US 11200252

Summary of U.S. Patent 11,200,252

A concise summary of U.S. Patent 11,200,252 is provided below, including its title, assignee, inventors, key dates, abstract, a plain-language overview of its independent claims, and a note on its legal status.

Title: Process and apparatus for selecting an item from a database

Assignee: Kannuu Pty Ltd

Inventor: Kevin W. Dinn

Filing Date: July 13, 2020

Issue Date: December 14, 2021

Abstract:
The patent describes a method and system for quickly selecting items from a database, particularly on devices with limited input capabilities. The invention, referred to as "partial word completion," analyzes the identifiers of all items in a collection to determine where the sequences of components (like letters in a word) diverge. It then presents these "segments" to the user for selection. As a user selects segments, they are combined to build the identifier of the desired item. This hierarchical approach aims to be more efficient than traditional text entry or scrolling through long lists, especially on devices like mobile phones, music players, and gaming systems. The system can prioritize more common selections and is not limited to text, potentially working with graphics, sounds, or other components.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

U.S. Patent 11,200,252 has one independent claim (Claim 1). Below is a plain-language explanation:

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a method for a user to select an item from a database on an electronic device. The method involves:
  • Showing the user an initial set of "segments," which are parts of the names or identifiers of the items in the database.
  • Allowing the user to select one of these segments using an input like a joystick or button.
  • After a segment is chosen, the system displays a new set of segments that can follow the first one to further build the item's identifier.
  • This process continues, with the user selecting segments one after another to construct the full name of the item they are looking for.
  • A key feature is that the system analyzes all item names in the database to figure out the most logical points at which to break them into these selectable segments. The segments are presented based on a ranking, which can be influenced by how frequently an item is used, making it faster to select popular items. This selection method is designed to work on devices with various input methods, including joysticks, touch screens, and buttons.

Litigation and Legal Status:

As of May 13, 2026, a search for dockets at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026 did not reveal any cases specifically mentioning U.S. Patent 11,200,252. However, information from the patent's Google Patents page indicates that its parent family has been involved in litigation and that an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding, IPR2026-00072, has been instituted and is pending before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The patent is currently listed with a status of "Expired - Fee Related," which suggests that required maintenance fees have not been paid. The anticipated expiration date was December 28, 2027.