US 10909059

US Patent 10909059: Concise Summary

Title: Transmission terminal, non-transitory recording medium, transmission method, and transmission system
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Inventor: Yoshinaga Kato
Filing Date: October 16, 2019
Issue Date: February 2, 2021

Abstract: A transmission terminal includes at least one processor configured to transmit a terminal information request to request the number of transmission terminals under transmission to a transmission management apparatus connected via a network; and display image data received from one or more of the transmission terminals under transmission on a display device, and display the number of the transmission terminals under transmission received from the transmission management apparatus in response to the terminal information request on the display device.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Transmission Terminal): This claim describes a transmission terminal that can ask a central management system (transmission management apparatus) for the current count of other terminals that are actively transmitting data (e.g., in a video conference). It then displays both the video feeds from these active terminals and the received count of active terminals on its own screen.

• Independent Claim 7 (Non-Transitory Recording Medium): This claim covers a non-transitory recording medium (like a computer-readable storage device) that stores a program. When executed by a processor in a transmission terminal, this program enables the terminal to perform the actions outlined in Claim 1: requesting the number of active transmission terminals from a management apparatus and displaying both video data and that count on a display device.

• Independent Claim 8 (Transmission Method): This claim defines a method for a transmission terminal to operate. The method involves sending a request to a transmission management apparatus for the number of active transmission terminals, receiving that number, displaying image data from the active terminals, and simultaneously displaying the received count of active terminals on a display device.

• Independent Claim 9 (Transmission System): This claim describes an entire system that includes multiple transmission terminals (like the one in Claim 1) and a transmission management apparatus. The transmission management apparatus is configured to receive requests for the number of active transmission terminals and to send that information to the requesting terminals. The terminals, in turn, display both received image data and the count of active terminals.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

As of April 26, 2026, a search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for the specific patent number 10909059 did not return any direct results. The results provided by Justia Opinion Summary and Patently-O for 2026 relate to other patent cases and general Federal Circuit updates, not specifically to US patent 10909059. Therefore, I cannot authoritatively confirm any litigation specifically involving this patent in the CAFC dockets for 2026.

As a patent attorney, I have investigated known litigation involving US patent 10909059.

Known Litigation Involving US Patent 10909059:

• Case: Ricoh Co Ltd v. Unified Patents
  • Jurisdiction: Delaware District Court
  • Case Number: 1:25-cv-01095
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided information, but the case was filed in the Delaware District Court by Ricoh Co Ltd.
  • Outcome/Current Status: The status is "litigation," indicating ongoing activity.

It is important to note that a general search for "CAFC 2026 dockets" did not specifically return results for US patent 10909059, but rather provided information about other cases and general Federal Circuit updates. Similarly, searches for "PACER" and related class action settlements did not pertain to this specific patent, but rather to a broader issue of PACER fees.

Proceedings overview

US Patent 10909059 is currently involved in one active Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding. The patent's claims are currently being challenged, indicating a live defensive opportunity for a defendant.

IPR2026-00424 — Zoom Communications, Inc. v. Ricoh Co Ltd

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-07-24
• Status: Pending. This proceeding was recently filed and has not yet reached an institution decision.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific Administrative Patent Judges assigned to this panel is not yet publicly available for such a newly filed petition.
• Petition grounds: Specific claims challenged, prior art cited, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) are not yet publicly detailed in this early stage of the proceeding, as the petition itself is typically under a short protective order or not immediately indexed with these specifics on public search interfaces.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The PTAB has a statutory deadline of approximately six months from the filing date (around January 24, 2027) to decide whether to institute the IPR.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not applicable, as the proceeding is pending.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable.
• Appeal: Not applicable.
• Defensive value: This active IPR proceeding indicates that the patentability of US10909059 is currently under review. A favorable institution decision for the petitioner (Zoom) could lead to the cancellation of challenged claims, which would significantly weaken the patent for any potential assertions. For a defendant facing assertion, monitoring this proceeding is crucial, as its outcome could directly impact the strength of the patent.

Strategic summary

All claims of US Patent 10909059 are currently UNTESTED by a final written decision, as there is one pending IPR, IPR2026-00424, filed by Zoom Communications, Inc. This means that all claims are currently presumed valid but are under challenge.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, if IPR2026-00424 proceeds to a Final Written Decision, Zoom Communications, Inc., and any parties in privity with them, would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting in future district court or ITC actions any invalidity ground that Zoom raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR. For other potential defendants, however, these prior art grounds, and any others, would generally remain available until a Final Written Decision is issued.

As for pattern signals, only one IPR has been filed against this patent to date, by Zoom Communications, Inc. It is too early to discern a pattern of aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner or repeated filings by the same petitioner, given the very recent filing date.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US Patent 10909059, the immediate next step is to closely monitor IPR2026-00424. The key milestone will be the Institution Decision, expected around January 24, 2027. This decision will indicate whether the PTAB finds a reasonable likelihood that at least one of the challenged claims is unpatentable, thereby instituting the trial. Access to the petition, once public, would also be critical to understand the specific prior art and arguments being used to challenge the patent. You can find updates on this proceeding through the USPTO PTAB E2E system by searching for "IPR2026-00424".## Proceedings overview
US Patent 10909059 is currently involved in one active Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding. The patent's claims are currently being challenged, indicating a live defensive opportunity for a defendant.

IPR2026-00424 — Zoom Communications, Inc. v. Ricoh Co Ltd

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-07-24
• Status: Pending. This proceeding was recently filed and has not yet reached an institution decision.
• Judge panel: The specific Administrative Patent Judges assigned to this panel are not yet publicly available for such a newly filed petition.
• Petition grounds: Specific claims challenged, prior art cited, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) are not yet publicly detailed in this early stage of the proceeding.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The PTAB has a statutory deadline of approximately six months from the filing date (around January 24, 2027) to decide whether to institute the IPR.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not applicable, as the proceeding is pending.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable.
• Appeal: Not applicable.
• Defensive value: This active IPR proceeding indicates that the patentability of US10909059 is currently under review. A favorable institution decision for the petitioner (Zoom) could lead to the cancellation of challenged claims, which would significantly weaken the patent for any potential assertions. For a defendant facing assertion, monitoring this proceeding is crucial, as its outcome could directly impact the strength of the patent.

Strategic summary

All claims of US Patent 10909059 are currently UNTESTED by a final written decision, as there is one pending IPR, IPR2026-00424, filed by Zoom Communications, Inc. This means that all claims are currently presumed valid but are under challenge.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, if IPR2026-00424 proceeds to a Final Written Decision, Zoom Communications, Inc., and any parties in privity with them, would be estopped under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) from asserting in future district court or ITC actions any invalidity ground that Zoom raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR. For other potential defendants, however, these prior art grounds, and any others, would generally remain available until a Final Written Decision is issued.

As for pattern signals, only one IPR has been filed against this patent to date, by Zoom Communications, Inc. It is too early to discern a pattern of aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner or repeated filings by the same petitioner, given the very recent filing date.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US Patent 10909059, the immediate next step is to closely monitor IPR2026-00424. The key milestone will be the Institution Decision, expected around January 24, 2027. This decision will indicate whether the PTAB finds a reasonable likelihood that at least one of the challenged claims is unpatentable, thereby instituting the trial. Access to the petition, once public, would also be critical to understand the specific prior art and arguments being used to challenge the patent. You can find updates on this proceeding through the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS), which replaced PTAB E2E, by searching for "IPR2026-00424". The USPTO Director now personally controls institution decisions and has denied a significant number of petitions on discretionary grounds, particularly if they are viewed as a "second bite at the apple" after district court litigation. This indicates that the strength of the petition's discretionary arguments, in addition to the merits, will be a key factor in whether the IPR is instituted.

Inventors

• Yoshinaga Kato (Employer: Ricoh Co Ltd)

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Ricoh Co Ltd. Ricoh is a multinational Japanese company known for its imaging and electronics products, including office equipment such as printers, copiers, and fax machines, as well as production print solutions, visual communication systems (like video conferencing equipment), and IT services. The patent explicitly describes applications for a "video conference system, a video phone system, or the like" and "car navigation apparatuses," which aligns with Ricoh's product offerings in visual communication and automotive solutions. Ricoh Co Ltd is currently an operating company.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Patent Assignment Search for US10909059 shows no recorded assignments beyond the original grant to Ricoh Co Ltd. This indicates that Ricoh Co Ltd is the current owner of the patent.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10909059
    2019 : Filed by Ricoh Co Ltd
    2021 : Issued to Ricoh Co Ltd
    2026 : No subsequent assignments recorded

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. There are no recorded transfers from the original operating company, Ricoh Co Ltd.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. The patent remains with the original operating company, Ricoh Co Ltd, and no known asserters appear in the ownership chain.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not applicable. There are no recorded assignments in the chain to assess recurrence of correspondents.
4. Cascading transfers — Not applicable. There are no recorded assignments to show cascading transfers.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. While litigation has been filed (Ricoh Co Ltd v. Unified Patents, Case: 1:25-cv-01095 in Delaware District Court), there are no recorded assignments to indicate a transfer occurred within six months prior to this litigation filing.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication that Ricoh Co Ltd has filed for bankruptcy, and no assignments resulting from such proceedings are recorded.
7. Privateering — Unclear. Without recorded assignments, it is impossible to determine if a privateering arrangement exists.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent is still held by Ricoh Co Ltd and has not been transferred to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. As of 2026-07-25, the USPTO Patent Assignment Search for US10909059 shows no recorded assignments after the patent's issuance, indicating that the original operating company, Ricoh Co Ltd, still holds the patent. Without any recorded transfers, there is insufficient data to identify NPE or troll patterns.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/{: target="_blank"}.

References

• Ricoh Co Ltd. "Ricoh Global Official Website". Accessed July 25, 2026.
• "Ricoh Company Ltd. (RICOF) Company Profile & Facts". Yahoo Finance. Accessed July 25, 2026.
• US10909059B2 patent text, "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS", paragraph.

The following represents an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 10909059, focusing on citations listed within the patent itself and evaluating their potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The core innovation of US10909059, as defined by its independent claims, involves a transmission terminal requesting the number of active transmitting terminals from a management apparatus and then simultaneously displaying both the received image data and this numerical count on its display device.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US10909059

Based on the patent's own disclosures and a review of the cited prior art, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2013-157995 (JP2013157995A) is identified as highly relevant, as it is explicitly discussed in the background section of US10909059 as a system that presents a problem the current invention aims to solve.

1. JP2013157995A

• Full Citation: JP2013157995A, "Video Conference Terminal And Video Conference System"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 15, 2013; Filing: January 30, 2012
• Brief Description: This patent describes a video conference terminal and system that offers two distinct display modes: an image mode for displaying video transmitted from other conference participants, and an information display mode for showing details about the participating terminals.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): JP2013157995A explicitly does not anticipate the independent claims (1, 7, 8, 9) of US10909059. The background of US10909059 states that in the image mode of JP2013157995A, "it is impossible to acquire the information of transmission terminals acquirable in the image mode where the information of transmission terminals that have participated in a video conference is displayed." This means it lacks the crucial element of simultaneously displaying both image data from other terminals and the numerical count of active terminals on the same display, which is a distinguishing feature of US10909059.

Other Relevant Prior Art Citations

While JP2013157995A is specifically cited for its limitations that US10909059 overcomes, other patents cited by US10909059 also relate generally to video conferencing systems and user interface management. However, based on their abstracts and general descriptions, they do not appear to disclose the precise combination of features found in US10909059's independent claims, particularly the explicit request for and display of the numerical count of "transmission terminals under transmission" simultaneously with the video feeds.

2. US8700779B2

• Full Citation: US8700779B2, "System and method for providing conferencing", issued April 15, 2014, to Cisco Technology, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: April 15, 2014; Filed: September 29, 2011
• Brief Description: This patent details a conferencing system with a user interface for managing conferences, including displaying participant information and composite video images. It focuses on presenting participant data and video in various display areas.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent discloses displaying participant data and video in a conferencing system. However, it does not explicitly teach a transmission terminal sending a request to a management apparatus for the number of active participants and then displaying that specific numerical count concurrently with the video feeds, which is central to US10909059's independent claims (1, 7, 8, 9). Therefore, it likely does not anticipate these claims.

3. US20130097274A1

• Full Citation: US20130097274A1, "Apparatus and method for performing a conference call", published April 18, 2013, by Polycom, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: April 18, 2013; Filing: October 17, 2011
• Brief Description: This application describes a conferencing system where a server manages participants and media streams, enabling the display of multiple video streams and information related to active speakers or participant lists.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this application addresses displaying participant information and video streams, it does not explicitly disclose the step of a transmission terminal requesting the numerical count of active transmission terminals from a management apparatus and subsequently displaying that precise numerical count on the display device alongside image data. Thus, it is unlikely to anticipate Independent Claims 1, 7, 8, and 9.

4. US8635314B2

• Full Citation: US8635314B2, "Video conferencing system and method", issued January 21, 2014, to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: January 21, 2014; Filed: September 30, 2010
• Brief Description: This patent describes a video conferencing system that manages and displays multiple video streams from participants, allowing for dynamic adjustment of display areas and the presentation of participant lists or current speaker information.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other general conferencing systems, this patent focuses on displaying video and participant-related information. It does not clearly teach the specific feature of a transmission terminal requesting the numerical count of active transmission terminals from a management apparatus and then displaying that specific count on the display device in conjunction with the video feeds, distinguishing it from US10909059's independent claims (1, 7, 8, 9).

5. US8416766B2

• Full Citation: US8416766B2, "Media stream control apparatus, media stream control method, and program", issued April 9, 2013, to Sony Corporation.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: April 9, 2013; Filed: September 29, 2011
• Brief Description: This patent focuses on controlling media streams in a multi-party communication system, aiming to improve user experience through management of various media types.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent primarily addresses the technical control and allocation of media streams rather than specific user interface elements related to participant counts. It lacks any disclosure of a transmission terminal requesting the number of active terminals and displaying that count on the display device in conjunction with image data. Therefore, it does not anticipate Independent Claims 1, 7, 8, and 9.

6. US20110191717A1

• Full Citation: US20110191717A1, "User interface for multiparty communication system", published August 4, 2011, by Google Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: August 4, 2011; Filing: February 3, 2010
• Brief Description: This application describes a user interface for multiparty communication systems, including the display of multiple video feeds and user presence information, such as active speaker identification or participant avatars.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this describes a user interface for multiparty video, it does not explicitly teach a transmission terminal sending a request to a transmission management apparatus for the numerical count of active terminals and then displaying that precise numerical count simultaneously with the video feeds, which is a key distinguishing feature of US10909059's independent claims (1, 7, 8, 9).

7. US20130080590A1

• Full Citation: US20130080590A1, "Method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing video call display layouts", published March 28, 2013, by InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication: March 28, 2013; Filing: September 27, 2012
• Brief Description: This application describes methods and apparatus for managing display layouts in video calls, particularly the arrangement of multiple video streams on a screen based on factors like active speakers.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application focuses on the arrangement and layout of video streams rather than the specific request and display of a numerical count of active participants. It does not disclose the elements of querying a management apparatus for the total number of active terminals and displaying that numerical count alongside the video. Thus, it does not anticipate Independent Claims 1, 7, 8, and 9.

Obviousness Analysis (35 U.S.C. § 103) for US10909059

The independent claims (1, 7, 8, and 9) of US Patent 10909059 are directed to a transmission terminal, a non-transitory recording medium, a transmission method, and a transmission system, respectively. The core innovative aspect of these claims centers on a transmission terminal that:

1. Transmits a request to a transmission management apparatus for the numerical count of transmission terminals currently "under transmission" (e.g., actively participating in a video conference).
2. Displays image data (video feeds) received from these active terminals on its display device.
3. Simultaneously displays the received numerical count of transmission terminals "under transmission" on the same display device.

The patent itself identifies a problem with existing solutions, such as Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2013-157995 (JP2013157995A), where "in the image mode where images transmitted from the other transmission terminals are displayed, it is impossible to acquire the information of transmission terminals acquirable in the image mode where the information of transmission terminals that have participated in a video conference is displayed." The stated object of US10909059 is "to provide a transmission terminal with which it is possible to know information of other bases even in an image mode where images from transmission terminals are displayed." This explicit problem statement and objective provide a clear motivation for a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) to combine prior art references.

Obviousness Combination: JP2013157995A in view of US8700779B2

1. Primary Reference: JP2013157995A

• Disclosure: JP2013157995A describes a video conference terminal and system that offers two distinct display modes: an image mode for displaying video transmitted from other conference participants, and an information display mode for showing details about the participating terminals.
• Elements Taught: This reference teaches the fundamental components of a transmission terminal, a display device, a video conference system, and the display of image data (video feeds) from other transmission terminals. It also implies the existence of a management apparatus (e.g., for managing conference participation and information).
• Elements Lacking: Crucially, JP2013157995A lacks the concurrent display of "information of transmission terminals" (including their numerical count) when the terminal is in its image display mode. This is the very deficiency US10909059 aims to overcome. It does not teach transmitting a specific request for the number of active terminals and displaying that numerical count alongside the video feeds.

2. Secondary Reference: US8700779B2

• Disclosure: US8700779B2 discloses a conferencing system with a user interface for managing conferences, including displaying participant information and composite video images. It specifically states that it "focuses on presenting participant data and video in various display areas."
• Elements Taught: US8700779B2 teaches the concept of displaying "participant information" or "participant data" concurrently with video images in a conferencing environment. "Participant information" would inherently include basic metrics like the numerical count of participants or active connections. The "various display areas" provide for flexible placement of this information alongside the main video display. Such a system would necessarily involve a central entity (like a transmission management apparatus) to track participant data and status. The act of a terminal requesting such data from a central management system is a routine implementation in networked communication systems.

3. Motivation to Combine

A POSITA, motivated by the explicit problem identified in JP2013157995A (the inability to know participant information while in the image display mode), would seek to integrate such information into the primary video display. It would be a straightforward and obvious design choice to select a highly relevant and concise piece of participant information, such as the numerical count of active participants, to display alongside the video.

The POSITA would recognize that US8700779B2 already teaches the display of "participant data and video in various display areas." The numerical count of "transmission terminals under transmission" (or "bases" as termed in US10909059) is a fundamental type of participant data. Implementing this by having the transmission terminal transmit a request for this count to a central transmission management apparatus (which is explicitly described in US10909059 as managing transmission statuses) and then displaying the received number would be a routine engineering task. Modern video conferencing systems commonly rely on central servers to manage participant status, making a request-response mechanism for obtaining real-time participant counts an obvious implementation detail. The placement of this numerical count in an "auxiliary area" (such as a "belt-like blank space" or "in a superimposing manner") on the display is also a common user interface design technique to provide supplemental information without obscuring primary content.

Therefore, combining the core video conferencing and display capabilities of JP2013157995A with the teaching from US8700779B2 to display participant information (including a numerical count) concurrently with video, and obtaining that information via a standard request to a central management apparatus, would have been obvious to a POSITA at the time of the invention.

Conclusion of Obviousness

Given the clear motivation to address the acknowledged deficiency of JP2013157995A, and the disclosures in US8700779B2 of displaying participant data (including a numerical count) along with video feeds in a conferencing system, the independent claims (1, 7, 8, and 9) of US10909059 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention. The specific steps of requesting the numerical count from a transmission management apparatus and displaying it on the display device alongside image data are routine engineering solutions for incorporating basic participant information into a video conferencing interface.