC, it raises questions about whether Ricmic LLC itself is an operating company producing and selling these specific life safety communication systems, or primarily an entity holding and managing intellectual property. The pattern of assignments (inventors -> individuals -> law firm -> LLC) could be consistent with either, but the absence of easily discoverable products for "Ricmic LLC" is noteworthy.

Let's refine the "Original assignee" section and then proceed with the assignment timeline and NPE signals.

Original Assignee: Ricmic LLC.
Based on the available information, it is not immediately clear if Ricmic LLC directly manufactures or ships a product embodying the claims. The patent itself describes the system and methods, and the assignor chain originates from individuals, later transferring to Ricmic LLC. There is no readily available public information (e.g., website, product listings) for "Ricmic LLC" that clearly shows it as an operating company selling the "interactive wireless life safety communications system." The search results indicate other companies operate in the general "life safety" and "assisted living" sectors, but none directly link to "Ricmic LLC" as a product provider.. The nature of Ricmic LLC appears to be primarily that of an entity holding intellectual property. Its current status is "Active" in Florida, according to entity name lists.

Now, proceed with the Assignment Timeline, Mermaid Diagram, NPE signals, and Verdict.

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Correction/Refinement of Assignment Timeline (after reviewing again Google Patents vs USPTO Assignment records):

Google Patents "Legal Events" section also lists assignments. I need to consolidate and prioritize USPTO assignment search results as the primary source, then cross-reference with Google Patents.

Google Patents:

• 2016-10-24 Assigned to HALVERSON, MICHAEL, KNECHT, RICHARD E.
• 2018-02-16 Assigned to MAZURA LAW FIRM
• 2018-07-06 Assigned to RICMIC LLC (Corrective Assignment)
• 2019-06-25 Assigned to RICMIC LLC
• 2019-06-27 Assigned to RICMIC LLC
• 2024-05-08 Assigned to RICMIC LLC
• 2024-05-08 Assigned to RICMIC LLC

My USPTO search records match these in terms of dates and assignees. The reel/frame numbers are also consistent.
The Correspondent information is critical for NPE analysis.

Let's build the sections in order.## Inventors

Michael Halverson. His employer at the time of filing (2016-10-20) is not determinable from the patent text. Public records indicate his professional background is in higher education fundraising and development resources, with expertise in technology solutions and data analysis, rather than direct employment by a life safety system manufacturer.

Original assignee

The original assignee listed on the issued patent is Ricmic LLC. Based on publicly available information, it is not immediately clear if Ricmic LLC directly manufactures or sells a product embodying the claimed interactive wireless life safety communications system. While other companies operate in the general "life safety" and "assisted living" sectors, there is no direct evidence linking Ricmic LLC to the actual manufacturing or provision of such services/products. The nature of Ricmic LLC appears to be primarily that of an entity holding intellectual property. Its current status is "Active" as a limited liability company in Florida.

Assignment timeline

• 2016-10-20 (executed) / recorded 2016-10-24 — Reel 044952/0864
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL
  • Assignee: HALVERSON, MICHAEL, KNECHT, RICHARD E.
  • Correspondent: RICHARD KNECHT APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DR STE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer from individual inventor to individuals.
• 2018-02-09 (executed) / recorded 2018-02-16 — Reel 046394/0270
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL; KNECHT, RICHARD E.; RICHARD E KNECHT APC
  • Assignee: MAZURA LAW FIRM
  • Correspondent: RICHARD E KNECHT, APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer to a law firm.
• 2018-06-28 (executed) / recorded 2018-07-06 — Reel 046757/0279
  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL; KNECHT, RICHARD E.; RICHARD E KNECHT APC
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: RICHARD E KNECHT, APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Corrective assignment to Ricmic LLC.
• 2019-06-24 (executed) / recorded 2019-06-25 — Reel 047466/0394
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL P
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: RICHARD E KNECHT, APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Inventor Michael Halverson assigns his interest to Ricmic LLC.
• 2019-06-25 (executed) / recorded 2019-06-27 — Reel 047475/0306
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: KNECHT, RICHARD
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: RICHARD E KNECHT, APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Richard Knecht assigns his interest to Ricmic LLC.
• 2024-05-07 (executed) / recorded 2024-05-08 — Reel 055104/0931
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL P, MR., KNECHT, RICHARD E, RICHARD E. KNECHT A PROF. CORP.
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: RICHARD E KNECHT, APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Further assignment from individuals and a firm to Ricmic LLC.
• 2024-05-07 (executed) / recorded 2024-05-08 — Reel 055104/0932
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: RICMIC LLC
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: RICHARD E KNECHT, APC, 610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 710, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Internal transfer within Ricmic LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10311707B2
    2016 : Filed by Individual
         : Assigned to Halverson & Knecht
    2018 : Assigned to Mazura Law Firm
         : Corrective Assignment to Ricmic LLC
    2019 : Issued
         : Halverson assigns to Ricmic LLC
         : Knecht assigns to Ricmic LLC
    2024 : Further assignment to Ricmic LLC
         : Internal transfer Ricmic LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. The patent moved from individual inventors to a law firm, then to Ricmic LLC. While Ricmic LLC appears to be an entity primarily holding intellectual property with no readily apparent products, the provided information does not definitively confirm it is a shell entity designed solely for licensing or assertion (e.g., no registered-agent address or single-purpose LLC details).
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. None of the assignees (HALVERSON, MICHAEL; KNECHT, RICHARD E.; MAZURA LAW FIRM; RICMIC LLC) are identified as known high-frequency NPEs or asserters on public lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. Richard E. Knecht, APC (or RICHARD KNECHT APC) is the correspondent of record for all recorded assignments: Reel 044952/0864 (2016-10-24), Reel 046394/0270 (2018-02-16), Reel 046757/0279 (2018-07-06), Reel 047466/0394 (2019-06-25), Reel 047475/0306 (2019-06-27), Reel 055104/0931 (2024-05-08), and Reel 055104/0932 (2024-05-08). This strong recurrence across multiple transfers, including those involving initial inventors, a law firm, and the ultimate assignee, is a significant signal.
4. Cascading transfers — present. There are multiple assignments within a relatively short period, particularly from 2016 to 2019, leading to Ricmic LLC. Specifically, from the initial individual assignment (2016-10-24, Reel 044952/0864) to the transfer to Mazura Law Firm (2018-02-16, Reel 046394/0270) and then the corrective assignment to Ricmic LLC (2018-07-06, Reel 046757/0279), these occurred within less than 24 months. The consistent correspondent (Richard E. Knecht, APC) further strengthens this signal.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The patent indicates litigation in Florida and California district courts, but no specific filing dates for those suits are provided in the context, nor is there a clear transfer within 6 months before the first suit.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the inventors or any of the assignees.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence suggests an operating company transferred the patent to Ricmic LLC for assertion on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

The primary signals supporting this verdict are the presence of a repeat correspondent (Richard E. Knecht, APC) across all recorded assignments from 2016 to 2024 and the pattern of cascading transfers from individuals to a law firm then to Ricmic LLC (Reels 044952/0864, 046394/0270, 046757/0279). While there's no definitive proof Ricmic LLC is a shell entity without products, the lack of a clear operating business for Ricmic LLC in the life safety sector, combined with the consistent legal representation throughout the assignment chain, suggests a focus on intellectual property management that is often associated with NPE activity.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/