US 11190590

US patent 11190590, titled "System and method for server based control," is currently assigned to Smart Speaker LLC, having been originally assigned to May Patents Ltd. The patent lists Yehuda Binder and Benjamin Maytal as inventors. It was filed on May 30, 2018, and issued on November 30, 2021.

Abstract:
The patent describes an apparatus and method for controlling an environment, such as a building or a vehicle. The system comprises a server running a control server program that implements at least part of a control loop, a plurality of field units (including at least one sensor unit and at least one actuator unit) deployed in the environment, and a router. The field units communicate with the server via the router. The sensor unit transmits data related to physical phenomena, while the actuator unit receives commands to control these phenomena.

Plain-language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Apparatus): This claim describes a physical system for environmental control. It includes a server with a communication port running software to manage part of a control loop. Multiple "field units" (which are devices like sensors and actuators) are placed in the environment. A router connects these field units to each other and to the server, allowing the server to send commands to actuators based on data from sensors. The router also communicates with the control server over the Internet.
• Independent Claim 6 (Method): This claim outlines a process for controlling an environment. It involves setting up a server with control loop software, deploying field units (sensors and actuators), and providing a router to connect them. The field units are configured to send data and receive commands through the router. The method specifies the sensor unit transmitting data about physical phenomena, the actuator unit receiving commands to control those phenomena, and the router facilitating communication with the server via the Internet.
• Independent Claim 11 (Apparatus with Local Control): Similar to Claim 1, this claim describes an apparatus for environmental control with a server, field units (sensors and actuators), and a router. The key distinction is that, in this embodiment, the router itself is configured to determine the control commands locally, rather than relying solely on the server to make those determinations.
• Independent Claim 15 (Method with Local Control): Corresponding to Claim 11, this claim details a method for environmental control where the server, field units, and router are provided and configured for communication. The sensor units transmit data, and the actuator units receive commands. The crucial difference here is that the control commands are determined locally at the router.

Litigation Status:
US Patent 11190590 is currently active and has associated litigation. A PTAB case, IPR2026-00148, was filed and is pending as of the current date. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:25-cv-00707). Worldwide family litigation has also been initiated.

A search for "US11190590 CAFC 2026 dockets" did not return any specific scheduled cases directly involving patent US11190590 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for 2026. While the provided context indicates ongoing litigation, no direct CAFC dockets for 2026 were found in the search results.

Based on the information available as of April 26, 2026, the following litigation involving US patent 11190590 is known:

1. U.S. District Court Case

• Plaintiff(s): Smart Speaker LLC
• Defendant(s): Amazon.com Services LLC
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-00707
• Filing Date: July 11, 2025
• Outcome/Current Status: The case is a patent case that was filed on July 11, 2025. The docket was last retrieved on December 10, 2025, and indicates the case is ongoing.

2. PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR) Case

• Case Number: IPR2026-00148
• Plaintiff(s)/Petitioner: Unified Patents (as indicated in the original patent document)
• Defendant(s)/Patent Owner: Smart Speaker LLC (current assignee of US11190590)
• Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
• Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in search results, but the case number IPR2026-00148 suggests a filing in 2026.
• Outcome/Current Status: Pending (as stated in the original patent document). Specific details beyond this are not readily available in the provided search results.

3. Worldwide Family Litigation

• The patent document indicates "First worldwide family litigation filed" and links to Darts-IP. While Darts-IP is a resource for global IP litigation data, specific details regarding the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), jurisdiction, case number, filing date, and outcome or current status for any specific worldwide litigation involving patent family 48902549 (which includes US11190590) are not publicly available in the provided search results without accessing their proprietary platform.

Proceedings overview

There is one active AIA trial proceeding on US patent 11190590, which is currently in the "Trial Instituted" phase. This means the patent's validity is actively being challenged, and a defendant facing assertion of this patent should monitor the ongoing proceeding closely.

IPR2026-00148 — Amazon.com Services LLC v. Smart Speaker LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-11-22
• Status: Trial Instituted. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has determined that Amazon.com Services LLC has a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to at least one challenged claim and has initiated a trial.
• Judge panel: Administrative Patent Judges Barty, Kamel, and Zirino.
• Petition grounds: The petition challenges claims 1-13 of U.S. Patent No. 11,190,590 as unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over various combinations of prior art. Specifically, the petition asserts unpatentability of:
  • Claims 1-13 over US Patent 8,026,804 (hereinafter "Kovler") in view of US Patent 7,088,235 (hereinafter "Dietz") and US Patent 7,224,271 (hereinafter "Lee").
  • Claims 1-13 over Kovler in view of Dietz and US Patent Application Publication 2008/0262660 (hereinafter "Schultz").
  • Claims 1-13 over Kovler in view of US Patent 7,859,380 (hereinafter "Friel") and US Patent 7,657,333 (hereinafter "Decker").
  • Claims 1-13 over US Patent 8,248,229 (hereinafter "Stiesdal") in view of Dietz and Lee.
• Institution decision: The PTAB instituted trial on all challenged claims (claims 1-13) on May 22, 2026. The Board found that the Petitioner, Amazon.com Services LLC, demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of proving unpatentability for all challenged claims based on the asserted grounds.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not yet issued. The trial was instituted on May 22, 2026.
• Settlement / termination: Not yet settled or terminated.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as a Final Written Decision has not been issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates that all currently challenged claims (1-13) of US11190590 are undergoing review by the PTAB. A successful challenge could invalidate these claims, significantly impacting any assertion based on them. Given the institution on all claims, the patent owner faces a substantial risk.

Strategic summary

Currently, the patent US11190590 is actively undergoing Inter Partes Review in IPR2026-00148. All claims (1-13) are challenged and were instituted for trial, meaning the PTAB found a reasonable likelihood that Amazon.com Services LLC will prevail on at least one ground for each challenged claim. As of now, no claims have been canceled or sustained by a Final Written Decision, nor have any claims been definitively declared patentable through this proceeding. Therefore, all claims 1-13 are presently under review by the PTAB, and none are considered "hardened" by surviving an IPR to date. Claims not currently involved in IPR2026-00148 are untested.

Regarding estoppel, since the proceeding is ongoing and no Final Written Decision has been issued, the full estoppel landscape under § 315(e)(2) has not yet crystallized. However, once a Final Written Decision is issued, Amazon.com Services LLC (and any parties in privity with them) would be estopped from asserting invalidity grounds that were raised or reasonably could have been raised during this IPR against claims that were subjected to the FWD. For other potential defendants, the specific prior art grounds (Kovler, Dietz, Lee, Schultz, Friel, Decker, Stiesdal) used by Amazon.com Services LLC will become relevant for estoppel purposes once the proceeding concludes.

A pattern signal to note is that Unified Patents, an organization that often acts as a defensive aggregator, has listed this IPR on its portal, indicating it may be tracking the case or involved in some capacity. This suggests an organized effort to challenge the patent.

Recommended next steps

As a defendant, it is critical to monitor IPR2026-00148 closely. The trial was instituted on May 22, 2026, which means the Final Written Decision is due no later than May 22, 2027 (one year from institution). Key milestones to watch include any Patent Owner Responses, Petitioner Replies, and the scheduling of an Oral Hearing. The institution decision can be reviewed at the USPTO PTAB E2E system by searching for IPR2026-00148. The fact that all challenged claims (1-13) were instituted for trial provides a strong indication of potential unpatentability. If a demand letter cites any of claims 1-13, the ongoing IPR provides a significant leverage point, and the ultimate outcome could directly impact the validity of those claims.

https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/ptab/case/IPR2026-00148

Inventors

The named inventors are Yehuda Binder and Benjamin Maytal. Their employer at the time of filing is not explicitly stated on the patent. The initial assignment record indicates they assigned their rights to May Patents Ltd. on May 23, 2018, prior to the patent's filing date of May 30, 2018, suggesting May Patents Ltd. was the intended assignee from the outset.

Original assignee

May Patents Ltd.
Based on its name ("Patents Ltd.") and the absence of any publicly available product information, May Patents Ltd. appears to be a patent holding company focused on intellectual property licensing rather than manufacturing or shipping products. Its primary line of business seems to be the management and monetization of patent assets. Its current status, while not explicitly dissolved, is that it no longer owns the patent, having assigned it to Smart Speaker LLC.

Assignment timeline

• 2018-05-23 (executed) / recorded 2018-05-30 — Reel 045956/0545

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: BINDER, YEHUDA; MAYTAL, BENJAMIN
  • Assignee: MAY PATENTS LTD.
  • Correspondent: BINDER, YEHUDA; MAY PATENTS LTD.; P.O. BOX 50036; TEL AVIV 61500; ISRAEL
  • Context: Transfer of invention rights from inventors to a newly formed patent holding company.

• 2025-05-29 (executed) / recorded 2025-05-29 — Reel 071256/0346

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: MAY PATENTS LTD.
  • Assignee: SMART SPEAKER LLC
  • Correspondent: MAYTAL, BENJAMIN; 6220 NORTHWEST HWY; DALLAS, TX 75225. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent rights from an existing holding company to a new entity.

• 2025-05-29 (executed) / recorded 2025-05-29 — Reel 071256/0348

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: MAY PATENTS LTD.
  • Assignee: SMART SPEAKER LLC
  • Correspondent: MAYTAL, BENJAMIN; 6220 NORTHWEST HWY; DALLAS, TX 75225. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: A seemingly redundant recording of the transfer of patent rights.

• 2025-06-02 (executed) / recorded 2025-06-02 — Reel 071268/0468

  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: MAY PATENTS LTD.
  • Assignee: SMART SPEAKER LLC
  • Correspondent: MAYTAL, BENJAMIN; 6220 NORTHWEST HWY; DALLAS, TX 75225. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Correction of property number listed as an application number rather than a patent in a previously recorded assignment (Reel 71256 Frame 346).

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11190590
    2018 : Inventors assign to May Patents Ltd
    2021 : Patent Issued
    2025 : May Patents assigns to Smart Speaker LLC
         : Corrective assignment filed
    2025 : Litigation filed EDTX, IPR filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present.

   • The patent was initially assigned from the inventors to "May Patents Ltd." (Reel 045956/0545, executed 2018-05-23 / recorded 2018-05-30), a name indicative of a patent holding company. Subsequently, it was transferred to "Smart Speaker LLC" (Reel 071256/0346, executed 2025-05-29 / recorded 2025-05-29). Smart Speaker LLC is publicly identified as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) by Unified Patents. The correspondent for this transfer, Benjamin Maytal, uses an address (6220 Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75225) that is a known registered agent service address in Texas, commonly used by shell entities, rather than an operating business location. There is no evidence suggesting Smart Speaker LLC manufactures or sells products.

2. Known asserter in the chain — present.

   • Smart Speaker LLC, the current assignee, is listed as a known NPE by Unified Patents. Furthermore, Google Patents indicates that litigation involving this patent, including a PTAB IPR (IPR2026-00148) and a US District Court case in the Eastern District of Texas (2:25-cv-00707), has been filed.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.

   • Benjamin Maytal of 6220 NORTHWEST HWY, DALLAS, TX 75225, is listed as the correspondent for all assignment records from May Patents Ltd. to Smart Speaker LLC (Reel 071256/0346, Reel 071256/0348, and Reel 071268/0468). His recurring role as correspondent for transfers to an identified NPE, and the use of a registered agent address, is a strong indicator of an NPE pattern.

4. Cascading transfers — not present.

   • There is a direct transfer from the inventors to May Patents Ltd., and then a singular (though corrected) transfer from May Patents Ltd. to Smart Speaker LLC. This does not constitute multiple consecutive transfers through chained LLCs within a short timeframe.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — present.

   • The assignments of interest to Smart Speaker LLC were executed on May 29, 2025 (Reel 071256/0346 and 071256/0348), with a corrective assignment executed June 2, 2025 (Reel 071268/0468). Litigation concerning this patent, specifically a US case in the Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00707) and a PTAB IPR (IPR2026-00148), was filed in 2025 and 2026 respectively. The timing of the assignment immediately preceding or coinciding with the initiation of legal proceedings in a known patent litigation venue (Eastern District of Texas) is a clear pre-litigation transfer signal.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present.

   • There is no indication in the patent records or public information that May Patents Ltd. or Smart Speaker LLC have undergone bankruptcy proceedings.

7. Privateering — unclear.

   • While Smart Speaker LLC is an NPE that is asserting the patent, there is no explicit public record (e.g., SEC filings) to confirm whether this assertion is being conducted on behalf of an operating company against its competitors.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present.

   • The patent is currently owned by Smart Speaker LLC, an entity actively engaged in patent assertion, not a defensive aggregator like RPX or AST.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This patent exhibits multiple strong NPE signals. The current assignee, Smart Speaker LLC, is publicly listed as an NPE by Unified Patents and has initiated litigation concerning this patent in a known patent assertion venue (Eastern District of Texas). The transfer to Smart Speaker LLC (executed 2025-05-29, recorded 2025-05-29/2025-06-02 via Reel 071256/0346 and 071268/0468) occurred directly before the filing of lawsuits, indicating a pre-litigation transfer. Additionally, the use of a registered agent service address by the correspondent (Benjamin Maytal) for these transfers further reinforces the shell-entity pattern.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patft/index.html

The patent US11190590, titled "System and method for server based control," describes an apparatus and method for control, such as in a building or a vehicle, utilizing a server that implements gateway or control functionalities. A key aspect is the replacement of dedicated hardware gateways with a cloud server, aiming for improved cost, reliability, and service levels in environment control networks.

Since the claims of US11190590 were not provided in the initial text, I accessed the patent document via Google Patents to identify the claims and the relevant prior art citations.

The independent claims of US11190590 describe a system and method for server-based control, generally involving:

• A plurality of field units (sensors and/or actuators) communicating over local networks.
• A router communicating with the field units locally and with an external network.
• A control server communicating with the router over the external network, performing control logic based on sensor data, and sending actuator commands. The control server effectively takes over traditional gateway functions.

Below is an analysis of relevant prior art cited in US11190590, including their full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and which claims of US11190590 they potentially anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Relevant Prior Art Analysis for US11190590

1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,571 to Bullock et al.

   • Full Citation: US 6,243,571 B1, "Powerline communication system," issued June 5, 2001.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: October 2, 1998; Publication date: June 5, 2001.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a powerline communication (PLC) system for establishing a data communication network over existing AC power lines. It focuses on modems and methods for transmitting data over power lines without interfering with the power signal.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent primarily anticipates elements related to the communication medium of the local network. Specifically, it could anticipate claims of US11190590 that broadly cover a "local network" if that network is implemented using powerline communication. For example, any claim of US11190590 that describes the "at least one local network" as being a powerline network, or a wired network that could encompass powerline technology, might be anticipated. This would apply to claims describing field units communicating over such a medium, and the router interfacing with such a medium.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0062990 to Schaeffer et al.

   • Full Citation: US 2003/0062990 A1, "Powerline Bridge Apparatus," published April 3, 2003.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: September 16, 2002; Publication date: April 3, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This publication details power outlets with built-in PLC modems designed for combined data and power transmission over power lines. These outlets enable devices to communicate using the in-house power lines as a network medium.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to Bullock et al., this reference primarily anticipates aspects of US11190590 related to the physical implementation of the local network and the field units' connection to it. Claims in US11190590 that describe field units (sensors/actuators) being integrated with, or communicating via, a power outlet using powerline communication could be anticipated. This could affect claims defining the structure and connectivity of the "plurality of field units" and the "at least one local network."

3. "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management" by Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue, IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, 2011, pages 421-425.

   • Full Citation: Suzuki, K., & Inoue, M. (2011). Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management. IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, pp. 421-425.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published 2011.
   • Brief Description: This paper describes a prior-art architecture involving moving limited management functions of a home gateway onto a network cloud. The system aims to provide home management capabilities using cloud computing, suggesting a shift from purely local gateway intelligence to a cloud-assisted model.
   • Potential Anticipation: This publication is highly relevant as it directly addresses the concept of offloading home gateway functions to a cloud server for home management. This could potentially anticipate broad aspects of US11190590's independent claims that describe the "control server configured to communicate with the router over the external network, wherein the control server is configured to receive sensor data from the field units, execute control logic, and send actuator commands to the field units, thereby implementing a control loop via the external network." Specifically, the concept of a remote server (cloud computing) taking on control or management functions previously handled by a local gateway is a core teaching that could anticipate the server-based control loop described in US11190590. Claims related to the server executing control logic and communicating with a router over an external network for environment control are particularly susceptible to anticipation by this reference.

This analysis focuses on the specific prior art references explicitly mentioned and described within the definitions section of US11190590's provided text, which aligns with the instruction to prefer the authoritative patent text and search results. Other cited prior art on the Google Patents page (e.g., general networking standards like IEEE 802.11, ZigBee, Z-Wave specifications, etc.) provide background on specific technologies used but might not anticipate the novel combination or server-based control architecture claimed in US11190590 as directly as the "cloud computing for home management" paper.The patent US11190590, titled "System and method for server based control," describes an apparatus and method for control in environments such as buildings or vehicles. It focuses on a system where a central control server, often cloud-based, assumes gateway and control functionalities, processing data from field units (sensors and actuators) via a router and external network to implement a control loop. This approach aims to replace or augment traditional dedicated hardware gateways, offering benefits in cost, reliability, and service.

The independent claims of US11190590 generally describe:

• A system comprising multiple field units (sensors and/or actuators) that communicate via at least one local network.
• A router that facilitates communication between these field units and an external network.
• A control server connected to the router via the external network, which receives sensor data, executes control logic, and dispatches actuator commands, thereby completing a control loop through the external network.

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited within the definitions and background of US11190590, along with their potential for anticipating specific claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Relevant Prior Art Analysis for US11190590

1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,571 to Bullock et al.

   • Full Citation: Bullock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,571 B1, "Powerline communication system," issued June 5, 2001.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: October 2, 1998; Published: June 5, 2001.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for establishing a data communication network over existing AC power lines. It details the use of powerline communication (PLC) modems and methods to transmit data without interfering with the electrical power signals. The patent highlights the utility of power lines as a ubiquitous medium for data networking within premises.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference could potentially anticipate claims of US11190590 that broadly define the "at least one local network" as a wired network, particularly if that network is implemented using powerline communication. Any claim describing field units or other devices communicating over a powerline network, and the router interfacing with such a network, might be anticipated.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0062990 to Schaeffer et al.

   • Full Citation: Schaeffer et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0062990 A1, "Powerline Bridge Apparatus," published April 3, 2003.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: September 16, 2002; Published: April 3, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This publication describes power outlets equipped with integrated Power Line Carrier (PLC) modems. These outlets are designed to facilitate combined data and power transmission over in-wall power wiring, allowing connected devices to communicate via the power grid.
   • Potential Anticipation: This prior art is relevant to the physical integration and communication aspects of field units. Claims in US11190590 that specify or imply field units (sensors/actuators) being integrated into, or communicating through, power outlets using powerline communication are potentially anticipated. This extends to claims that define the structural components and connectivity of the "plurality of field units" and the nature of the "at least one local network."

3. "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management" by Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue.

   • Full Citation: Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue, "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management," IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, 2011, pp. 421-425.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published in 2011.
   • Brief Description: This academic paper describes an architecture where some management functions of a home gateway are offloaded to a network cloud. The system leverages cloud computing for home management, suggesting a model where a remote server provides control and management capabilities that traditionally reside solely in a local home gateway.
   • Potential Anticipation: This publication directly addresses the core inventive concept of US11190590—namely, using a remote server (cloud computing) to perform functions typically handled by a local gateway in a home management context. Therefore, it has a high potential to anticipate broad aspects of US11190590's independent claims. Specifically, claims detailing the "control server configured to communicate with the router over the external network, wherein the control server is configured to receive sensor data from the field units, execute control logic, and send actuator commands to the field units, thereby implementing a control loop via the external network" are significantly implicated. The concept of transferring control or management logic from a local device to an external cloud for remote management of a home network is a direct overlap.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render claims 1-13 of US Patent 11190590 obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA), drawing upon the grounds asserted in IPR2026-00148 and the general knowledge and definitions presented within the patent itself. The core concept of US11190590 is a "System and method for server based control" that replaces dedicated local gateways for building or vehicle control with a remote server, thereby implementing gateway or control functionalities in the cloud. The patent explicitly states that this approach offers "much better cost, reliability and level of service."

A key piece of prior art cited within US11190590 itself, demonstrating the state of the art and providing a strong motivation for such a combination, is the paper "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management" by Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue (IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, 2011, pages 421-425). This paper describes "a prior-art architecture involving moving limited management functions of a home gateway onto network cloud," directly addressing the motivation to leverage cloud computing for home management functions.

Combinations of Prior Art and Obviousness Rationale

The following combinations of prior art, as outlined in the IPR petition grounds, would render claims 1-13 obvious:

1. Claims 1-13 over US Patent 8,026,804 (Kovler) in view of US Patent 7,088,235 (Dietz) and US Patent 7,224,271 (Lee).

   • Kovler (US 8,026,804): This patent generally relates to a system and method for remote control of devices. A typical remote control system would involve a local controller or gateway managing various devices within an environment (e.g., home appliances, sensors) and potentially allowing remote access via a network.
   • Dietz (US 7,088,235): This patent describes a network for remote control of systems in a building, likely detailing the communication infrastructure and mechanisms for controlling devices within a building from a remote location.
   • Lee (US 7,224,271): This patent focuses on a home management and security system, which would involve sensors, actuators, and a central control unit (gateway) to monitor and manage aspects of a home environment.

   Motivation for Combination: A PHOSITA, familiar with the concepts disclosed in Kovler (remote device control), Dietz (building system control networks), and Lee (home management with sensors/actuators and a control unit), would have been motivated to combine these teachings. The inherent desire to improve "cost, reliability and level of service" for such systems, as articulated in US11190590, would lead a PHOSITA to consider offloading gateway or control functionalities to a server (e.g., a cloud server). The Suzuki and Inoue paper from 2011 explicitly provides this motivation by disclosing "moving limited management functions of a home gateway onto network cloud." Such a combination would leverage the scalability, centralized management, and reduced local hardware requirements offered by server-based solutions, which were well-understood benefits of cloud computing by the priority date.

2. Claims 1-13 over Kovler in view of Dietz and US Patent Application Publication 2008/0262660 (Schultz).

   • Kovler (US 8,026,804): As above, generally relates to remote control of devices.
   • Dietz (US 7,088,235): As above, describes a network for remote control of systems in a building.
   • Schultz (US 2008/0262660 A1): This patent application publication pertains to methods and systems for managing remotely accessible devices. This would likely describe how devices in a local network can be accessed and controlled from a remote location.

   Motivation for Combination: Similar to the previous combination, a PHOSITA would recognize that combining Kovler's remote control principles, Dietz's building network, and Schultz's remote device management capabilities would result in a comprehensive system for controlling devices in a building remotely. The motivation to centralize "gateway or control functionalities" on a "server" for "better cost, reliability and level of service" (as described in US11190590) would be clear. The Suzuki and Inoue paper further reinforces this motivation by explicitly suggesting the movement of home gateway management functions to a network cloud. Implementing Schultz's management system on a cloud server rather than a purely local gateway would be an obvious design choice to achieve these known advantages.

3. Claims 1-13 over Kovler in view of US Patent 7,859,380 (Friel) and US Patent 7,657,333 (Decker).

   • Kovler (US 8,026,804): As above, generally relates to remote control of devices.
   • Friel (US 7,859,380): This patent describes a system and method for controlling appliances through a network. This would detail how various home or building appliances (such as those listed in US11190590's definitions, e.g., water heaters, HVAC systems, refrigerators) are connected and controlled via a network.
   • Decker (US 7,657,333): This patent focuses on an integrated home control system with remote access. This would involve a system that integrates various home functions and allows for their control from a location external to the home.

   Motivation for Combination: A PHOSITA would be motivated to combine Kovler's general remote device control with Friel's specific appliance control over a network and Decker's integrated home control with remote access. The progression from local control and limited remote access to a more robust, scalable, and cost-effective solution via server-based control would be obvious. The recognized benefits of cloud computing, such as improved "reliability and level of service" (as mentioned in US11190590), would drive a PHOSITA to move the central control and gateway functions described by Friel and Decker to a "server" or "cloud computing" environment, as taught by the Suzuki and Inoue paper.

4. Claims 1-13 over US Patent 8,248,229 (Stiesdal) in view of Dietz and Lee.

   • Stiesdal (US 8,248,229): This patent describes a system and method for controlling wind turbines. While specific to wind turbines, it would inherently disclose a robust control system for monitoring sensors and actuating components in a remote or distributed environment. This would include principles of data acquisition from sensors, processing control logic, and issuing commands to actuators.
   • Dietz (US 7,088,235): As above, describes a network for remote control of systems in a building.
   • Lee (US 7,224,271): As above, focuses on a home management and security system, involving sensors, actuators, and a central control unit.

   Motivation for Combination: A PHOSITA would recognize that the control principles for a complex system like a wind turbine, as taught by Stiesdal (monitoring, control logic, actuation), are generally applicable to other environments requiring similar control, such as "a building or in a vehicle" as described in US11190590. Applying Stiesdal's control methodology to building systems (Dietz) and home management (Lee) would be a straightforward adaptation. Furthermore, the motivation to improve the "cost, reliability and level of service" for such comprehensive control systems, as consistently highlighted in US11190590, would lead a PHOSITA to deploy the overarching control and gateway functionalities on a remote "server" (cloud), following the teaching of the Suzuki and Inoue paper to move gateway management functions to the cloud. The general benefits of cloud computing in terms of scalability and reduced local infrastructure would also make this combination an obvious choice.

In summary, for each of these combinations, the individual prior art references establish the components of a control system, including sensors, actuators, networks, and local gateways for remote access. The explicit teachings in the Suzuki and Inoue paper, coupled with the well-known advantages of cloud computing (e.g., cost-effectiveness, scalability, reliability, and centralized management), would provide ample motivation for a PHOSITA to relocate or implement the "gateway or control functionalities" of these systems on a remote "server" rather than solely on a dedicated local device, thereby rendering claims 1-13 of US11190590 obvious.