US 11188124

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 11188124:

Title: Wearable computing device

Assignee:

• Current: Motiv Abc LLC; Ouraring Inc.
• Original: Proxy Inc.

Inventors: Curt C. von Badinski, Michael J. Strasser, Peter Twiss

Filing Date: September 4, 2020

Issue Date: November 30, 2021

Abstract:
This invention is in the field of wearable electronic devices, aiming to overcome the bulkiness and intrusiveness of current wearable electronics. It provides a wearable computing device (WCD) in the shape of a ring that can be worn for extended periods. Due to its form factor and position on a user's finger, the WCD can take many measurements and perform various functions, suitable for prolonged usage with accurate results in fitness monitoring, data input, and health tracking.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a wearable computing device (WCD) with an inner wall and an outer wall. A flexible circuit board, holding at least one electronic component, is placed between these walls. Either the inner or outer wall (or both) has a window that allows for data to be sent or received, the battery to be recharged, or a status to be indicated.
• Claim 7: This claim covers a WCD that has an internal housing designed to be close to a user's finger. A flexible circuit board with at least one component is wrapped around part of the inner surface of this housing. An external housing then seals these components and the circuit board inside a space defined by the internal housing's interior surface.
• Claim 12: Similar to Claim 7, this claim describes a WCD with an external housing portion and a flexible circuit board with components arranged around its interior surface. An internal housing portion seals these components and the circuit board within the space defined by the external housing's interior surface.
• Claim 16: This claim outlines a WCD with a housing containing a photovoltaic element (like a solar cell). The system also includes a base assembly that has a concentrated light source specifically aimed at the photovoltaic element to charge the device.
• Claim 22: This claim describes an enclosure for a WCD. It includes a base for holding the WCD and a lid that closes over the base. The lid features an optical element (like a lens) designed to direct light onto a photovoltaic cell on the WCD, allowing it to charge.
• Claim 25: This claim pertains to a timepiece system. It includes a timepiece with a flat underside, and a separate, cylindrical timepiece computing device adhered to this underside. This computing device contains a processor, memory, and at least one sensor.
• Claim 26: This claim details a wearable computing device system. It comprises a wearable computing device, an attachment frame connected to it, and a removable optical element on the frame. This optical element is configured to direct light to a photovoltaic cell on the wearable device for charging.
• Claim 28: This claim describes a method for identifying an authorized user of a WCD. It involves shining light on a user's skin, taking an image of that skin, and then creating a unique "capillary map" (a map of blood vessels) for the user from that image.
• Claim 31: This claim describes a method for navigation using a WCD. While wearing the device, a user makes a gesture in a certain direction. The WCD compares this gestured direction to a correct, predetermined direction and then provides feedback to the user based on whether they are pointing in the right way.
• Claim 33: This claim outlines a method for regulating temperature. It involves a first sensor on a WCD measuring the user's skin temperature and a second sensor measuring the ambient room temperature. The skin temperature is compared to a set limit, and the ambient temperature is then adjusted based on this comparison.
• Claim 36: This claim describes a method for controlling home appliances. It involves identifying the location of an appliance in a room. A user wearing a WCD makes a gesture towards that appliance, and the WCD identifies the direction of the gesture. A command is then sent to control the appliance based on the identified gesture and direction.
• Claim 37: This claim describes a method for generating an alert. It involves authenticating a user of a WCD, transmitting their biometric data (like heart rate or blood pressure), and associating it with their profile. This data is then compared to a group profile of aggregated data from many users. If the user's data falls outside a set threshold within this group profile, an alert is generated.
• Claim 40: This claim describes a method for determining how often a WCD's sensors take measurements. It involves assessing the user's activity level using data from the WCD's sensors. If the activity level is above a certain threshold, the sensor's sampling rate is increased.

Litigation Status:
The patent family is currently involved in litigation. A PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-00147, has been filed and is currently pending and instituted. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the Delaware District Court (case number 1:24-cv-01020).

As of April 26, 2026, there is no authoritative information from the provided search results regarding specific dockets or cases for US11188124 in the CAFC for 2026. The search results provided general CAFC news and decisions from 2026, but none directly mention patent US11188124.

Known litigation involving US patent 11188124 is limited to one confirmed district court case based on available information as of April 26, 2026.

1. District Court Litigation

• Plaintiff(s): Ouraring, Inc.
• Defendant(s): RingConn LLC
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware [cite: Original Patent Text, 3]
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-01020 [cite: Original Patent Text, 3]
• Filing Date: 2024 (specific date not provided in the snippets, but the case number indicates a 2024 filing).
• Outcome or Current Status: Active/Pending. The case is referenced as "Delaware Litigation" in the context of ongoing parallel proceedings.

Ambiguous Litigation References:

• PTAB Case IPR2025-00147: The Google Patents page for US11188124 lists "PTAB case IPR2025-00147 filed (Pending - Instituted)" [cite: Original Patent Text]. However, search results for this IPR indicate that the proceedings and related parallel litigations primarily concern "the '178 patent" (e.g., US Patent 10,601,780 or similar family member, though the specific '178 patent number is not fully identified in the provided context) rather than US11188124. Therefore, based on the content of the search results, this IPR does not appear to directly involve US11188124.

• "First worldwide family litigation filed": The Google Patents page for US11188124 mentions "First worldwide family litigation filed" with a link to Darts-ip. [cite: Original Patent Text] However, the provided link refers to patent US11188114B2, not US11188124. Due to the strict instruction to only return results for the specific patent number US11188124 and not similar numbers, and the absence of specific details for US11188124 from Darts-ip in the search results, further information regarding this worldwide family litigation for US11188124 cannot be provided at this time.

• Other Parallel Litigations and ITC Investigation: Search results mention "three parallel District Court Litigations and the parallel ITC Investigation" in the context of the PTAB IPR (IPR2025-00147) and a Fintiv analysis. These include:

  • [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.) v. Oura Health OY et al., Case No. 3-24-cv-03245 (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California), filed in 2024.
  • Oura Health Oy et al. v. Ultrahuman Healthcare Pvt., Ltd. et al., Case No. 2-23-cv-00396 (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas), filed in 2023.
  • Certain Smart Wearable Devices, Systems, and Components. Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1398 (U.S. International Trade Commission), filed March 13, 2024.

  While these cases involve parties related to US11188124 (e.g., Oura Health Oy is the current assignee of US11188124 [cite: Original Patent Text]), the document discussing these parallel litigations explicitly states that the ITC investigation and an associated IPR focused on "the '178 patent". Without explicit confirmation that US11188124 is asserted in these specific parallel cases, they are not listed as directly involving US11188124.

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US Patent 11188124. This proceeding, IPR2025-00147, is currently in a "Final Written Decision" status. The specific outcomes regarding claims invalidated or sustained are not yet publicly detailed in the provided search results, so a definitive statement on the bottom-line defensive posture cannot be made at this time beyond the existence of this single IPR.

IPR2025-00147 — [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.) v. Ouraring, Inc. et al.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-01-23
• Status: Final Written Decision — The proceeding has concluded with a final decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
• Judge panel: The specific judge panel for this IPR is not publicly available in the provided information. However, some PTAB judges active during 2025-2026 include Cynthia M. Hardman, Kevin W. Cherry, and Scott A. Daniels.
• Petition grounds: The petition was filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. and challenged claims based on statutory bases that are not specified in the provided information. However, IPRs typically involve challenges under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 (novelty) and/or 103 (obviousness) over patents or printed publications.
• Institution decision: The institution decision details, including the date and reasoning, are not publicly available in the provided information. Institution decisions are generally final and non-appealable. The Director of the USPTO has significant discretion over institution decisions and has emphasized that AIA reviews are intended as a cost-effective alternative to district court litigation, not a forum for repeated challenges.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): The specific claim-level verdict of the Final Written Decision for IPR2025-00147 is not detailed in the provided search results. Final Written Decisions from the PTAB determine the patentability of challenged claims.
• Settlement / termination: There is no information in the provided search results indicating that IPR2025-00147 was terminated due to a settlement. Settlements in IPRs often involve confidential terms.
• Appeal: Information regarding an appeal of the FWD to the Federal Circuit for IPR2025-00147 is not available in the provided search results. Federal Circuit appeals from the PTAB are common, with an affirmance rate of nearly 80% in 2025.
• Defensive value: Without the claim-level outcomes from the Final Written Decision, the specific defensive value of this proceeding cannot be fully assessed. However, the existence of a Final Written Decision means the challenged claims have been adjudicated by the PTAB.

Strategic summary

Currently, there is one concluded AIA trial proceeding, IPR2025-00147, for US Patent 11188124, which has reached a Final Written Decision. The specific claims of US11188124 that are CANCELED, SUSTAINED, or UNTESTED cannot be determined from the available information. To understand the full scope of surviving claims, the details of the Final Written Decision for IPR2025-00147 would need to be reviewed.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) dictates that a petitioner and its privies are estopped from asserting in other proceedings any invalidity ground that they raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR, but this estoppel only applies after a final written decision is issued. As IPR2025-00147 has reached a Final Written Decision, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. (and their privies) would be estopped from raising those grounds again. For other defendants, the prior-art grounds challenged in IPR2025-00147 might still be available if they are not in privity with Samsung and if those grounds were not actually litigated to a final judgment in a district court.

The available data indicates one IPR filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. against Ouraring, Inc. et al. There is no information to suggest a pattern of multiple IPRs by the same petitioner on this specific patent or aggressive pursuit of PTAB appeals by the patent owner in this instance. The involvement of Unified Patents as a petitioner in IPRs is noted in general PTAB discussions, but not specifically for this patent.

Recommended next steps

The most crucial next step for a defendant facing assertion of US11188124 is to obtain and thoroughly review the Final Written Decision for IPR2025-00147 to determine which claims, if any, were cancelled or held unpatentable. This decision will provide definitive information on the scope of the patent's surviving claims and directly impact any infringement theories. This document can typically be found on the USPTO PTAB Decisions portal by searching for IPR2025-00147. If claims were invalidated, those claims cannot form the basis of an infringement accusation.

Inventors

• Curt C. von Badinski (Proxy Inc.)
• Michael J. Strasser (Proxy Inc.)
• Peter Twiss (Proxy Inc.)

It appears all inventors were employed by Proxy Inc. at the time of filing.

Original assignee

Proxy Inc. was the original assignee named on US11188124. It is unclear from the provided information whether Proxy Inc. shipped a product embodying the claims of this patent. According to the Google Patents legal events, Proxy Inc. filed the application on 2020-09-04 and was the original assignee. The company was later involved in reassignment events, including one where Proxy, Inc. assigned its interest to Twin Merger Sub II, LLC on 2023-05-31. Another reassignment on 2023-06-23 shows Proxy, Inc. as the assignee from MOTIV (ABC), LLC.

Assignment timeline

• 2023-05-30 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-30 — Reel 066986/0101

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: TWIN MERGER SUB II, LLC
  • Assignee: OURARING INC.
  • Correspondent: OURA HEALTH OY, ATTN: IP-PATENTS, OULU, FINLAND.
  • Context: Acquisition

• 2023-05-31 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-31 — Reel 064235/0575

  • Conveyance: Merger And Change Of Name
  • Assignor: Proxy, Inc., TWIN MERGER SUB II, LLC
  • Assignee: TWIN MERGER SUB II, LLC
  • Correspondent: OURA HEALTH OY, ATTN: IP-PATENTS, OULU, FINLAND.
  • Context: Internal Reorganization / Change of Name

• 2023-06-23 (executed) / recorded 2023-06-23 — Reel 066927/0401

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: MOTIV (ABC), LLC
  • Assignee: Proxy, Inc.
  • Correspondent: Patent GC LLC, ATTN: Docketing, Philadelphia, PA, US.
  • Context: Internal Reorganization

• 2023-06-23 (executed) / recorded 2023-06-23 — Reel 066927/0398

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: VON BADINSKI, CURT C., TWISS, Peter, STRASSER, MICHAEL J.
  • Assignee: MECHIO INC.
  • Correspondent: Patent GC LLC, ATTN: Docketing, Philadelphia, PA, US. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of inventor interests

• 2023-06-23 (executed) / recorded 2023-06-23 — Reel 066927/0396

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: MOTIV INC.
  • Assignee: MOTIV (ABC), LLC
  • Correspondent: Patent GC LLC, ATTN: Docketing, Philadelphia, PA, US. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Internal Reorganization

• 2023-06-23 (executed) / recorded 2023-06-23 — Reel 066927/0394

  • Conveyance: Change of Name
  • Assignor: MECHIO INC.
  • Assignee: MOTIV INC.
  • Correspondent: Patent GC LLC, ATTN: Docketing, Philadelphia, PA, US. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Change of Name

• 2023-07-09 (executed) / recorded 2023-07-09 — Reel 064235/0577

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: TWIN MERGER SUB II, LLC
  • Assignee: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
  • Correspondent: KING & SPALDING LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, NEW YORK, NY, US.
  • Context: Securitization

• 2024-04-02 (executed) / recorded 2024-04-02 — Reel 066060/0179

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: OURA HEALTH OY
  • Assignee: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
  • Correspondent: King & Spalding LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, NEW YORK, NY, US. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Securitization

• 2025-05-16 (executed) / recorded 2025-05-16 — Reel 067000/0164

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: OURA HEALTH OY, OURARING INC.
  • Assignee: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
  • Correspondent: LATHAM & WATKINS LLP, 330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800, CHICAGO, IL, US.
  • Context: Securitization

• 2025-05-16 (executed) / recorded 2025-05-16 — Reel 067000/0161

  • Conveyance: Release Of Security Interests In Patents And Trademarks
  • Assignor: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
  • Assignee: OURA HEALTH OY
  • Correspondent: KING & SPALDING LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, NEW YORK, NY, US. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Release of Security Interest

• 2025-05-16 (executed) / recorded 2025-05-16 — Reel 067000/0157

  • Conveyance: Release Of Security Interests In Patents And Trademarks
  • Assignor: CRG SERVICING LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
  • Assignee: OURA HEALTH OY (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO TWIN MERGER SUB II, LLC)
  • Correspondent: KING & SPALDING LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, NEW YORK, NY, US. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Release of Security Interest

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11188124
    2020 : Filed by Proxy Inc
    2021 : Issued to Proxy Inc
    2023 : Assigned to OURARING INC
         : Proxy Inc merges into Twin Merger Sub
         : Assigned to Proxy Inc
         : Inventors assign to MECHIO INC
         : Assigned to MOTIV ABC LLC
         : MECHIO INC changes name to MOTIV INC
         : Security interest to CRG Servicing LLC
    2024 : Security interest to CRG Servicing LLC
    2025 : Security interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank
         : Release of security interest by CRG
         : Release of security interest by CRG

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. While there are transfers between various LLCs (e.g., Twin Merger Sub II, LLC, MOTIV (ABC), LLC, MECHIO INC, MOTIV INC), the context suggests these are part of a larger corporate restructuring and acquisition by Oura Health Oy/Oura Ring Inc., which are known operating companies in the wearable technology space.

2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Oura Ring Inc. (and its parent Oura Health Oy) are known operating companies, not listed as known NPEs. CRG Servicing LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. are financial entities involved in securitization, not patent assertion.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. Patent GC LLC, ATTN: Docketing, Philadelphia, PA, US appears as the correspondent for multiple assignments on 2023-06-23 (Reel 066927/0401, Reel 066927/0398, Reel 066927/0396, Reel 066927/0394). King & Spalding LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, NEW YORK, NY, US also recurs in the chain, appearing on 2023-07-09 (Reel 064235/0577), 2024-04-02 (Reel 066060/0179), 2025-05-16 (Reel 067000/0161), and 2025-05-16 (Reel 067000/0157). While the recurrence is noted, these firms are large and handle diverse IP work, so their presence alone isn't a strong indicator of NPE activity without other factors.

4. Cascading transfers — present. There were several transfers in quick succession in June 2023 (2023-06-23 assignments). Specifically, within a single day, there are assignments involving Proxy, Inc., MECHIO INC., MOTIV INC., and MOTIV (ABC), LLC, all handled by the same correspondent (Patent GC LLC). These appear to be part of a corporate restructuring related to the acquisition by Oura.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The patent was granted on 2021-11-30. Google Patents indicates "Family has litigation" with a PTAB case IPR2025-00147 filed and a US case filed in Delaware District Court (1:24-cv-01020). The earliest recorded assignment to OURARING INC. is 2023-05-30. The Delaware District Court case was filed in 2024, which is more than 6 months after the initial assignment to Oura Ring Inc.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy in the assignment records.

7. Privateering — not present. The current assignee, OURARING INC., is an operating company, not an NPE acting on behalf of another entity.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. The patent was originally assigned to Proxy Inc. and later acquired by OURARING INC., which is an operating company known for producing wearable computing devices. While there are signals like cascading transfers and repeat correspondents, these appear to be related to the corporate acquisition and subsequent securitization by a legitimate operating company. The litigation flagged in Google Patents is likely enforcement by the operating company against competitors.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ (search for patent number 11188124).

The provided "Full patent text" for US11188124 does not contain an explicit "References Cited" section, which is typically found in patent documents and lists the prior art relied upon during examination. Therefore, I cannot identify and describe "each patent citation for 11188124" as requested. The document does, however, provide "Prior art keywords" (wcd, computing device, wearable computing, circuit board, disposed) and a "Prior art date" (2013-11-29), which give general indications of the relevant technological landscape.

For the purpose of identifying potentially anticipated claims, I will refer to the "aspects of the disclosure" enumerated in the provided text, as these describe the inventive elements similar to how claims would. Please note these are not formally numbered claims as found in an issued patent but serve as the closest representation available from the provided text.

Given the nature of US11188124 as a "Wearable computing device" (WCD), often in the form of a ring, that integrates various sensors, communication, power management, and user interaction methods, relevant prior art would generally describe similar wearable devices, especially those for health monitoring, gesture control, and efficient power solutions.

Below is an analysis based on the "aspects of the disclosure" and the general understanding of prior art in this field:

General Description of Relevant Prior Art (Inferred)

Based on the "Prior art keywords" and "Prior art date" (2013-11-29), relevant prior art would likely describe wearable computing devices existing before November 29, 2013, that incorporate:

• Wearable form factors, such as rings, wristbands, or other accessories.
• Internal computing components, including processors, memory, and circuit boards.
• Various sensors for monitoring physiological data (e.g., heart rate, temperature, activity level) or for gesture recognition.
• Methods for data transmission, battery charging, and status indication.

Potential Anticipation Analysis of US11188124's "Aspects of the Disclosure"

Aspect 1: Wearable computing device with flexible PCB and window.

• Description: "One aspect of the disclosure provides a wearable computing device, comprising: an interior wall; an exterior wall; a flexible printed circuit board disposed between the interior wall and the exterior wall; at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and wherein at least one of the interior wall and the exterior wall defines a window that facilitates at least one of data transmission, battery recharge, and status indication."
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would describe wearable devices (e.g., smart rings, fitness trackers) having a housing with interior and exterior walls, flexible circuit boards, electronic components, and transparent or semi-transparent windows for functions like optical sensing, LED indicators, or charging ports.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a ring-shaped wearable device with a flexible circuit board containing components and featuring a transparent window on its surface (inner or outer) for light emission/reception (e.g., for LEDs or light sensors) or for inductive charging indication would potentially anticipate this aspect. The flexibility of the PCB and the specific window functionality for data transmission, battery recharge, or status indication would be key differentiating features.

Aspect 2: Wearable computing device with internal housing, flexible PCB, components, and external potting.

• Description: "a wearable computing device comprising: an internal housing portion configured to be disposed near a finger of a user; a flexible printed circuit board arranged around a portion of a circumference of an interior surface of the internal housing; at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and an external housing portion configured to seal the at least one component and the printed circuit board in an internal space defined by the interior surface of the internal housing." (Further specifies transparent external potting, LEDs emitting light, and concentrated photovoltaic cells receiving light).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would show wearable devices, possibly rings, with internal structural elements, flexible circuits, and components encapsulated by a transparent potting material for protection and/or optical functions.
• Potential Anticipation: Any prior art describing a ring or similar wearable with a flexible PCB, components, and a transparent external potting material that allows light from internal LEDs or to internal photovoltaic cells for charging, could potentially anticipate this aspect. The specific arrangement of the flexible PCB around the circumference and the sealing by external potting would be scrutinized.

Aspect 3: Wearable computing device with external housing, flexible PCB, components, and internal potting.

• Description: "a wearable computing device comprising: an external housing portion; a flexible printed circuit board arranged around a portion of a circumference of an interior surface of the external housing; at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and an internal housing portion configured to seal the at least one component and the printed circuit board in an internal space defined by the interior surface of the external housing." (Further specifies transparent internal potting, LEDs emitting light, and concentrated photovoltaic cells receiving light).
• Prior Art Description: Similar to Aspect 2, but with the transparent potting on the interior surface.
• Potential Anticipation: Prior art showing a wearable device (ring) where internal components and flexible PCB are sealed by a transparent internal potting, allowing optical interaction with the wearer's skin or external light for power, could potentially anticipate this aspect.

Aspect 4: Wearable computing device with photovoltaic element and base assembly with concentrated light source.

• Description: "a wearable computing device including a housing and a photovoltaic element disposed at least partially within the housing; and a base assembly, the base assembly including a concentrated light source directed at the photovoltaic element." (Further specifies ferrous elements and magnetic elements for engagement, circumferential light source, laser diodes/LEDs, optical elements like lenses, ring-shaped WCD with post for engagement).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would include methods and devices for wirelessly charging small electronic devices, potentially using light, and docking stations for wearable devices.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a wearable device with a photovoltaic cell chargeable by a dedicated base station that uses a concentrated light source (e.g., LED array, laser) to charge the device, especially if the base provides a specific docking mechanism (like a post for a ring) and optical focusing, would potentially anticipate this. The concentration of light and the specific optical elements mentioned are key.

Aspect 5: Enclosure for a wearable computing device with optical element for charging.

• Description: "an enclosure for a wearable computing device comprising: a base defining a receptacle for receiving the wearable computing; a lid configured to engage with the base to substantially enclose the wearable computing device, the lid having an optical element configured to direct incident electromagnetic radiation to a photovoltaic cell disposed on the wearable computing device to allow charging thereof." (Further specifies vent holes and lens with focal length considerations).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would involve charging cases or docks for portable electronics that use solar or ambient light, possibly incorporating optical elements.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent for a charging case for a wearable device that includes an optical element (like a lens) in its lid to focus ambient light onto a photovoltaic cell on the device for charging could potentially anticipate this. The inclusion of vent holes and specific lens characteristics would be points of comparison.

Aspect 6: Timepiece system with timepiece computing device adhered to under surface.

• Description: "a timepiece system comprising: a timepiece having a substantially planar under surface; and a timepiece computing device adhered to the planar under surface, the timepiece computing device being substantially cylindrical and comprising: a processor; a memory; and at least one sensor."
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would include smartwatches or other integrated timepiece-computing devices.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a smart accessory that attaches to a traditional timepiece, where the accessory itself is a computing device with a processor, memory, and sensors, could potentially anticipate this. The "adhered to the planar under surface" and "substantially cylindrical" shape of the computing device are specific structural details.

Aspect 7: Wearable computing device system with attachment frame and removable optical element for charging.

• Description: "a wearable computing device system comprising: a wearable computing device; an attachment frame coupled to the wearable computing device; and an optical element removably coupled to the attachment frame, wherein the optical element is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation to a photovoltaic cell disposed on a surface of the wearable computing device to allow for charging of the wearable computing device."
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would feature accessories for wearable devices, particularly for enhancing charging.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a modular charging system for a wearable device, where an optical element for directing light to a photovoltaic cell is removably attached to an attachment frame on the wearable, would potentially anticipate this. The removable nature of the optical element and its coupling via an attachment frame are specific.

Aspect 8: Method of identifying an authorized user using skin surface imaging and capillary map.

• Description: "Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of identifying an authorized user of a wearable computing device, comprising: illuminating a portion of a skin surface of the user; imaging the portion of the skin surface of the user to generate at least one first image; generating a reference capillary map corresponding to the user based at least in part on the at least one image." (Further specifies rotating the device, generating a second image, and comparing to the map for authentication).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would include biometric authentication methods, particularly those using physiological features like veins or skin patterns.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a biometric authentication method for a wearable device that illuminates and images a user's skin to create or use a capillary map for identification would directly anticipate this. The novelty would likely reside in the specific type of illumination (e.g., IR), the use of rotation to get a larger map, and the comparison methodology.

Aspect 9: Method of navigating using gestures with wearable computing device.

• Description: "Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of navigating, comprising: gesturing in a first direction while wearing a wearable computing device; comparing the first direction to a predetermined direction in a predetermined set of directions; providing feedback based on the comparison of the first direction of the predetermined direction." (Further specifies pointing a finger and first heading).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would cover gesture control for electronic devices and navigation systems.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a navigation system where a wearable device detects a user's directional gesture (e.g., pointing a finger) and provides feedback based on a comparison to a target navigation direction would anticipate this method. The use of a wearable device for gesture-based navigation feedback is key.

Aspect 10: Method of regulating temperature using skin and ambient temperature sensors.

• Description: "Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of regulating temperature, comprising: measuring a skin temperature of a user via a first temperature sensor; measuring an ambient temperature via a second temperature sensor; comparing the skin temperature to a predetermined threshold temperature; and adjusting the ambient temperature based in part on the comparison."
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would include smart environmental control systems and personal climate control with sensors.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a system that uses both a user's body (skin) temperature and ambient temperature, measured by a wearable device, to control environmental systems (e.g., a thermostat), would anticipate this method. The specific dual-sensor approach on a wearable and its application to environmental control is critical.

Aspect 11: Method for controlling appliances using gesture direction.

• Description: "Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for controlling appliances, comprising: identifying a position of a first appliance in a room; gesturing a first gesture in a direction of the first appliance; identifying the direction of the first direction via a wearable computing device; issuing a controlling command to the first appliance based in part on the identified direction of the gesture."
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would include smart home control, gesture recognition, and indoor positioning systems.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a smart home system where a wearable device (e.g., with accelerometer/magnetometer) detects a user's gesture directed towards a spatially located appliance, and then issues a control command to that appliance, would anticipate this. The combination of appliance location, gesture directionality from a wearable, and targeted control is key.

Aspect 12: Method of generating an alert based on biometric data and group profiles.

• Description: "Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of generating an alert, comprising: authenticating a first wearer of a first wearable computing device as a first authenticated user; transmitting first biometric data associated with the first wearer; associating the first biometric data with a first profile associated with the first wearer of the first wearable computing device; comparing the first biometric data with a group profile comprising aggregated biometric data from a plurality of distinct wearers of a plurality of distinct wearable computing devices; and generating an alert if the first biometric data falls outside of a predetermined threshold set by the aggregated biometric data." (Further specifies biometric data like heart rate, ECG, blood sugar, blood pressure, and common traits for group aggregation).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would involve health monitoring, personal alerts, and aggregation of health data for personalized feedback.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent detailing a system where a wearable device collects biometric data, compares it against a personalized profile and a broader group profile (e.g., based on age, gender), and generates an alert if deviations occur, would anticipate this method. The aggregation of data into group profiles and comparison against these for alert generation is a specific feature.

Aspect 13: Method of determining a sampling rate based on activity level.

• Description: "Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of determine a sampling rate of a wearable computing device, comprising: determining an activity level of a wearer of a wearable computing device based at least in part on data from at least one sensor disposed onboard the wearable computing device; comparing the activity level to a predetermined activity threshold; and increasing a first sensor sampling rate if the activity level is above a predetermined activity threshold." (Further specifies decreasing sampling rate if below threshold and using acceleration measurement).
• Prior Art Description: Prior art would include power management techniques for portable devices, especially fitness trackers that adjust sensor activity.
• Potential Anticipation: A prior art patent describing a wearable device that dynamically adjusts its sensor sampling rate (e.g., heart rate, accelerometer) based on detected activity levels (e.g., higher sampling for exercise, lower for sleep) to optimize power consumption would anticipate this method. The use of an activity threshold, potentially from an accelerometer, to control sampling rate is key.

Conclusion on Prior Art:
Without the actual list of cited prior art documents from the US11188124 patent itself, it is impossible to provide specific full citations, publication/filing dates, brief descriptions of those specific patents, and which claims they actually anticipate. The analysis above is a hypothetical exercise based on the "aspects of the disclosure" and the general understanding of the prior art field indicated by the patent's keywords and priority date. A thorough prior art search would require access to the examiner's search history and the patents specifically cited in the "References Cited" section of US11188124.

As a technical patent analyst, I will analyze the obviousness of US patent 11188124 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, using the provided patent text and interpreting the "Prior art keywords" as representative of general knowledge in the field at the priority date of 2013-11-29.

The patent US11188124 broadly describes a "Wearable computing device" (WCD), emphasizing its ring form factor to overcome the bulkiness and intrusiveness of prior art wearable electronics [cite: This invention]. The "Prior art keywords" include "wcd," "computing device," "wearable computing," "circuit board," and "disposed." These keywords indicate that, at the time of the invention, wearable computing devices, computing devices in general, the concept of wearable computing, and circuit boards (including flexible ones) were known.

A person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) in wearable electronics around 2013 would possess knowledge of:

• PA1: General Wearable Computing Devices (WCDs): Such devices, like fitness trackers, smartwatches, and other portable electronic gadgets, were known to include processors, memory, various sensors (e.g., accelerometers, heart rate monitors, temperature sensors), power sources (batteries), and communication modules (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi). These devices aimed to monitor user data or provide interactive functions.
• PA2: Flexible Electronics and Miniaturization: The use of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) and techniques for miniaturizing electronic components to fit into compact, non-planar, or ergonomic form factors was well-established in the electronics industry.
• PA3: Wearable Accessories and Jewelry: Embedding electronic functions into everyday items, including jewelry, was a known trend for convenience, aesthetics, and novelty. Rings, specifically, are a common and discreet form of personal adornment.

Here are combinations of these prior art concepts that would render various aspects of US11188124 obvious:

Obviousness Analysis for a Ring-Shaped Wearable Computing Device

Representative Claims/Aspects:

• A wearable computing device comprising: an interior wall; an exterior wall; a flexible printed circuit board disposed between the interior wall and the exterior wall; at least one component disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and wherein at least one of the interior wall and the exterior wall defines a window that facilitates at least one of data transmission, battery recharge, and status indication. (Generalized from "One aspect of the disclosure provides a wearable computing device..." [cite: One aspect of the disclosure]).
• A wearable computing device system further comprising a base assembly including a concentrated light source for charging a photovoltaic element in the WCD [cite: a wearable computing device including a housing and a photovoltaic element].

Combination of Prior Art References: PA1 (General WCDs) + PA2 (Flexible Electronics and Miniaturization) + PA3 (Wearable Accessories/Rings).

Motivation to Combine:
A PHOSITA, recognizing the acknowledged drawbacks of existing WCDs being "bulky and can be intrusive or interfere with a person's daily life" [cite: This invention], would be motivated to develop a more discreet and comfortable wearable device for prolonged use. The ring form factor (from PA3) presents a naturally ergonomic and less intrusive option for continuous wear on a finger. To integrate the necessary computing components, sensors, battery, and communication modules of a general WCD (from PA1) into the constrained, curved space of a ring, the PHOSITA would readily turn to known miniaturization techniques and flexible printed circuit board technology (from PA2). Using FPCBs allows the circuitry to conform to the annular shape between the interior and exterior walls of the ring, addressing the spatial limitations.

Furthermore, for a WCD integrated into a housing, essential functionalities like data transmission (e.g., for Bluetooth antenna), battery recharge (e.g., for solar cells or inductive charging windows), and user status indication (e.g., for LEDs) are required. It would be an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA to incorporate "windows" or transparent portions into the ring's housing to allow light or electromagnetic signals to pass through, enabling these functions. The specific placement of these windows on the interior (for skin contact sensors) or exterior (for visible indicators or external charging) would be a routine engineering decision based on the component's function [cite: the windows].

For charging, the patent discusses concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells and a base assembly with a concentrated light source [cite: the power generation and management module 240, a wearable computing device including a housing and a photovoltaic element]. Given the small surface area of a ring for solar charging, a PHOSITA, aware of existing solar charging technologies for portable devices (part of PA1) and the need for efficient power input into a small form factor, would be motivated to utilize concentrated light sources (e.g., LEDs or laser diodes, as mentioned in the patent [cite: the concentrated light source]) and optical elements (e.g., lenses [cite: the optical element]) in a charging base. This combination enhances charging efficiency, making solar power a viable option for a ring-sized WCD. Magnetic elements for alignment and securing the WCD to the base would also be a known and obvious enhancement for docking and charging solutions for small electronics (general knowledge).

Obviousness Analysis for Capillary Map Authentication

Representative Claim/Aspect:

• A method of identifying an authorized user of a wearable computing device, comprising: illuminating a portion of a skin surface of the user; imaging the portion of the skin surface of the user to generate at least one first image; generating a reference capillary map corresponding to the user based at least in part on the at least one image [cite: Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of identifying an authorized user].

Combination of Prior Art References: PA1 (General WCDs) + PA3 (Wearable Accessories/Rings) + PA4 (General Knowledge of Biometric Authentication using Vein Patterns).

Motivation to Combine:
A PHOSITA working on WCDs (PA1), especially those worn in direct contact with the skin like a ring (PA3), would be motivated to implement robust and convenient user authentication methods. Biometric authentication using unique vascular patterns, such as capillary or vein maps (from PA4), was a known and reliable technique for identity verification. Since a ring-shaped WCD is in continuous contact with a user's finger, integrating optical sensors (like infrared illumination sources and CMOS imaging devices, as described in the patent [cite: the WCD 2100 can include one or more infrared illumination sources 2110 and an infrared CMOS imaging device 2120]) within the device to illuminate and image the underlying skin surface would be an obvious application of PA4 to a WCD. The motivation is to provide secure user identification and access control directly from the wearable device, leveraging its unique placement and interaction with the user's biology. The patent describes this for accessing certain functions, features, or data [cite: If there a match, within a predetermine error tolerance, the WCD can uniquely identify the wearer as an authorized user].

The further step of rotating the WCD during illumination and imaging to capture a "larger swath of the skin surface" [cite: the imager 2120 can capture a larger swath of the skin surface] to generate a more comprehensive reference map would be an obvious optimization for a PHOSITA. Given the limited contact area of a ring at any single orientation, scanning different portions of the finger by rotating the ring (or the finger relative to the ring) would be a straightforward engineering decision to acquire sufficient data for an accurate and reliable capillary map, especially when a more complete reference map is desired.

Obviousness Analysis for Adaptive Sensor Sampling Rate

Representative Claim/Aspect:

• A method of determining a sampling rate of a wearable computing device, comprising: determining an activity level of a wearer of a wearable computing device based at least in part on data from at least one sensor disposed onboard the wearable computing device; comparing the activity level to a predetermined activity threshold; and increasing a first sensor sampling rate if the activity level is above a predetermined activity threshold [cite: Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method of determine a sampling rate].

Combination of Prior Art References: PA1 (General WCDs) + PA5 (General Knowledge of Power Management) + PA6 (General Knowledge of Activity Tracking).

Motivation to Combine:
A PHOSITA involved in the design of WCDs (PA1) would always be motivated to optimize battery life, as it is a critical factor for user convenience and device utility. Dynamic power management strategies (from PA5), including adjusting sensor sampling rates, were commonly known techniques to conserve energy in battery-powered devices. WCDs routinely incorporate sensors, such as accelerometers, to track a user's activity level (from PA6) (e.g., walking, running, sleeping [cite: the WCD 110 can utilize the accelerometer to measure the activity level... to determine if the user is walking horizontally, running, swimming, or climbing stairs]).

It would be an obvious combination for a PHOSITA to use the readily available activity level data from an onboard sensor (like an accelerometer) in a WCD (PA1) to intelligently control the sampling rates of other power-consuming sensors (e.g., heart rate sensor). The motivation is clear: to extend battery life while maintaining data relevance. For instance, if the activity level indicates strenuous exercise, a higher sampling rate for heart rate might be desired for accurate physiological monitoring. Conversely, if the user is inactive or sleeping, a lower sampling rate would suffice, thereby conserving power without significant loss of relevant information [cite: if the WCD 110 determines that the user is at sleep... the WCD 110 can slow down its heart rate detection frequency... Conversely, if the WCD 110 determines that the user is performing a high intensity physical exercise, the WCD 110 can increase the frequency of monitoring]. This adaptive approach is a common and obvious power management strategy for battery-operated devices that have varying operational needs based on context.