Prior art

The patent US10812646 pertains to a portable terminal apparatus designed to enhance operability as a remote controller while maintaining security, particularly when waking from a sleep state. The core invention, as described in independent claims 1 and 14, involves a portable terminal apparatus and method that conditionally displays a remote control icon upon waking from a sleep state, allowing remote control operations without requiring a full unlock authentication, based on factors like communication with an access point or previous remote control usage.

The following prior art documents were cited by the examiner during the prosecution of US10812646:

1. US20130069888A1

   • Full Citation: US20130069888A1, "Device and method for controlling a display in wireless terminal," assigned to [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.) Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%20Ltd.)
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2011-09-21; Publication Date: 2013-03-21.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a method where a wireless terminal receives an unlock command, verifies the state of an external device (e.g., a television), and then displays control items (such as remote control buttons) on its display unit if the external device is in a connectable state. The aim is to improve user convenience by providing relevant control functionality when the external device is ready for connection.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates aspects of US10812646, specifically the broad concept of displaying remote control items on a portable terminal's display and conditionally displaying these items based on the connectable state of an external device. However, a key distinction in US10812646's independent claims (e.g., claim 1, 14) is the ability to select the control icon and transmit a remote control signal "without the unlock operation" from the initial wake-up screen. US20130069888A1 explicitly requires "receiving an unlock command" before displaying the control items, which differentiates it from the direct, authentication-bypassing remote control feature of US10812646. Therefore, it does not appear to fully anticipate claims 1 or 14.

2. US8630623B2

   • Full Citation: US8630623B2, "Content control apparatus and method thereof," assigned to LG Electronics Inc.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2010-11-23; Publication Date: 2014-01-14.
   • Brief Description: This patent details a content control apparatus and method that enables the selection of a specific area on a screen displaying content to output related content information. The focus is on enhancing the accuracy and speed of providing content-related information.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This prior art primarily relates to interacting with content displayed on a screen by selecting specific areas and retrieving associated information. It does not appear to disclose the features central to US10812646, such as managing display modes upon waking from a sleep state, displaying remote control icons on a lock screen, or enabling remote control functionality without requiring a full unlock authentication. Consequently, it is unlikely to anticipate any of the independent claims (1 or 14) or any significant dependent claims of US10812646.

3. US20140109024A1

   • Full Citation: US20140109024A1, "Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program product," assigned to Sony Corporation.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2011-07-15; Publication Date: 2014-04-17.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an information processing apparatus that detects its communication environment and controls the switching of its display screen to a "particular screen" based on this detected information. An example given is switching to a screen related to an external apparatus if communication with an access point connected to that external apparatus is possible.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates elements of US10812646 related to conditionally switching a display to a screen "related to an external apparatus" upon detection of a specific communication environment (e.g., ability to communicate with an access point connected to the external apparatus). This aligns with the conditions for displaying a remote control screen in US10812646's first and third embodiments. However, US20140109024A1 does not explicitly teach the critical feature of allowing remote control operations "without the unlock operation" directly from the initial wake-up screen. Furthermore, it does not describe the specific three distinct display modes and their corresponding conditions, including the state of the portable terminal before entering the sleep state, with the level of detail found in US10812646. Therefore, it does not appear to fully anticipate independent claims 1 or 14.