Assignment history

Inventors

• Jian-Hong Luo: Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (at time of filing)
• Dong-Biao JIANG: Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (at time of filing)
• Peng Nie: Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (at time of filing)
• Xiao-Liang DING: Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (at time of filing)

Original assignee

The original assignee, Applied Optoelectronics Inc, is an operating company that ships products in the fiber optical communications field, specifically multi-channel parallel optical receiving modules, which embody the claims of US 10379301. Applied Optoelectronics Inc. is currently operating. [cite: US10379301B2]

Assignment timeline

• 2016-12-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-02-14 — Reel 041252/0582
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: Jian-Hong Luo, Dong-Biao Jiang, Peng Nie (inventors)
  • Assignee: GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY INC., CHINA
  • Correspondent: Wei Te Chung, P.O. Box 27123, Taipei, TAIWAN, R.O.C.
  • Context: Transfer from inventors to initial assignee.
• 2023-09-25 (executed) / recorded 2023-09-25 — Reel 061678/0645
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
  • Assignee: APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
  • Correspondent: Wei Te Chung, P.O. Box 27123, Taipei, TAIWAN, R.O.C. This correspondent also appears on reel 041252/0582.
  • Context: Reassignment of assignor's interest.
• 2025-07-31 (executed) / recorded 2025-08-01 — Reel 072338/0695
  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
  • Assignee: BOKF, NA D/B/A BOK FINANCIAL, COLORADO
  • Correspondent: S. Craig Friedrich, HOLLAND & HART LLP, P.O. Box 8749, Denver, CO, 80201
  • Context: Grant of security interest by the operating company.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10379301
    2017 : Assigned to Global Technology Inc
    2019 : Issued
    2023 : Assigned to Applied Optoelectronics Inc
    2025 : Security interest to BOKF NA

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. While Global Technology Inc. might appear as a non-operating entity, there isn't enough information in the provided records to definitively label it a shell entity without further investigation into its business operations. The subsequent transfer back to Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., an operating company, further complicates a clear shell-entity determination.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. None of the assignees (Global Technology Inc., Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., BOKF, NA D/B/A BOK Financial) are identified as known asserters in the provided public NPE lists or litigation databases [cite: US10379301B2].
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. Wei Te Chung, P.O. Box 27123, Taipei, TAIWAN, R.O.C., is listed as the correspondent for both the 2017-02-14 assignment to Global Technology Inc. (Reel 041252/0582) and the 2023-09-25 assignment to Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (Reel 061678/0645).
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There are only three recorded events in the chain over a relatively long period, not multiple consecutive transfers within a short timeframe.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The earliest litigation mentioned is in 2023 (4:23-cv-04787), and the assignments are from 2017 and 2023, with the most recent assignment to an operating company occurring prior to some of the identified litigation. The security interest in 2025 is also not directly preceding initial litigation. [cite: US10379301B2]
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication in the provided records that the original assignee or any subsequent assignee underwent bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — unclear. While the initial transfer from inventors to Global Technology Inc. and then to Applied Optoelectronics Inc. might suggest complex ownership, there is no direct evidence in the provided information to confirm privateering. The current litigation, though, might eventually shed more light on the motivations behind the transfers.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregators like RPX, AST, LOT Network, Unified Patents, or Open Invention Network.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. Although there's a repeat correspondent in the chain, the ultimate assignee is Applied Optoelectronics Inc., an operating company in the field of the patent. The noted litigation indicates assertion, but it originates from an operating entity rather than a non-practicing entity. The security interest granted to BOKF, NA D/B/A BOK Financial is typical for an operating company. See the USPTO Assignment Center for verification: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/