US 11681614

US patent 11681614, titled "Storage device with subdivisions, subdivision query, and write operations," was issued to Radian Memory Systems LLC. The inventors are Andrey V. Kuzmin and James G. Wayda. The patent was filed on September 12, 2022, and issued on June 20, 2023.

Abstract:
A memory controller maintains information for each of several physical subdivisions of memory, relating to a usage parameter specific to that subdivision. This memory controller is configured to respond to queries from a host for information derived from this maintained data or for the memory's status based on this data. In one embodiment, after receiving this information, the host then issues a write command to the memory controller, specifically indicating a physical address for the write operation.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (Memory Controller): This claim describes a memory controller that manages memory. It includes an interface for communication with a host and control logic. This control logic is designed to store data about how each physical section of the memory is being used (a "subdivision-specific usage parameter"). It can respond to the host's requests for information derived from this usage data. Crucially, it receives write commands from the host where the host has already determined and specified the exact physical location for the data to be written.

• Independent Claim 7 (System): This claim describes a memory management system comprising both a host and a memory controller. The host, equipped with an API, is configured to ask the memory controller for information about a physical subdivision of memory. Based on the information received from the memory controller, the host then issues a write command. This write command explicitly includes the physical address for the write operation, as assigned by the host, where this address corresponds to a physical subdivision of the memory.

• Independent Claim 14 (Method by Memory Controller): This claim outlines a method performed by a memory controller for managing memory. The method involves the controller storing usage information for each physical subdivision of the memory. It then responds to query commands from a host by providing derived information. Finally, it receives a write command from the host that specifies the physical address for the write operation, with this physical address having been assigned by the host.

• Independent Claim 20 (Method by Host): This claim describes a method performed by a host for managing memory. The method includes the host sending a query command to a memory controller to obtain information about a physical subdivision of memory. After receiving this information, the host issues a write command to the memory controller. This write command specifies the physical address for the write operation, which is assigned by the host and refers to the address of the physical subdivision of memory.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 116816614 did not yield specific docket entries. The patent's Google Patents page indicates "Family has litigation," including PTAB case IPR2025-01289 (settled) and a US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court, but these are not specific CAFC 2026 dockets for the patent itself.

US Patent 11681614 is involved in the following known litigation:

1. Case: IPR2025-01289

   • Plaintiff(s): Petitioner: Unified Patents
   • Defendant(s): (Patent Owner not explicitly named in snippet, but patent is assigned to Radian Memory Systems LLC)
   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01289
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the snippet, but the IPR case number suggests it was filed in 2025.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Settlement

2. Case: 2:24-cv-01073

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly named in the snippet, but Radian Memory Systems LLC is the current assignee of the patent.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly named in the snippet.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
   • Case Number: 2:24-cv-01073
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the snippet, but the case number suggests it was filed in 2024.
   • Outcome or Current Status: Case filed.

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 11681614. The proceeding, IPR2025-01289, was terminated due to settlement. This means the patent's claims have not been challenged to a final written decision at the PTAB, and therefore, no claims have been invalidated or sustained by the Board. The defensive posture remains largely unchanged by this proceeding, as the merits of the claims were not fully adjudicated.

IPR2025-01289 — [[Samsung Electronics America, Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20America%2C%20Inc.) et al.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20America%2C%20Inc.%20et%20al.) v. Radian Memory Systems LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-07-14
• Status: Terminated-Settled – The proceeding concluded due to a settlement between the parties.
• Judge panel: Not publicly available at this stage of termination.
• Petition grounds: Not publicly available due to early settlement.
• Institution decision: Not applicable, as the proceeding was terminated prior to an institution decision.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not issued, as the proceeding was terminated due to settlement.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated on 2026-01-09 due to a settlement between Samsung Electronics America, Inc. et al. and Radian Memory Systems LLC. The specific terms of the settlement are confidential.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision was issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding does not provide a definitive judgment on the patentability of the claims of US11681614. While the petitioner initially challenged the patent, the settlement means the claims were not tested through to a final decision. Therefore, a defendant facing assertion of this patent today would still need to conduct their own analysis of claim validity and potential prior art.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims of US patent 11681614 are UNTESTED by a Final Written Decision at the PTAB. The single IPR proceeding, IPR2025-01289, was terminated due to a settlement, meaning the patent claims were not adjudicated for patentability. This leaves the full scope of the patent claims intact from a PTAB perspective.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, since no institution decision was reached and no Final Written Decision was issued, the estoppel provisions of § 315(e)(2) are unlikely to apply to Samsung Electronics America, Inc. et al. or its privies with respect to grounds that "were raised or reasonably could have been raised." However, the exact terms of the settlement agreement, which are confidential, could include specific covenants not to challenge the patent further. For a new defendant being asserted against, all prior-art grounds remain theoretically available, as there has been no PTAB finding on the merits of the patent's claims.

The termination by settlement suggests that the parties reached a business resolution rather than seeing the IPR through to a final decision on patentability. The petitioner was "Samsung Electronics America, Inc. et al." and the patent owner is "Radian Memory Systems LLC". There is no public indication of the same petitioner filing multiple IPRs on this patent or any aggressive pursuit of PTAB appeals by the patent owner from this single, terminated proceeding. The involvement of Samsung indicates a significant entity was interested in challenging the patent.

Recommended next steps

Since there are no active PTAB proceedings and no claims have been invalidated by the PTAB, a defendant should proceed with a thorough prior art search and invalidity analysis if facing assertion of US patent 11681614. The absence of a Final Written Decision means the patent's claims have not been "hardened" by surviving an IPR.

Inventors

• Andrey V. Kuzmin (Radian Memory Systems LLC)
• James G. Wayda (Radian Memory Systems LLC)

No unusual patterns observed, based on the provided data.

Original assignee

Radian Memory Systems LLC.
Radian Memory Systems LLC is an operating company that offers flash-based storage solutions. They develop and market solid-state drives (SSDs) and related software for data centers and enterprise storage. Their current status is operating.

Assignment timeline

No post-issuance assignments recorded at the USPTO Assignment Center for US11681614B1 as of the current date. The Google Patents legal events indicate reassignments but these appear to be internal corporate name changes or similar actions, not third-party assignments requiring separate recording at the USPTO.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11681614
    2013 : Priority date
    2022 : Application filed by Radian Memory Systems LLC
    2023 : Granted to Radian Memory Systems LLC
    2023 : Assigned to Radian Memory Systems, LLC
    2023 : Assigned to Radian Memory Systems, Inc
    2024 : Assigned to RADIAN MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The assignees, though showing minor name variations, consistently refer to "Radian Memory Systems", which is an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. None of the listed assignees match known NPE lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. No correspondent information is available for the internal reassignments listed in Google Patents, and no assignments are recorded at the USPTO Assignment Center.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. The listed reassignments are spaced out over several months and appear to be internal organizational changes rather than rapid transfers between distinct entities.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. While litigation is noted, the provided information does not detail the exact timing of the first infringement suit in relation to any assignments.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy filings for Radian Memory Systems LLC.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence suggests a transfer to an NPE asserting on behalf of an operating company.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is currently held by Radian Memory Systems LLC, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data. While Google Patents indicates some reassignments, these appear to be internal corporate name changes or reorganizations within Radian Memory Systems, LLC, rather than transfers to third-party entities. Without recorded assignments at the USPTO Assignment Center, it is not possible to determine if the patent has been transferred to an NPE or is being asserted by an operating company.

USPTO Assignment Center search for US11681614

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11681614, I will review the citations listed in the patent document itself. The USPTO provides tools for searching patents and their citations.

Based on the provided patent text, US11681614B1 claims priority from two earlier US patent applications:

1. US13/767,723

   • Full Citation: US9652376B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from 2013-02-14. US9652376B2 was granted on May 16, 2017.
   • Brief Description: US9652376B2 is titled "Storage device with subdivisions, subdivision query, and write operations," same as US11681614B1. This suggests it covers very similar subject matter. The patent discusses a memory controller that maintains usage information for physical subdivisions of memory and responds to host queries, with the host then issuing write commands specifying physical addresses.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given the identical title and priority claim, US9652376B2 likely anticipates many, if not all, of the claims in US11681614B1, especially if the claims in 11681614B1 do not introduce novel features beyond what was disclosed in 9652376B2. It would serve as direct prior art for all claims that do not present a patentable distinction.

2. US14/047,193

   • Full Citation: US9229854B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Priority claimed from 2013-10-07. US9229854B1 was granted on January 5, 2016.
   • Brief Description: US9229854B1 is titled "Managing flash memory with host-provided physical address targets and memory controller data access functions." This patent also focuses on memory management where a host provides physical addresses for write operations. It discusses a memory controller that performs low-level data access functions and assists the host with memory management tasks by providing information about the physical memory.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US9229854B1, with its focus on host-provided physical addresses and cooperative memory controller functions, appears to directly anticipate the core inventive concepts of US11681614B1, particularly Independent Claims 1, 7, 14, and 20, which revolve around the host specifying physical addresses for write operations after querying the memory controller for subdivision-specific usage information.

It is important to note that since US11681614B1 claims priority from these two earlier patents, the examination process for US11681614B1 would have considered these as its own lineage, meaning the claims of 11681614B1 should ideally be distinct enough to overcome these earlier disclosures. However, for a 35 U.S.C. § 102 analysis, these patents represent highly relevant prior art that would likely anticipate claims in 11681614B1 if those claims are not sufficiently novel over what was previously patented by the same assignee and inventors.

I cannot perform an obviousness analysis for US patent 11681614 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 because the provided information, including the "Prior Art section" and the full patent text, does not contain the detailed teachings or full text of the prior art references cited for priority (US9652376B2 and US9229854B1) or any other specific prior art.

To conduct an obviousness analysis, it is necessary to:

1. Understand the scope and elements of the claims of US patent 11681614.
2. Understand the teachings of relevant prior art references.
3. Determine if a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) would have been motivated to combine these teachings to arrive at the claimed invention, with a reasonable expectation of success.

While the "Prior art keywords" (host, memory controller, memory, data, zone) and priority dates are listed, this is insufficient to determine the specific disclosures of the cited patents and thus, I cannot identify combinations of references or explain the motivation to combine them. Without the content of the prior art, any analysis of obviousness would be speculative.