US 10552490

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 10552490, based on the provided patent text and current docket searches:

US Patent 10,552,490

• Title: Methods and systems for search indexing
• Assignee:
  • Current: X1 Discovery Inc
  • Original: FUTURE SEARCH HOLDINGS Inc
• Inventors: William Gross, Steven Lee Colwell
• Filing Date: April 24, 2017 (for application number US15/495,507)
• Issue Date: February 4, 2020
• Abstract: The patent describes systems and methods for quick and efficient searching. One embodiment involves receiving two search strings entered into the same search field and incrementally locating documents where a first word begins with the first string and a second word begins with the second string.

Independent Claims Overview (based on embodiments described in the patent's Summary section, as the full claims section was not provided):

1. Method for Incremental Multi-String Search: This embodiment outlines a method where a system receives at least two search strings as they are being entered into a single search field. The system then incrementally finds documents that contain at least a first word starting with the first search string and a second word starting with the second search string.
2. Search Apparatus for Incremental Multi-String Search: This describes a search apparatus with instructions to read at least two search strings from the same search field. It then incrementally filters search results to locate documents where a first word begins with the first string and a second word begins with the second string.
3. Search Index System with Punctuation Handling: This embodiment covers a search index system. It includes scan code to determine files for indexing and index code to perform the indexing. The index code is further configured to identify punctuation marks in a search string and treat some of these marks as string separators based on their position within the string.
4. Method for Selective Search or Command Execution: This method involves receiving a string in a search field, determining if it is a command, and then either initiating command execution if it is a command or initiating a search if it is not.
5. Search Apparatus for Selective Search or Command Execution: This apparatus includes instructions to receive a string in a search field, determine if it corresponds to a command, and then either execute the command or initiate a search based on that determination.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search for 10552490:

• USPTO: A search on the USPTO database for US10552490 confirms the patent details provided above, including its publication and legal status information. The patent's legal status is listed as "Expired - Lifetime," expiring on November 8, 2024.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: The provided patent information indicates that there is family litigation and a PTAB case (IPR2025-00254 filed, Pending - Instituted) related to this patent, as well as a US case filed in the California Central District Court (8:23-cv-02415). However, specific dockets for the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) in 2026 related to US10552490 were not found in the provided patent text or via direct search in the current context. I cannot authoritatively confirm any CAFC 2026 dockets without further live search capabilities for that specific court's active dockets.