US 11770756

US patent 11770756, titled "Mobile device mode enablement/disablement responsive to sensing a physiological parameter," was issued on September 26, 2023, to assignee Telcom Ventures LLC. The inventors are Peter D. Karabinis and Rajendra Singh. The application was filed on March 7, 2022.

The abstract describes a method where a device senses a physiological parameter of its user, determines if the sensed parameter satisfies a criterion, and, if so, enables a number of device functions while disabling another function. The sensed parameter can include velocity, acceleration, time-of-day, humidity, temperature, height, brightness, darkness, blood pressure, heart rate, blood content, physiological state, and/or psychological state, and the device is a smartphone.

Here is a plain-language overview of each independent claim:

• Claim 1 (Method of Operating a Device): This claim describes a method for a smartphone to manage its functions. The smartphone uses its built-in sensors to measure a parameter related to the device itself, its surroundings, or its user (e.g., velocity, acceleration, time-of-day, humidity, temperature, height, light levels, blood pressure, heart rate, blood content, physiological state, or psychological state). If the measured value of this parameter meets a specific condition, the smartphone will then activate several of its functions and deactivate one of its functions.
• Claim 6 (Device Configuration): This claim describes a smartphone designed to perform the operations outlined in Claim 1. It states that the smartphone is configured to sense a parameter using a device-based sensor, determine its value, and, if the value satisfies a threshold, enable multiple functions and disable one function. The claim specifies the same list of parameters as Claim 1.
• Claim 11 (Method of Operating a Wireless Device with Financial Transaction): This claim details a method for a wireless device (smartphone) that builds upon the function enablement logic of Claim 1 by incorporating a financial transaction. The smartphone senses a parameter (from the same list as Claim 1) and determines if its value meets a threshold. If it does, the device enables multiple functions and disables one. Additionally, the wireless device requests authorization from a second device to enable a financial transaction function. Upon receiving this authorization and satisfying a proximity condition to an entity (e.g., a toll booth or store checkout), the smartphone uses the enabled financial transaction function to pay for a product.
• Claim 14 (Wireless Device Configuration with Financial Transaction): This claim describes a wireless device (smartphone) configured to carry out the method described in Claim 11. It covers the sensing of a parameter, determination against a criterion, enabling/disabling functions, requesting and receiving authorization for a financial transaction function from a second device, and then using that financial transaction function to pay for a product when proximity to an entity and the parameter criterion are met. The parameters are the same as in the other claims.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search:

• USPTO Database: The patent US11770756B2 is currently "Active" and is estimated to expire on 2028-11-23. There are several related applications, including continuations, claiming priority from the same priority date of 2008-11-04.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: As of April 26, 2026, the provided patent information indicates several litigation activities, but none are directly listed as CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets in 2026.
  • Three PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) cases were filed in 2025: IPR2025-01409 (Not Instituted - Procedural), IPR2025-01236 (Procedural Termination), and IPR2025-00977 (Not Instituted - Procedural). These are not CAFC cases but administrative proceedings at the USPTO.
  • US district court cases have been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:24-cv-00691), Florida Southern District Court (case 1:24-cv-23837), and California Northern District Court (case 5:25-cv-05041). These are also not CAFC cases.
  • A "First worldwide family litigation filed" is noted, with a link to Darts-ip. Reviewing the Darts-ip link would be needed to determine specific court details, but it does not explicitly mention CAFC 2026 dockets.

Based on the provided information, there is no direct authoritative record within the patent document that confirms an active CAFC 2026 docket specifically for US11770756. While district court cases and PTAB proceedings are noted, these are distinct from CAFC appeals.US patent 11770756, titled "Mobile device mode enablement/disablement responsive to sensing a physiological parameter," was issued on September 26, 2023, to assignee Telcom Ventures LLC. The inventors are Peter D. Karabinis and Rajendra Singh. The application was filed on March 7, 2022.

The abstract describes a method where a device senses a physiological parameter of its user, determines if the sensed parameter satisfies a criterion, and, if so, enables a number of device functions while disabling another function. The sensed parameter can include velocity, acceleration, time-of-day, humidity, temperature, height, brightness, darkness, blood pressure, heart rate, blood content, physiological state, and/or psychological state, and the device is a smartphone.

Here is a plain-language overview of each independent claim:

• Claim 1 (Method of Operating a Device): This claim describes a method for a smartphone to manage its functions. The smartphone uses its built-in sensors to measure a parameter related to the device itself, its surroundings, or its user (e.g., velocity, acceleration, time-of-day, humidity, temperature, height, light levels, blood pressure, heart rate, blood content, physiological state, or psychological state). If the measured value of this parameter meets a specific condition, the smartphone will then activate several of its functions and deactivate one of its functions.
• Claim 6 (Device Configuration): This claim describes a smartphone designed to perform the operations outlined in Claim 1. It states that the smartphone is configured to sense a parameter using a device-based sensor, determine its value, and, if the value satisfies a threshold, enable multiple functions and disable one function. The claim specifies the same list of parameters as Claim 1.
• Claim 11 (Method of Operating a Wireless Device with Financial Transaction): This claim details a method for a wireless device (smartphone) that builds upon the function enablement logic of Claim 1 by incorporating a financial transaction. The smartphone senses a parameter (from the same list as Claim 1) and determines if its value meets a threshold. If it does, the device enables multiple functions and disables one. Additionally, the wireless device requests authorization from a second device to enable a financial transaction function. Upon receiving this authorization and satisfying a proximity condition to an entity (e.g., a toll booth or store checkout), the smartphone uses the enabled financial transaction function to pay for a product.
• Claim 14 (Wireless Device Configuration with Financial Transaction): This claim describes a wireless device (smartphone) configured to carry out the method described in Claim 11. It covers the sensing of a parameter, determination against a criterion, enabling/disabling functions, requesting and receiving authorization for a financial transaction function from a second device, and then using that financial transaction function to pay for a product when proximity to an entity and the parameter criterion are met. The parameters are the same as in the other claims.

USPTO and CAFC Docket Search:

• USPTO Database: The patent US11770756B2 is currently "Active" and is estimated to expire on November 23, 2028. There are several related applications, including continuations, claiming priority from the same priority date of November 4, 2008.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: As of April 26, 2026, the provided patent information indicates several litigation activities, but no direct CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets are listed specifically for 2026.
  • Three PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) cases were filed in 2025: IPR2025-01409 (Not Instituted - Procedural), IPR2025-01236 (Procedural Termination), and IPR2025-00977 (Not Instituted - Procedural).
  • US district court cases have been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:24-cv-00691), Florida Southern District Court (case 1:24-cv-23837), and California Northern District Court (case 5:25-cv-05041).
    While litigation is ongoing in district courts and PTAB, there is no authoritative information provided that confirms any active cases specifically within the CAFC dockets for 2026 related to US11770756.