US 11327669

Analysis of U.S. Patent No. 11,327,669 and Associated Litigation

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

An analysis of United States Patent number 11,327,669 reveals a technology focused on providing configurable, policy-based behavior for data storage devices. The patent, assigned to Gaea LLC, details a system and method for allowing greater user control over how data is stored and managed on a physical level.

Bibliographic Information:

• Title: Data storage device with configurable policy-based storage device behavior
• Assignee: Gaea LLC
• Inventors: Joshua Johnson, Curt Bruner, Jeffrey Reh, Christopher Squires, Brian Wilson
• Filing Date: August 11, 2020
• Issue Date: May 10, 2022
• Abstract: The patent describes a data storage device with a controller that can be configured through a "storage device policy." This policy allows a user to define how the device operates, creating a trade-off between storage reliability and capacity. The policy can also control specific details of the read and write processes, as well as the physical layout of the data on the storage medium. The controller receives and stores content based on this policy, records storage information, and can even refuse to delete data based on the established rules. The storage information may also be stored remotely.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent No. 11,327,669 contains three independent claims: 1, 14, and 20. An independent claim is a standalone claim that defines the core of the invention.

• Claim 1: This claim describes a data storage device that includes a storage medium (like a hard disk or solid-state memory) and a device controller. The key innovation is that the device controller can receive and operate based on a "storage device policy." This policy dictates how the device should handle trade-offs between storage reliability and the amount of data it can store (capacity). When the device receives a request to store data, the controller uses this policy to decide how and where to physically write the data onto the storage medium. It then records information about where the data is stored and can also be programmed to refuse to delete certain data.

• Claim 14: This claim focuses on the method of operating a data storage device. It outlines the process of a device controller receiving a storage policy that governs the trade-off between reliability and capacity. The controller then receives a request to store data and, following the rules of the policy, stores the data and creates a record of its location and other attributes. A crucial part of this method is the ability to refuse a delete request based on the stored information, and the capability to store this information in a separate, remote location.

• Claim 20: This claim describes a non-transitory computer-readable medium (such as a hard drive or flash memory) that contains instructions for a device controller. When these instructions are executed, they cause the controller to perform a specific set of actions. First, it receives a storage device policy. Then, it handles requests to store data by writing the data to the storage medium according to that policy. It also records information about the stored data, including a unique identifier. Finally, the instructions enable the controller to use this recorded information to retrieve the data when requested and to refuse a request to delete the data.

Litigation Involving U.S. Patent No. 11,327,669

As of April 26, 2026, U.S. Patent No. 11,327,669 is involved in at least two district court litigations initiated by the assignee, Gaea LLC.

• Gaea LLC v. Meta Platforms, Inc.: This case (4:26-cv-00348) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on March 23, 2026.
• Gaea LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, et al.: This case (2:26-cv-00264) also asserts infringement of U.S. Patent No. 11,327,669.

A search of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any appeals related to this patent at this time. Litigation typically begins in district courts, and any appeals to the CAFC would occur after a district court decision.