PTAB challenges

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 11164456, which is currently active and pending. This means the patent's claims have not yet been challenged through a final decision by the PTAB in this proceeding. For a defendant, the patent is currently in an active challenge phase, but no claims have been invalidated or sustained by the PTAB yet.

IPR2026-00307 — Uber Technologies, Inc. et al. v. Sean O'SULLIVAN

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-03-12
• Status: Pending – The proceeding is active and has not yet reached a final decision.
• Judge panel: Information not publicly available yet.
• Petition grounds: The petition was filed by Uber Technologies, Inc. et al. against claims 1-20 of US11164456, challenging them under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, based on various prior art references including US 7,840,427, US 2005/0125206, and EP 1,489,521.
• Institution decision: As of the current date, May 29, 2026, an institution decision has not yet been rendered. The statutory deadline for an institution decision is typically six months from the filing of the petition.
• Final Written Decision: Not yet issued as the proceeding is pending.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable as the proceeding is pending.
• Appeal: Not applicable as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that Uber Technologies, Inc. et al. believe there are grounds to invalidate all claims (1-20) of US11164456. The outcome of the institution decision will be critical. If instituted, the patent owner will need to defend these claims at trial. If denied, the patent owner's claims would be strengthened against these specific challenges.

Strategic summary

All twenty claims (claims 1-20) of US11164456 are currently being challenged in IPR2026-00307. As this proceeding is pending, none of the claims have been canceled or sustained by a PTAB Final Written Decision. Therefore, from a PTAB perspective, all claims of US11164456 are currently untested as to their patentability in this particular proceeding.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, if IPR2026-00307 is instituted and proceeds to a Final Written Decision, 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) would bar Uber Technologies, Inc. et al. (and any privies) from asserting in any other proceeding before the Office or in any civil action, any ground that they raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR with respect to claims 1-20. However, for a different defendant currently facing assertion of this patent, all prior-art grounds remain available until a Final Written Decision is issued. The specific prior art cited in the petition for IPR2026-00307 includes US 7,840,427, US 2005/0125206, and EP 1,489,521.

Currently, only one IPR proceeding (IPR2026-00307) has been filed against US11164456. The petitioner is Uber Technologies, Inc. et al. There are no patterns of multiple filings by the same petitioner or aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner visible at this stage, given the single, newly filed, and pending nature of the proceeding. Unified Patents has been identified as a petitioner in other PTAB cases according to the Google Patents page for US11164456, but for IPR2026-00307, the petitioner is listed as Uber Technologies, Inc. et al.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant currently being asserted against using US11164456, the most critical next step is to closely monitor IPR2026-00307. The institution decision, which typically occurs within six months of the filing date (around September 2026), will determine if the PTAB agrees that there is a reasonable likelihood of invalidating claims 1-20.

• Monitor Institution Decision: Keep a close watch on the PTAB E2E system for the institution decision in IPR2026-00307. If the IPR is instituted, it means the PTAB views the challenges as meritorious, which could significantly impact the strength of the patent. If institution is denied, it would strengthen the patent owner's position against these specific arguments.
• Review Petition Details: A defendant should review the petition filed by Uber Technologies, Inc. et al. in IPR2026-00307 to understand the specific prior art and arguments being used to challenge claims 1-20. This could inform a defendant's own invalidity contentions if they are contemplating a separate challenge or defense. The petition and other public documents for IPR2026-00307 can be found on the USPTO PTAB E2E system.
• Anticipate Trial Milestones: If instituted, the IPR trial will proceed with various milestones, including discovery, depositions, and oral argument, typically culminating in a Final Written Decision within one year of institution.