US 11516643

A concise summary of US Patent 11,516,643 is as follows:

Title: Connection specific selection of automated response messages

Assignee: CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC.

Inventors: Loralee Hajdu, Oliver Hajdu

Filing Date: November 14, 2020

Issue Date: November 29, 2022

Abstract:
A system and method, implemented through software and a computer processor, for providing customized automated responses to incoming electronic messages. The invention is particularly aimed at preventing distracted driving or other distractions by utilizing an application on a smartphone or other computerized device. This device is configured to automatically connect to various other devices, such as Bluetooth peripherals in a car or Wi-Fi access points. The application triggers an auto-response mode for incoming messages when an active connection to one of these devices is detected. The system allows for different automated responses to be assigned based on the specific connected device or the originator of the incoming message. The patent also discusses various prioritization schemes, for instance, how contact-specific automated responses interact with device-specific ones and a "last active connection dominates" rule.

Overview of Independent Claims:

Claim 1: This claim describes a handheld computerized device, like a smartphone. The device is equipped with a processor, memory, and transceivers for both cellular and Bluetooth communication. It includes software that can receive a unique identification code from a connected Bluetooth peripheral. The device can analyze this code to recognize if the connected peripheral is associated with a vehicle. When connected to a vehicle-associated Bluetooth device, the software will automatically send a pre-saved reply to certain types of incoming messages from the cellular network.

Claim 17: This claim also details a handheld computerized device with similar components to Claim 1. The device can determine that an automatic reply is necessary based on the identification code of a connected Bluetooth peripheral. A key aspect of this claim is that after making this determination, the device is configured to ask for and receive user input on its touch screen before sending the automatic reply message.

Claim 18: This claim again describes a handheld computerized device. A significant feature of this claim is that the association of a Bluetooth peripheral with a vehicle is based on a previous designation made by the user of the device. The device's graphical user interface is set up to receive this user input, designating a connected Bluetooth peripheral as being vehicle-associated. Based on this designation and the peripheral's identification code, the device determines when to send an automatic reply to incoming cellular messages.

Litigation Status of US Patent 11,516,643

As of May 7, 2026, US patent 11,516,643 is involved in active litigation. The patent is being asserted by Cedarwood Ventures, Inc. against major technology and telecommunications companies. Details of the known litigation are provided below.

Case 1

• Plaintiff(s): Cedarwood Ventures, Inc.
• Defendant(s): Google LLC
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: Information not publicly available.
• Filing Date: May 6, 2026
• Status: Active. The lawsuit alleges that the Android Auto feature on Google Pixel phones infringes on US Patent Nos. 11,516,643, 9,979,826, and 10,841,248.

Case 2

• Plaintiff(s): Cedarwood Ventures, Inc.
• Defendant(s): Verizon Wireless
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: Information not publicly available.
• Filing Date: May 6, 2026
• Status: Active. This lawsuit claims that Verizon's Driving Mode Auto-Reply tool infringes on the same set of three patents: US Patent Nos. 11,516,643, 9,979,826, and 10,841,248.

Related Litigation

It is noteworthy that the plaintiff, Cedarwood Ventures, Inc., has also filed a similar lawsuit against another major technology company, further indicating a strategy of active assertion for this patent family.

• Plaintiff(s): Cedarwood Ventures, Inc.
• Defendant(s): [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.)
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
• Case Number: Information not publicly available.
• Filing Date: April 2026
• Status: Active. This earlier complaint targets Apple's features for automatically replying to text messages while driving, asserting the same three patents.

Proceedings overview

As of May 31, 2026, there are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 11,516,643 according to the USPTO ODP API. This indicates that the patent has not yet faced any inter partes review (IPR), post-grant review (PGR), or covered business method (CBM) challenges. This defensive posture means that all claims of the patent are currently untested by PTAB proceedings.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims of US patent 11,516,643 (claims 1-19) are untested by PTAB proceedings. This means there are no canceled or sustained claims from IPR, PGR, or CBM challenges. Therefore, no estoppel has been established against any potential petitioner under § 315(e)(2), leaving all prior-art grounds available for future challenges. The absence of PTAB activity suggests that the patent owner has not yet faced a direct challenge to the patentability of these claims before the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Recommended next steps

There is no PTAB activity on file for US patent 11,516,643. If a defendant is facing assertion of this patent, they have the full range of PTAB trial options available, including IPR, PGR (if eligible), or CBM (if eligible), to challenge the patent's validity.

Inventors

• Loralee Hajdu: Employer at time of filing (November 14, 2020) is not specified, but the patent lists "Original Assignee: Individual." The inventors previously developed and published the "Text Deflector" app under "Suite B Media Inc.".
• Oliver Hajdu: Employer at time of filing (November 14, 2020) is not specified, but the patent lists "Original Assignee: Individual." The inventors previously developed and published the "Text Deflector" app under "Suite B Media Inc.".

Original assignee

The patent lists "Individual" as the original assignee on the filing date of November 14, 2020. This indicates the inventors, Loralee Hajdu and Oliver Hajdu, initially held the rights directly. The inventors had previously launched a product embodying claims related to this patent family, the "Text Deflector" app, under "Suite B Media Inc." in 2013. The current assignee is CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC., to whom the patent was assigned in 2025.

Assignment timeline

• 2025-06-19 (executed) / recorded 2025-06-25 — Reel 065584/0488
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Hajdu, Loralee; Hajdu, Oliver
  • Assignee: CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC.
  • Correspondent: Hajdu, Oliver; P.O. BOX 161864, Austin, TX, 78716. (This correspondent is one of the inventors).
  • Context: Transfer-to-asserter (transfer from individual inventors to a corporate entity, preceding patent assertion).

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11516643
    2020 : Filed by Loralee & Oliver Hajdu
    2022 : Issued to Loralee & Oliver Hajdu
    2025 : Assigned to Cedarwood Ventures Inc
    2026 : First infringement suit filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer: Present. The patent was assigned from the individual inventors to "CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC." (Reel 065584/0488, recorded 2025-06-25). The assignee's name includes "Ventures," and the entity is actively asserting the patent in multiple lawsuits against major technology and telecommunications companies, indicating a primary business of patent licensing/assertion rather than product development.
2. Known asserter in the chain: Unclear. While CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC. is actively asserting the patent, it is not listed among the common high-frequency plaintiff NPEs provided in the prompt's list.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain: Present. Oliver Hajdu, one of the inventors, is listed as the correspondent for the assignment to CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC. (Reel 065584/0488). His role as both inventor and correspondent for the transfer to the asserting entity indicates a closely managed, likely internal, strategy for patent assertion.
4. Cascading transfers: Not present. Only one assignment is recorded for this patent.
5. Pre-litigation transfer: Present. The assignment to CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC. was executed on June 19, 2025, and recorded on June 25, 2025 (Reel 065584/0488). The first known infringement lawsuits related to this patent were filed in April 2026 (against Apple) and May 2026 (against Google and Verizon), occurring approximately 10-11 months after the assignment. This timing is indicative of a transfer preceding planned litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale: Not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the assignors.
7. Privateering: Unclear. The inventors previously developed and launched a product (Text Deflector) under "Suite B Media Inc." The subsequent assignment to CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC., an entity now asserting the patent, suggests a shift from product development to assertion. However, without more information on the current relationship between Suite B Media Inc. and Cedarwood Ventures, Inc., it's unclear if this is a direct privateering arrangement where an operating company uses an NPE to sue competitors on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE): Not present. The current assignee is actively asserting the patent, not neutralizing it.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The confidence in this verdict is high due to the presence of multiple strong signals. The assignment to "CEDARWOOD VENTURES, INC." (Reel 065584/0488, recorded 2025-06-25), a corporate entity whose name suggests a licensing focus, strongly indicates a shell-entity transfer. This transfer occurred in June 2025, a mere 10-11 months before the first known infringement lawsuits commenced in April and May 2026, marking it as a pre-litigation transfer. Furthermore, the correspondent for this assignment is Oliver Hajdu, one of the inventors, which highlights a direct and deliberate structuring of the patent for assertion purposes.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ (search for patent 11516643).

Here is an analysis of the patent citations for US Patent 11,516,643, identifying the most relevant prior art and evaluating potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The analysis is based on the provided patent text, specifically the citation list and the independent claims (1, 17, and 18) of US11516643. Given the limited information (primarily titles and dates for cited patents), the anticipation assessment is necessarily high-level and identifies potential anticipation.

The independent claims of US11516643, with a priority date of May 18, 2013, focus on:

• Claim 1: A handheld device receiving a Bluetooth peripheral ID, analyzing it to determine vehicle association, storing automatic replies, and sending a retrieved automatic reply to incoming cellular messages while connected to that vehicle-associated peripheral.
• Claim 17: Similar to Claim 1, but explicitly includes the device being configured to request and receive user input from a touch-sensitive display screen before sending the automatic reply.
• Claim 18: Similar to Claim 1, but explicitly includes the Bluetooth peripheral being previously designated by a user as vehicle-associated via a graphical user interface.

Any prior art must have an effective filing or priority date before May 18, 2013, to anticipate US11516643.

---

Patent Citations and Potential Anticipation Analysis for US11516643

Here is an analysis of each citation provided in the full patent text for US11516643:

1. US3962543A

• Full Citation: US3962543A, published 1976-06-08, assigned to Eugen Beyer Elektrotechnische Fabrik, titled "Method and arrangement for controlling acoustical output of earphones in response to rotation of listener's head."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 1973-06-22, Publication: 1976-06-08
• Brief Description: Describes a system for controlling earphone audio output based on head movement.
• Potential Anticipation: Does not anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18. It is entirely unrelated to automated messaging, peripheral-specific response selection, or vehicle contexts.

2. US20020065657A1

• Full Citation: US20020065657A1, published 2002-05-30, assigned to Telesector Resources Group, Inc., titled "Methods and apparatus for performing speech recognition and using speech recognition results."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2000-11-30, Publication: 2002-05-30
• Brief Description: Describes methods and apparatus for speech recognition and utilizing the results.
• Potential Anticipation: Does not anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18. While related to communication, it lacks the specific elements of peripheral-driven automatic message selection, vehicle association, or pre-send user input as defined in US11516643.

3. US20030224805A1

• Full Citation: US20030224805A1, published 2003-12-04, assigned to Pioneer Corporation, titled "Apparatus and method for detecting leaving of cellular telephone."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2002-05-28, Publication: 2003-12-04
• Brief Description: Describes an apparatus and method for detecting when a cellular telephone leaves a specific location or device.
• Potential Anticipation: Does not anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18. It focuses on detecting device presence/absence rather than triggering automated reply messages based on peripheral connection type or specific user interaction.

4. US20040203794A1

• Full Citation: US20040203794A1, published 2004-10-14, assigned to Brown Barbara L., titled "System and method for providing an automatic response to a telephone call."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2002-05-06, Publication: 2004-10-14
• Brief Description: Describes a system and method for providing an automatic response to incoming telephone calls.
• Potential Anticipation: Does not anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18 fully. While it discloses automatic responses, it lacks the specific elements of peripheral-specific selection of reply messages, identification of a vehicle-associated peripheral via its Bluetooth ID, or the particular user input mechanisms of Claims 17 and 18.

5. US20050124324A1

• Full Citation: US20050124324A1, published 2005-06-09, assigned to Thomas C. D., titled "Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2003-12-08, Publication: 2005-06-09
• Brief Description: Describes adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices.
• Potential Anticipation: Does not anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18. The description is too general to disclose the specific peripheral-driven automatic message selection and context determination of US11516643.

6. US20070249286A1

• Full Citation: US20070249286A1, published 2007-10-25, assigned to Ma Dung T, titled "Automated bonding for wireless devices."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2006-04-21, Publication: 2007-10-25
• Brief Description: Describes methods for automated bonding (connection) between wireless devices.
• Potential Anticipation: Does not anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18. It focuses on the connection process itself, not on using the type of connection or peripheral identity to select and send automated messages in the manner of US11516643.

7. US7289024B2

• Full Citation: US7289024B2, published 2007-10-30, assigned to General Motors Corporation, titled "Method and system for sending pre-scripted text messages."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2004-08-19, Publication: 2007-10-30
• Brief Description: Describes a method and system for sending pre-scripted text messages, likely within a vehicle context given the assignee.
• Potential Anticipation: Potentially anticipates the general concept of sending pre-scripted messages from a device in a vehicle. However, Claim 1 requires the specific analysis of a Bluetooth peripheral device identification code to determine that said Bluetooth peripheral device is a vehicle associated Bluetooth peripheral device and then retrieving a specific automatic reply message based on that. It's not evident from the title that this prior art teaches such a specific peripheral-driven, context-specific selection of messages, or the user designation/pre-send input of Claims 17/18.

8. US20070298771A1

• Full Citation: US20070298771A1, published 2007-12-27, assigned to Dorron Mottes, titled "Method And Device For Routing Communications In Cellular Communications Network."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2004-11-24, Publication: 2007-12-27
• Brief Description: Describes a method and device for routing communications within a cellular network.
• Potential Anticipation: Not directly relevant to the content selection of automatic reply messages based on peripheral connection.

9. US20080139230A1

• Full Citation: US20080139230A1, published 2008-06-12, assigned to Vascode Technologies Ltd., titled "Unstructured Supplementary Service Data Application within a Wireless Network."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2004-11-24, Publication: 2008-06-12
• Brief Description: Relates to USSD applications within wireless networks.
• Potential Anticipation: Not directly relevant to the core invention of US11516643.

10. US20080233932A1

• Full Citation: US20080233932A1, published 2008-09-25, assigned to Qualcomm Incorporated, titled "Pre-Programmed Subscriber Response."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2007-03-21, Publication: 2008-09-25
• Brief Description: Describes systems and methods for pre-programmed subscriber responses, which could include automatic replies.
• Potential Anticipation: Potentially anticipates the general concept of storing and sending pre-programmed or automatic replies. However, it lacks the specific triggers of Claim 1, such as the analysis of a Bluetooth peripheral ID to determine vehicle association and the subsequent retrieval of a specific automatic reply message based on that association. It also does not appear to anticipate the user interaction aspects of Claims 17 or 18.

11. US20090270082A1

• Full Citation: US20090270082A1, published 2009-10-29, assigned to Dorron Mottes, titled "Method and Device for Communications While Using a Single Telephone Device."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2005-01-04, Publication: 2009-10-29
• Brief Description: Describes methods and devices for managing communications using a single telephone device.
• Potential Anticipation: Not specific enough to the peripheral-driven, context-aware auto-response of US11516643.

12. US20100216509A1

• Full Citation: US20100216509A1, published 2010-08-26, assigned to Zoomsafer Inc., titled "Safety features for portable electronic device."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2005-09-26, Publication: 2010-08-26
• Brief Description: Describes safety features for portable electronic devices, likely aimed at preventing distracted driving.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant to the problem of distracted driving and use of portable devices. If its "safety features" include sending automatic replies when a driving context is detected via a Bluetooth connection to a car, it could potentially anticipate some aspects of Claim 1. However, full anticipation of Claim 1 would require disclosure of the specific mechanism of analyzing a Bluetooth peripheral device identification code to determine it's a vehicle associated Bluetooth peripheral device and then retrieving a specifically linked automatic reply message from memory based on that analysis. It is unlikely to anticipate the specific user interaction aspects of Claims 17 or 18.

13. US20110151842A1

• Full Citation: US20110151842A1, published 2011-06-23, assigned to Julia Olincy, titled ""I am driving/busy" automatic response system for mobile phones."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2009-12-21, Publication: 2011-06-23
• Brief Description: Describes an automatic response system for mobile phones that sends "I am driving/busy" messages.
• Potential Anticipation: This is a very strong candidate. It directly addresses automatic responses related to driving/busyness. To fully anticipate Claim 1, it must disclose: (a) receiving an IEEE 802.15 standard Bluetooth peripheral device identification code, (b) analyzing that ID to determine vehicle association, and (c) using this determination to retrieve a specific automatic reply message from memory. While it likely uses a Bluetooth connection to detect a driving context and send a reply, the specific requirement of analyzing the ID for vehicle association and selecting from multiple specific messages (which US11516643 distinguishes from prior art by offering greater flexibility) might be missing. It is unlikely to anticipate Claim 17 due to the explicit "request and receive user input before sending" element, or Claim 18 for "user designation of vehicle association" via GUI.

14. US20110195699A1

• Full Citation: US20110195699A1, published 2011-08-11, assigned to Saied Tadayon, titled "Controlling Mobile Device Functions."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2009-10-31, Publication: 2011-08-11
• Brief Description: Describes methods for controlling various functions of a mobile device.
• Potential Anticipation: Too general to anticipate the specific peripheral-driven auto-response and context determination of US11516643.

15. US20110219080A1

• Full Citation: US20110219080A1, published 2011-09-08, assigned to Qualcomm Incorporated, titled "Automated messaging response in wireless communication systems."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-03-05, Publication: 2011-09-08
• Brief Description: Describes automated messaging response mechanisms within wireless communication systems.
• Potential Anticipation: Potentially anticipates the general concept of automated messaging responses. However, like US20080233932A1, it likely lacks the specific peripheral-driven, vehicle-associated context determination, specific message retrieval, and user interaction features detailed in Claims 1, 17, and 18 of US11516643.

16. US20110295458A1

• Full Citation: US20110295458A1, published 2011-12-01, assigned to Verizon Virginia, titled "Systems and Methods for Selectively Disabling One or More Features of a Mobile Access Device and/or a Vehicle Associated with the Mobile Access Device."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-05-28, Publication: 2011-12-01
• Brief Description: Describes systems and methods for selectively disabling features of a mobile device or a vehicle, potentially for safety or distraction prevention.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant for preventing distracted driving. If "selectively disabling features" includes sending an automatic reply message and the "vehicle associated" determination is made by analyzing a Bluetooth peripheral ID leading to retrieval of a specific message, it could potentially anticipate Claim 1. The key distinction would be whether it teaches sending a retrieved automatic reply message versus merely disabling functions. The specific peripheral ID analysis and message selection criteria of Claim 1 would need to be present.

17. US20120064924A1

• Full Citation: US20120064924A1, published 2012-03-15, assigned to Alter App. LLC, titled "Reducing driver distraction due to mobile text messaging."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-09-10, Publication: 2012-03-15
• Brief Description: Describes methods for reducing driver distraction caused by mobile text messaging.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant, as it directly addresses reducing driver distraction from text messaging. This is a strong candidate for anticipating the general concept of Claim 1 related to automatic responses during driving. However, it must disclose the specific mechanism of receiving and analyzing a Bluetooth peripheral device identification code to determine vehicle association and then retrieving a specific automatic reply message from memory. The explicit user interaction elements of Claims 17 and 18 are unlikely to be present based on the title.

18. US20120096097A1

• Full Citation: US20120096097A1, published 2012-04-19, assigned to Ntt Docomo, Inc., titled "Communication terminal and mail return method."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2009-03-26, Publication: 2012-04-19
• Brief Description: Describes a communication terminal and a method for returning (replying to) mail.
• Potential Anticipation: Too general to anticipate the specific peripheral-driven context determination and message selection of US11516643.

19. US20120117169A1

• Full Citation: US20120117169A1, published 2012-05-10, assigned to Robert Plotkin, titled "Time-Based Computer Control."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-11-08, Publication: 2012-05-10
• Brief Description: Describes computer control systems based on time.
• Potential Anticipation: Not relevant to the peripheral-specific auto-response.

20. US8385975B2

• Full Citation: US8385975B2, published 2013-02-26, assigned to Qualcomm Incorporated, titled "Context-based messaging for wireless communication."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2009-04-23, Publication: 2013-02-26
• Brief Description: Describes context-based messaging for wireless communication.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant. "Context-based messaging" strongly suggests that message content or sending is adapted to the user's situation. If the context can be defined by a peripheral connection, specifically a vehicle-associated Bluetooth peripheral identified by its ID, and this context is used to retrieve and send a specific automatic reply message, it could potentially anticipate Claim 1. The specificity regarding "IEEE 802.15 standard Bluetooth peripheral device identification code" and its "analysis to determine vehicle association" would be important. It is unlikely to anticipate the explicit user interaction aspects of Claims 17 or 18.

21. US20130097270A1

• Full Citation: US20130097270A1, published 2013-04-18, assigned to Yagi Corp., titled "Conditional Auto-Responder."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-09-24, Publication: 2013-04-18
• Brief Description: Describes a conditional auto-responder system.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant for "auto-responder" and "conditional" operation. To anticipate Claim 1, the conditions must include detecting a vehicle-associated Bluetooth peripheral via its ID and selecting a specific automatic reply message from memory. The description in US11516643 about prior art being "suboptimal in that they do not allow users enough flexibility to program in a variety of different automatic response messages in advance" suggests this prior art might not cover the specific peripheral-linked, multiple-message selection. Unlikely to anticipate Claims 17 or 18.

22. US20130097269A1

• Full Citation: US20130097269A1, published 2013-04-18, assigned to Yagi Corp., titled "Context-Sensitive Auto-Responder."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-09-24, Publication: 2013-04-18
• Brief Description: Describes a context-sensitive auto-responder system.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant, similar to '270A1. "Context-Sensitive Auto-Responder" implies varying auto-responses based on context. The same questions apply as for '270A1 regarding the specificity of peripheral connection, vehicle association via Bluetooth ID, and specific message selection from memory for Claim 1, and the specific user interaction aspects of Claims 17/18.

23. US20130102336A1

• Full Citation: US20130102336A1, published 2013-04-25, assigned to Research In Motion Limited, titled "Automatic operation of a wireless device based on physical speed."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2006-10-25, Publication: 2013-04-25
• Brief Description: Describes automatic operation of a wireless device, triggered by its physical speed.
• Potential Anticipation: Relevant for detecting a driving context. However, Claim 1 of US11516643 is specific about Bluetooth peripheral identification code analysis and vehicle association based on that code. This patent focuses on speed detection rather than peripheral connections for context determination in the same way.

24. US20130157574A1

• Full Citation: US20130157574A1, published 2013-06-20, assigned to Dean A. Craine, titled "Driver Electronic Device Automatic Deactivation System and Method."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2011-12-14, Publication: 2013-06-20
• Brief Description: Describes a system and method to automatically deactivate electronic devices for drivers.
• Potential Anticipation: Relevant for preventing distracted driving. If deactivation involves sending an automatic reply message and the trigger mechanism (driving context detection) includes analyzing a Bluetooth peripheral ID for vehicle association as per Claim 1, it could be relevant. However, deactivation is distinct from sending a reply, and the specific peripheral ID analysis and message retrieval would need to be disclosed. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

25. US20130157629A1

• Full Citation: US20130157629A1, published 2013-06-20, assigned to Realnetworks, Inc., titled "Customizable media auto-reply systems and methods."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2011-12-14, Publication: 2013-06-20
• Brief Description: Describes customizable auto-reply systems and methods, potentially for various media.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant due to "Customizable media auto-reply systems". This implies storing and selecting different auto-replies. To anticipate Claim 1, it must disclose that the customization/selection is driven by the connection to a vehicle-associated Bluetooth peripheral identified by its ID. Without further details, it's hard to confirm the specific trigger and determination. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

26. US20130165171A1

• Full Citation: US20130165171A1, published 2013-06-27, assigned to Motorola Solutions, Inc., titled "Method and apparatus for providing session initiator privilege, priority and presence notification for push-to-talk chat group communications."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2011-12-21, Publication: 2013-06-27
• Brief Description: Deals with managing communications in push-to-talk chat groups, including presence notification.
• Potential Anticipation: Not directly relevant to peripheral-specific automatic reply messages for general incoming cellular messages. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

27. US20130303106A1

• Full Citation: US20130303106A1, published 2013-11-14, assigned to Wavemarket, Inc., titled "Auto responder."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2012-05-13, Publication: 2013-11-14
• Brief Description: Describes an auto responder system.
• Potential Anticipation: Relevant as a general "auto responder." However, it must incorporate the specific peripheral-based context determination (Bluetooth ID for vehicle association) and explicit message selection from memory as claimed in US11516643, as well as the specific user interaction aspects of Claims 17/18, to fully anticipate. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

28. US20130324081A1

• Full Citation: US20130324081A1, published 2013-12-05, assigned to Ullas Gargi, titled "User proximity control of devices."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2012-03-12, Publication: 2013-12-05
• Brief Description: Describes methods for controlling devices based on user proximity.
• Potential Anticipation: Proximity control could involve detecting peripheral connections. However, Claim 1 is very specific about analyzing the Bluetooth ID to determine vehicle association for the purpose of sending a retrieved automatic reply message. This patent's title is too general to assume this specificity. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

29. US20130331034A1

• Full Citation: US20130331034A1, published 2013-12-12, assigned to [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.), titled "Supplemental Audio Signal Processing for a Bluetooth Audio Link."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2012-06-08, Publication: 2013-12-12
• Brief Description: Focuses on audio signal processing for Bluetooth audio links.
• Potential Anticipation: Not relevant to auto-reply messaging based on peripheral context. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

30. US20140057610A1

• Full Citation: US20140057610A1, published 2014-02-27, assigned to Julia Olincy, titled "Automatic response option mobile system for responding to incoming texts or calls or both."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2009-12-21, Publication: 2014-02-27
• Brief Description: Describes an automatic response system for mobile phones, offering options for responding to incoming texts or calls.
• Potential Anticipation: This is another highly relevant patent from Julia Olincy, with the same priority date as US20110151842A1 (and related to granted US8315597B2). It likely shares the same limitations as '151842A1 regarding the specific analysis of Bluetooth peripheral ID for vehicle association and the retrieval of specifically linked automatic reply messages from memory, which are key distinguishing features of US11516643. The publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but the priority date is before.

31. US20140066053A1

• Full Citation: US20140066053A1, published 2014-03-06, assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, titled "Automatically managing a wireless connection at a mobile device."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2012-09-05, Publication: 2014-03-06
• Brief Description: Describes automatically managing wireless connections at a mobile device, potentially in a vehicle context.
• Potential Anticipation: Relevant for connection management, especially from GM, suggesting a vehicle context. If "managing a wireless connection" involves triggering an auto-reply based on the type of connected vehicle peripheral (identified by its Bluetooth ID), it could be relevant to Claim 1. However, the explicit elements of automatic reply selection and sending, based on analysis of the ID code to determine vehicle association and retrieval of a specific message, need to be present. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

32. US8832204B1

• Full Citation: US8832204B1, published 2014-09-09, assigned to Sprint Communication Company L.P., titled "Text message spam solutions."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2009-09-24, Publication: 2014-09-09
• Brief Description: Describes solutions for text message spam.
• Potential Anticipation: Not directly relevant to peripheral-specific automatic reply selection. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

33. US20140274171A1

• Full Citation: US20140274171A1, published 2014-09-18, assigned to Cellco Partnership D/B/A Verizon Wireless, titled "Identifying and blocking mobile messaging service spam."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2013-03-15, Publication: 2014-09-18
• Brief Description: Describes methods for identifying and blocking mobile messaging service spam.
• Potential Anticipation: Not directly relevant to automatic reply message content selection. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

34. US20140287786A1

• Full Citation: US20140287786A1, published 2014-09-25, assigned to Argela Yazilim ve Bilisim Teknolojileri San. ve Tic. A.S., titled "Internet-based short message retrieval and display system."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2013-03-22, Publication: 2014-09-25
• Brief Description: Describes an internet-based system for retrieving and displaying short messages.
• Potential Anticipation: Not directly relevant to automatic reply based on peripheral context. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

35. US8989820B2

• Full Citation: US8989820B2, published 2015-03-24, assigned to Ipcomm, titled "Method for suspending transmission and reception of text messages and phone calls."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2010-11-10, Publication: 2015-03-24
• Brief Description: Describes a method for suspending the transmission and reception of text messages and phone calls.
• Potential Anticipation: Relevant for distracted driving scenarios, as suspending messages is a way of managing communications. However, it needs to explicitly disclose triggering the sending of an automatic reply message and the specific peripheral-based context determination (Bluetooth ID for vehicle association) as claimed in US11516643. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

36. US9015099B2

• Full Citation: US9015099B2, published 2015-04-21, assigned to Sri International, titled "Method, system and device for inferring a mobile user's current context and proactively providing assistance."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2012-08-14, Publication: 2015-04-21
• Brief Description: Describes inferring a mobile user's current context and providing proactive assistance.
• Potential Anticipation: Highly relevant. "Inferring a mobile user's current context" is central to US11516643's invention, especially detecting a driving context via peripheral connection. If this context includes vehicle presence determined via Bluetooth ID analysis and the "proactive assistance" involves sending an automatic reply message retrieved from memory, it could potentially anticipate Claim 1. The novelty of US11516643 lies in the specifics of the Bluetooth peripheral ID analysis and its direct link to selecting different specific messages. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

37. US20150271110A1

• Full Citation: US20150271110A1, published 2015-09-24, assigned to [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.), titled "Automated status based connection handling."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2014-03-21, Publication: 2015-09-24
• Brief Description: Describes automated handling of connections based on device status.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent's priority date (2014-03-21) is after US11516643's priority date (2013-05-18). Therefore, this patent cannot anticipate US11516643 under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

38. US9942385B2

• Full Citation: US9942385B2, published 2018-04-10, assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, titled "System and method for preventing and/or limiting use of a mobile device."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2011-08-04, Publication: 2018-04-10
• Brief Description: Describes a system and method for preventing or limiting the use of a mobile device, potentially for safety reasons like distracted driving.
• Potential Anticipation: Similar to deactivation patents. If "limiting use" includes sending an automatic reply message and the trigger mechanism matches Claim 1's specific peripheral-based context determination (Bluetooth ID for vehicle association) and retrieval of a specific message, it could be relevant. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

39. US10341421B2

• Full Citation: US10341421B2, published 2019-07-02, assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., titled "On-device social grouping for automated responses."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2013-05-10, Publication: 2019-07-02
• Brief Description: Describes automated responses based on social grouping, meaning contact-specific responses.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent's priority date (2013-05-10) is before US11516643's priority date (2013-05-18), making it valid prior art. It is highly relevant for the contact-specific aspect of automated responses, which US11516643 also discusses (FIG. 6, 7) and describes as interacting with peripheral-specific responses. However, Claim 1 of US11516643 specifically focuses on peripheral-driven, vehicle-associated context. For this patent to anticipate Claim 1, it would need to disclose not just social grouping for auto-responses, but also the detection of a Bluetooth peripheral device identification code, its analysis to determine vehicle association, and the selection of a specific automatic reply message based on that peripheral connection. The title alone suggests a focus on "social grouping" rather than explicit peripheral connection context for message selection. It is unlikely to anticipate Claims 1, 17, or 18 fully based on the title, as the core peripheral-specific context for selecting different messages is not directly addressed.

40. US10869157B2

• Full Citation: US10869157B2, published 2020-12-15, assigned to Joseph Schuman, titled "Systems and methods for users to receive and/or reply to information affiliated with communication attempts while remaining substantially disconnected from mobile electronic device(s) and/or networks."
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority: 2011-10-04, Publication: 2020-12-15
• Brief Description: Describes systems and methods for users to manage communications (receive/reply) while being largely disconnected.
• Potential Anticipation: This describes "replying to information affiliated with communication attempts," which could be auto-reply. The "remaining substantially disconnected" part could imply auto-reply when the user is unavailable. However, it needs to disclose the specific peripheral-specific trigger (Bluetooth ID, vehicle association) and the selection of a specific reply message from memory as per Claim 1. (Note: Publication date is after US11516643's priority date, but priority date is before).

---

Most Relevant Prior Art for US11516643

Based on the titles and priority dates, the most relevant prior art references for US Patent 11,516,643 are those that explicitly address automatic responses, particularly in a context of mobile device use while driving, and those that suggest context-aware message handling. The key differentiating factors for US11516643's independent claims are:

1. The specific use of a Bluetooth peripheral device identification code.
2. The analysis of that ID code to determine vehicle association.
3. The ability to select and send a retrieved (specific) automatic reply message from memory based on that determination.
4. For Claim 17, the additional step of requesting and receiving user input from a touch screen before sending.
5. For Claim 18, the user's prior designation of a peripheral as vehicle-associated via a GUI.

While many prior art documents broadly discuss automatic responses or driver distraction, few explicitly combine all these elements.

The strongest candidates for disclosing elements relevant to the novelty of US11516643, particularly Claim 1, are:

• US20110151842A1 / US8315597B2 (Julia Olincy): "I am driving/busy" automatic response system for mobile phones

  • Reasoning: This directly addresses automatic responses when driving. It very likely detects a driving context (possibly via Bluetooth connection to a car, although the patent document for US11516643 implies it might not use the specific ID analysis for vehicle association to select varied messages, citing "suboptimal" flexibility in prior art). It potentially anticipates the core concept of sending an automated message when a driving context is detected. However, it is less likely to anticipate the specific peripheral ID analysis for determining vehicle association or the nuanced selection of different automated responses based on specific peripherals, as emphasized by US11516643. It is also unlikely to anticipate the specific user interaction requirements of Claims 17 or 18.

• US20120064924A1 (Alter App. LLC): "Reducing driver distraction due to mobile text messaging"

  • Reasoning: This patent explicitly targets driver distraction due to mobile text messaging, suggesting methods for managing messages in a driving context. Similar to Olincy's patent, it would need to specifically disclose the use of Bluetooth peripheral IDs, their analysis for vehicle association, and the selection of specific messages from memory to fully anticipate Claim 1.

• US8385975B2 (Qualcomm Incorporated): "Context-based messaging for wireless communication"

  • Reasoning: "Context-based messaging" is a broad term that could encompass using peripheral connections to determine context. If this context includes "vehicle association" derived from a Bluetooth peripheral ID, and leads to selecting and sending specific automatic replies, it would be highly anticipatory for Claim 1. The challenge for anticipation is whether the "context" definition and messaging mechanism are as specific as claimed in US11516643, particularly regarding the analysis of the IEEE 802.15 standard Bluetooth peripheral device identification code to determine vehicle association and the retrieval of a specific automatic reply message.

• US20130097270A1 (Yagi Corp.): "Conditional Auto-Responder" and US20130097269A1 (Yagi Corp.): "Context-Sensitive Auto-Responder"

  • Reasoning: These patents explicitly refer to auto-responders that operate under "conditions" or are "context-sensitive". This is highly relevant to the general mechanism of US11516643. Full anticipation of Claim 1 would depend on whether their "conditions" or "context" specifically include the detection and analysis of a Bluetooth peripheral ID for vehicle association and the subsequent retrieval of a specific automatic reply message. US11516643's description of prior art's limitations on "flexibility to program in a variety of different automatic response messages in advance" suggests these might not cover the specific message selection aspect.

• US9015099B2 (Sri International): "Method, system and device for inferring a mobile user's current context and proactively providing assistance"

  • Reasoning: "Inferring a mobile user's current context" is directly relevant to detecting situations like driving. If this context inference relies on the specific Bluetooth peripheral ID analysis for vehicle association and the "proactive assistance" involves sending a retrieved automatic reply message, it could potentially anticipate Claim 1.

For Claims 17 and 18, which add specific user interaction elements (user input before sending for Claim 17, and user designation of vehicle association for Claim 18), it is less likely that any of the titles alone would suggest such detailed disclosures. These elements appear to be more specific to US11516643.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 11,516,643 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis assesses the obviousness of US Patent 11,516,643, titled "Connection specific selection of automated response messages," based on combinations of prior art references cited within the patent document itself. The analysis will focus on independent claims 1, 17, and 18. A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) in 2013 (the earliest priority date for US11516643 is May 18, 2013) would have found the claimed invention as a whole obvious based on the following combinations.

The problem addressed by US11516643, as stated in its background, is the suboptimal nature of prior art automatic answering or response systems, particularly their lack of flexibility in programming diverse automatic response messages and their limited intelligence in determining when different responses should be used, especially in contexts like distracted driving. This acknowledged deficiency provides a strong motivation for a POSITA to combine existing technologies to enhance context-aware automated messaging.

Obviousness of Claim 1

Claim 1 describes a handheld computerized device configured to:

• receive a Bluetooth peripheral device identification code;
• analyze the code to determine the peripheral is vehicle-associated; and
• send a stored automatic reply to incoming cellular messages while the vehicle-associated peripheral is connected.

Combination: US20110151842A1 (Olincy) in view of US20110295458A1 (Verizon) and general knowledge of Bluetooth technology.

Reasoning:

1. Core Auto-Response: Olincy (US20110151842A1) explicitly teaches a mobile phone system that provides an automatic "I am driving/busy" response to incoming calls or text messages. This reference satisfies the elements of a handheld computerized device (mobile phone), processor, memory, cellular transceiver, reply software, storing at least one automatic reply message, and sending an automatic reply to incoming cellular network messages.
2. Vehicle Association Determination: Verizon (US20110295458A1) describes systems and methods for selectively disabling features of a mobile access device when the device is "associated with a vehicle." A POSITA would readily understand that determining "association with a vehicle" could be achieved by detecting and identifying connections to vehicle-specific peripherals. Given the widespread use of Bluetooth in vehicles for hands-free communication, it would be a straightforward and obvious implementation for a POSITA to use the identification code of a connected Bluetooth peripheral to determine if the mobile device is associated with a vehicle.
3. Motivation for Combination: The motivation for a POSITA to combine Olincy's driving-specific auto-response system with Verizon's method of detecting vehicle association is clear: to create a more automatic and robust system for activating the "driving" auto-response. By employing a vehicle's Bluetooth system (as a common form of vehicle association in 2013) as the trigger for Olincy's auto-reply, the system would require less manual intervention, thereby directly addressing the critical issue of distracted driving. Analyzing the Bluetooth peripheral identification code to confirm its vehicle association would be a routine design choice to enhance the accuracy of such an automated system.

Obviousness of Claim 17

Claim 17 builds upon the elements of Claim 1, adding the feature that the handheld computerized device is configured to request and receive user input from a touch-sensitive display screen before sending the automatic reply message.

Combination: The combination used for Claim 1 (Olincy + Verizon + General Knowledge of Bluetooth) further in view of general knowledge of user interface design and confirmation prompts.

Reasoning:

1. Core System: As established for Claim 1, the combination of Olincy (US20110151842A1) and Verizon (US20110295458A1) renders the underlying auto-response system based on vehicle-associated Bluetooth connection obvious.
2. User Confirmation: The additional feature of requesting user input via a touch-sensitive display screen before sending an automatic reply is a fundamental and well-known principle in user interface design. For automated actions, especially those involving communication, providing a confirmation step allows users to prevent unintended messages, correct misidentified contexts, or exercise greater control over the system. Thomas (US20050124324A1) discusses adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices, which broadly encompasses user control over device functionality.
3. Motivation for Combination: A POSITA, when designing or improving an automated response system for a handheld device with a touch screen, would be motivated to include such a confirmation step. This is a routine engineering choice aimed at enhancing user experience, preventing errors, and providing a safety net for automated actions. Therefore, incorporating a pre-send user input confirmation via a touch-sensitive display into the existing auto-reply system would have been an obvious design modification to the combination of Olincy and Verizon.

Obviousness of Claim 18

Claim 18 builds upon the elements of Claim 1, adding that the Bluetooth peripheral device has been previously designated by a user as a vehicle-associated Bluetooth peripheral device via user input from a graphical user interface.

Combination: The combination used for Claim 1 (Olincy + Verizon + General Knowledge of Bluetooth) further in view of US20130097269A1 (Yagi) and general knowledge of user configuration for context-aware systems.

Reasoning:

1. Core System: As established for Claim 1, the combination of Olincy (US20110151842A1) and Verizon (US20110295458A1) renders the underlying auto-response system based on vehicle-associated Bluetooth connection obvious.
2. User Designation via GUI: Claim 18 introduces the concept of a user explicitly designating a Bluetooth peripheral as "vehicle associated" using a graphical user interface (GUI). Yagi (US20130097269A1) teaches a "Context-Sensitive Auto-Responder." For any context-sensitive system to be practical and adaptable, it requires user input to define or refine the contexts and associated actions.
3. Motivation for Combination: A POSITA would be motivated to provide a user interface for configuring context-sensitive auto-responders. Allowing users to designate which specific Bluetooth peripherals correspond to a "vehicle associated" context via a GUI offers several benefits:
   • Personalization and Accuracy: It enables individual users to define their specific car's Bluetooth device(s), improving the accuracy of the "driving" context detection for their unique setup.
   • Flexibility: It accommodates various vehicle Bluetooth systems (built-in, aftermarket, headsets kept in the car) and allows the system to adapt to new devices or changes in user behavior.
   • User Control: It grants the user direct control over how the system interprets peripheral connections for automated responses.
     Integrating such a user designation feature via a GUI into the combined Olincy/Verizon system is a logical and obvious step for a POSITA aiming to develop a more flexible, accurate, and user-friendly context-sensitive auto-response system, consistent with the teachings of Yagi's context-sensitive auto-responder.

To determine the patent term adjustments (PTA), patent term extensions (PTE), continuation/divisional applications, related family members, and the projected expiration date for US patent 11,516,643, a direct search of the USPTO database is required.

Based on the patent text itself and general USPTO rules:

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA):
The USPTO automatically calculates Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) to compensate for certain delays caused by the USPTO during the patent prosecution process. This adjustment is added to the 20-year term of the patent. The official PTA calculation is included in the Issue Notification Letter and is indicated on the patent. Without access to the official USPTO patent record for US11516643 (such as the issue notification or Patent Center details), the specific PTA amount cannot be determined.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE):
Patent Term Extension (PTE) is available for patents claiming products (like human drugs, medical devices, food additives, or animal drugs) that require regulatory approval before commercial marketing or use. PTE aims to restore some of the patent term lost during this regulatory review period, but generally cannot exceed five years and the total patent term including restoration cannot exceed 14 years following marketing approval. Given the subject matter of US11516643, which is related to software for automated message responses in computerized devices, it is highly unlikely to be eligible for a Patent Term Extension under 35 U.S.C. § 156, as it does not appear to cover a product requiring premarket government approval from a regulatory agency like the FDA.

Continuation Applications, Divisional Applications, and Related Family Members:
US Patent 11,516,643 lists several related applications under "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS" in its description:

• This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/950,887, filed Apr. 11, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,841,248.
• Application Ser. No. 15/950,887 was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/462,874, filed Mar. 19, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,979,826.
• Application Ser. No. 15/462,874 was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/249,372, filed Aug. 27, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,602,988.
• Application Ser. No. 15/249,372 was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/273,748, filed May 9, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,432,499.
• Application Ser. No. 14/273,748 claimed the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent 61/825,017, filed May 18, 2013.

Therefore, US11516643 is part of a patent family that includes multiple continuation-in-part applications. The earliest priority date for US11516643 is May 18, 2013, from provisional patent 61/825,017.

Projected Expiration Date:
For utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally expires 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed, or if the application claims benefit of an earlier filed application under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c), then 20 years from the filing date of the earliest such application. This 20-year term can be adjusted by any Patent Term Adjustments (PTA).

Given that US11516643 is a utility patent (indicated by the lack of a "D" or "PP" prefix in its number) and claims priority back to a provisional application filed on May 18, 2013, the base patent term would typically be 20 years from this earliest priority date.

• Earliest Priority Date: May 18, 2013
• Base Expiration Date (20 years from priority): May 18, 2033

However, the Google Patents information for US11516643 lists an "Anticipated expiration" date of 2034-05-09. This discrepancy suggests that Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) has been applied to the patent. The difference between May 18, 2033, and May 9, 2034, is approximately 11 months and 21 days. This indicates a PTA of approximately 356 days. The official PTA would be determined by the USPTO at the time of issuance and is typically indicated on the patent itself or in its prosecution history.

Therefore, the projected expiration date, including the anticipated PTA, is May 9, 2034.