US 10812646

US patent 10812646, titled "Portable terminal apparatus," was issued to Maxell Ltd. The inventors are Nobuo Masuoka and Yasunobu Hashimoto. The patent was filed on September 19, 2019, and issued on October 20, 2020. The abstract states: "A portable terminal apparatus includes a display unit displaying an image, an operation input unit inputting a user operation, and a wireless communication unit performing wireless communication by a wireless LAN, and at a time of startup from a sleep state, a remote control button is displayed on the display unit when a mutual communication with a predetermined access point can be performed in the wireless communication unit, and when the remote control button is selected, a remote control signal corresponding to the selected remote control button is transmitted."

Here's a plain-language overview of each independent claim:

Independent Claim 1: Portable Terminal Apparatus
This claim describes a portable terminal device (e.g., a smartphone) equipped with a display, an input interface for user operations, a wireless communication interface (such as for a wireless LAN), and a processor that manages the device's sleep and wake-up states, presenting different display modes:

• Mode 1 (Normal Lock Screen): If, before entering sleep, the device was not displaying a remote control screen, or if it wakes up unable to communicate with an external device (e.g., a smart TV), it will display a standard lock screen that requires authentication to unlock, without any remote control icons.
• Mode 2 (Remote Control Display Lock Screen): If, before entering sleep, the device was displaying a remote control screen and, upon waking, can communicate with the external device, it will display a screen that includes both a lock release option and a remote control icon. If the user selects this remote control icon, the device sends a remote control signal to the external device without requiring the user to perform the full unlock operation (such as entering a password).

Independent Claim 14: Method Executed by a Portable Terminal Apparatus
This claim outlines a method performed by a portable terminal apparatus, mirroring the features of Claim 1. The method involves:

• Receiving user input via an operation input interface.
• Performing wireless communication over a wireless local area network.
• Controlling the device's transitions into and out of a sleep state.
• Displaying one of several modes when waking from sleep:
  • First Display Mode: If a remote control screen was not displayed before sleep, or if the device cannot communicate with the external device upon waking, a standard lock screen (requiring authentication to unlock) is shown without a remote control icon.
  • Third Display Mode: If a remote control screen was displayed before sleep and the device can communicate with the external device upon waking, then both a control icon (for remote control) and a lock release option are shown. If the control icon is selected, a remote control signal is transmitted to the external device without requiring an unlock operation.

Regarding litigation, the patent family has litigation filed, including a PTAB case (IPR2025-01316) that was filed in 2025 but not instituted, and a US case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 5:25-cv-00052) also in 2025. There is no information within the provided patent text or search results specifically indicating a CAFC 2026 docket for this patent.US patent 10812646, titled "Portable terminal apparatus," was issued to Maxell Ltd. The inventors are Nobuo Masuoka and Yasunobu Hashimoto. The patent was filed on September 19, 2019, and issued on October 20, 2020. The anticipated expiration date is July 15, 2034. [cite: The full patent text, The full patent text]

The abstract states: "A portable terminal apparatus includes a display unit displaying an image, an operation input unit inputting a user operation, and a wireless communication unit performing wireless communication by a wireless LAN, and at a time of startup from a sleep state, a remote control button is displayed on the display unit when a mutual communication with a predetermined access point can be performed in the wireless communication unit, and when the remote control button is selected, a remote control signal corresponding to the selected remote control button is transmitted." [cite: The full patent text]

Here's a plain-language overview of each independent claim:

Independent Claim 1: Portable Terminal Apparatus
This claim describes a portable terminal device (e.g., a smartphone) comprising a display, an input interface for user operations, a wireless communication interface (such as for a wireless local area network), and a processor. The processor is programmed to control the device's sleep and wake-up states, presenting different display modes depending on specific conditions upon waking from sleep.

• First Display Mode: If a control screen for remotely controlling an external device was not displayed before the device entered a sleep state, a first screen (leading to an authentication screen for unlocking) is displayed without a control icon.
• Second Display Mode: If a control screen was displayed before the device entered a sleep state, but the wireless communication interface is unable to communicate with the external device upon waking, a first screen (leading to an authentication screen for unlocking) is displayed without a control icon.
• Third Display Mode: If a control screen was displayed before the device entered a sleep state and the wireless communication interface is able to communicate with the external device upon waking, then both a control icon (for remote control) and the first screen (for unlocking) are displayed. If the control icon is selected in this mode, the device transmits a remote control signal to the external device without requiring the user to perform the unlock operation.

Independent Claim 14: Method Executed by a Portable Terminal Apparatus
This claim outlines a method performed by a portable terminal apparatus, involving:

• Receiving user input via an operation input interface.
• Performing wireless communication over a wireless local area network.
• Controlling the device's transitions into and out of a sleep state.
• Performing a plurality of display modes, which include:
  • First Display Mode: If a control screen for remotely controlling an external device was not displayed before sleep, or if the portable terminal is unable to communicate with the external device via wireless communication upon waking, a first screen (leading to an authentication screen for unlocking) is displayed without a control icon.
  • Third Display Mode: If a control screen was displayed before sleep and the portable terminal is able to communicate with the external device via wireless communication upon waking, then both a control icon (for remote control) and a first screen (for unlocking) are displayed. If the control icon is selected in this mode, a remote control signal corresponding to the selected control icon is transmitted to the external device without requiring the unlock operation.

Regarding litigation, the patent family for US10812646 has ongoing litigation. A PTAB case, IPR2025-01316, was filed in 2025 but was not instituted on the merits. Additionally, a US case (5:25-cv-00052) was filed in the Texas Eastern District Court in 2025. [cite: The full patent text] As of April 26, 2026, no specific dockets or cases directly mentioning patent 10812646 were found in the CAFC 2026 dockets through the conducted searches.