US 12245325

Here is a concise summary of US patent 12245325:

US Patent: 12245325

• Title: Method and system for using a situational network
• Assignee: Sitnet LLC
• Inventors: Thomas Cona, Patrick T. Igoe, Leonid Kravets, Edward A. Ehrlacher
• Filing Date: 2024-09-12
• Issue Date: 2025-03-04
• Abstract: A network system for accessing situation-related information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a network connection for receiving an indication of an occurrence of a situation; a situational network formed based on the occurrence of the situation, the situational network including a plurality of participant devices determined to be geographically proximate to the situation, each of the participant devices corresponding to a participant in the situational network; a second network connection for presenting a roll call query to each of the plurality of participant devices soliciting a reply related to a status of the participant; a plurality of network connections established for receiving a status response from the participant devices; and a database for aggregating the status responses from responsive participants into a roll call list.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The full text of the claims for US12245325 is not explicitly included in the provided patent snippet. However, based on the abstract and detailed description, the independent claims would likely cover:

• Claim 1 (System Claim - interpreted): An independent system claim would generally describe a network system configured to manage information related to a situation. This system would include components such as:

  • A network connection to receive notification of a situation's occurrence.
  • A "situational network" (SitNet) that forms in response to this situation, comprising multiple participant devices geographically near the situation.
  • A mechanism to send a "roll call query" to these participant devices, asking for their status.
  • Network connections to receive status responses from these devices.
  • A database to collect and aggregate these status responses into a "roll call list."

• Additional Independent Claims (Method Claim - interpreted): Depending on the patent structure, there could also be an independent method claim outlining the steps performed by such a system, which would involve:

  • Receiving an indication of a situation.
  • Forming a situational network with geographically proximate participant devices.
  • Presenting a roll call query to these devices.
  • Receiving status responses from the devices.
  • Aggregating these responses into a roll call list.

(Uncertainty Note: The specific wording and number of independent claims are interpreted based on the abstract and detailed description, as the "Claims" section was not directly available in the provided authoritative text.)

USPTO Database and CAFC 2026 Dockets:

• USPTO: General search tools like Patent Public Search and Patent Center are available to find patent information. The metadata provided directly in the patent information confirms its status as granted US12245325B2, filed on 2024-09-12 and issued on 2025-03-04.
• CAFC 2026 Dockets: While general information on accessing case records from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is available, direct search results for "CAFC 2026 dockets 12245325" were not returned. However, the Google Patents information provided with the patent text explicitly notes that the patent family has litigation, including:
  • A PTAB case IPR2026-00101 which is currently pending.
  • A US case filed in New York Southern District Court (case/1:25-cv-06185).
  • "First worldwide family litigation filed" [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]

Known litigation involving US patent 12245325 includes the following:

1. District Court Case:

   • Jurisdiction: New York Southern District Court
   • Case Number: 1:25-cv-06185
   • Filing Date: (Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet, but the case number implies 2025)
   • Plaintiff(s): (Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet)
   • Defendant(s): (Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet)
   • Outcome or Current Status: Litigation (active, based on Google Patents status).

2. PTAB Case (Inter Partes Review):

   • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
   • Case Number: IPR2026-00101
   • Filing Date: (Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet, but the case number implies 2026)
   • Plaintiff(s): (Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet; Unified Patents is often a petitioner in IPRs, but the snippet does not confirm for this specific case).
   • Defendant(s): (Not explicitly stated in the provided snippet)
   • Outcome or Current Status: Pending

Proceedings overview

One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US Patent 12245325, which currently holds a status of "Institution Denied." This means the patent has survived a challenge at the institution stage, giving it a stronger defensive posture as its claims remain untested by an IPR.

IPR2026-00101 — Meta Platforms, Inc. v. Sitnet LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-11-06
• Status: Institution Denied. The PTAB declined to institute trial on any challenged claims.
• Judge panel: Not publicly available from the provided data.
• Petition grounds: Information regarding specific claims challenged, prior art, and statutory basis (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. This information would typically be found in the institution decision itself.
• Institution decision: Denied — 2026-05-15. The PTAB denied institution of the IPR. The specific reasoning for the denial is not available in the provided structured data, but typically stems from the petitioner failing to demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on at least one challenged claim.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as institution was denied.
• Defensive value: The patent owner prevailed at the institution stage, meaning all claims remain intact and have not been tested or invalidated in this IPR. Any future IPR-based defense will need to present sufficiently different and compelling arguments to overcome this prior denial.

Strategic summary

All claims of US12245325 remain SUSTAINED as no trial was instituted in the sole IPR filed against it. This means the patent has not been narrowed through PTAB proceedings, and its claims have not been subject to a Final Written Decision on the merits.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, since IPR2026-00101 was denied institution, § 315(e)(1) estoppel (which applies to claims that are instituted and then determined to be unpatentable or patentable in a FWD) does not apply. However, a different form of estoppel may arise from the denial of institution itself. While not statutory under § 315(e)(2), the PTAB often applies discretionary denial under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a) based on Fintiv or other considerations, or simply finds that the petition failed to meet the threshold for institution (e.g., failed to show a reasonable likelihood of prevailing). If the denial was based on the merits of the prior art presented, Meta Platforms, Inc. (and its privies) would likely be precluded from bringing the same or substantially similar grounds in a future petition, under principles of res judicata or petitioner estoppel as developed by case law. The exact scope of available prior-art grounds for a new defendant would depend on the specific reasoning in the institution denial, which is not available in this summary.

The single IPR filing by Meta Platforms, Inc., resulting in an institution denial, signals that this patent has, so far, withstood an initial challenge. There is no pattern of multiple IPRs from the same petitioner or aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner indicated by the provided data.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, it is crucial to obtain and thoroughly review the Institution Decision for IPR2026-00101. This document, publicly available from the USPTO PTAB Decisions portal, will detail the PTAB's specific reasoning for denying institution. Understanding whether the denial was based on procedural grounds, claim construction, or the substantive merits of the prior art cited will inform the viability of any potential new IPR petition. Without this detailed reasoning, it is difficult to assess the exact vulnerability of the patent claims or the scope of estoppel for future petitioners.

Inventors

The named inventors for US Patent 12245325 are Thomas Cona, Patrick T. Igoe, Leonid Kravets, and Edward A. Ehrlacher. The patent does not explicitly state their employers at the time of filing. However, the initial assignment chain recorded around the filing date shows these inventors assigning their rights to "RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED" [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/[US12245325](/patent/US12245325)/en].

Original assignee

The patent states, "Application filed by Sitnet LLC" and lists "Sitnet LLC" as the "Current Assignee" and "Original Assignee" on Google Patents [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]. However, the detailed legal events indicate a series of assignments around the filing date. Specifically, the inventors assigned their rights to RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, which then underwent an entity conversion to RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, LLC, and subsequently assigned to SitNet LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]. Therefore, SitNet LLC is the applicant and the ultimate original assignee through this initial chain of title.

Regarding Sitnet LLC's product and business:
Sitnet LLC appears to be an IT and telecom services provider, offering computer sales and repair, network solutions, PBX phone systems, and network security. They are a certified reseller of 3CX phone systems and provide managed IT services. Their business focuses on small to medium-sized businesses in the Mercer/Bucks area, indicating they are an operating company that provides technology solutions.

The "RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED" (and its LLC form) appear to be a separate entity, potentially a UK-based waste management and recycling company (National Resource Consortium Ltd). The name similarity and the immediate transfer after filing suggest these entities might be related in a patent assertion context, or the patent record simply reflects a complex corporate structuring for the inventors' rights prior to reaching SitNet LLC, especially given the patent's focus on situational networks and not IT hardware/telecom.

Current Status: Sitnet LLC appears to be an active operating company. However, the patent family has litigation, with SitNet LLC filing complaints against Meta Platforms, Inc., regarding the Facebook Crisis Response feature and the Facebook Ad platform. This indicates that while Sitnet LLC is an operating company in the IT/telecom space, it is also actively asserting this patent family in litigation, possibly suggesting a licensing or assertion strategy for its intellectual property, which may or may not directly align with its primary IT services business.

Assignment timeline

The Google Patents "Legal Status" timeline provides the most detailed initial assignment information around the filing date, as specific USPTO Assignment Center reel/frame numbers for these early transfers are not directly linked in the provided snippet. I will present the timeline based on the Google Patents information, which acts as the authoritative source here for these initial assignments.

• 2024-09-12 (executed) / recorded 2024-09-12 — Application filed by Sitnet LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]

  • Conveyance: Application filing
  • Assignor: (Inventors to be implied, or directly filed by company)
  • Assignee: Sitnet LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified in provided data.
  • Context: Original filing of patent application.

• 2024-09-13 (executed) / recorded 2024-09-13 — Reel (not specified)

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: EHRLACHER, EDWARD A., KRAVETS, LEONID, IGOE, PATRICK T., CONA, THOMAS (Inventors) [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]
  • Assignee: RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]
  • Correspondent: Not specified in provided data.
  • Context: Transfer of inventor rights to an entity.

• 2024-09-13 (executed) / recorded 2024-09-13 — Reel (not specified)

  • Conveyance: Re-domestication and Entity Conversion
  • Assignor: RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]
  • Assignee: RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]
  • Correspondent: Not specified in provided data.
  • Context: Internal corporate restructuring/conversion.

• 2024-09-13 (executed) / recorded 2024-09-13 — Reel (not specified)

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]
  • Assignee: SitNet LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]
  • Correspondent: Not specified in provided data.
  • Context: Transfer to the named applicant/assignee.

• 2025-03-04 (Issued)

  • Conveyance: Grant
  • Assignor: USPTO
  • Assignee: Sitnet LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified in provided data.
  • Context: Patent issued to Sitnet LLC.

(Note: The provided Google Patents text directly states these assignments occurred on 2024-09-13, just one day after the patent application's filing date of 2024-09-12. No specific USPTO reel/frame numbers were provided for these initial assignments in the source text, so they are noted as "(not specified)". The search for additional assignments via the USPTO Assignment Search portal will be conducted for post-issuance assignments, but given the specificity from Google Patents for the pre-issuance chain, that information is prioritized.)

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12245325
    2024 : Filed by Sitnet LLC
         : Inventors assign to Resource Consortium Ltd
         : Resource Consortium Ltd converts to LLC
         : Resource Consortium LLC assigns to SitNet LLC
    2025 : Patent issued to Sitnet LLC
         : IPR2026-00101 filed
         : IPR institution denied
         : District court case filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The immediate assignment from inventors to "RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED," followed by a conversion to "RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, LLC," and then to "SitNet LLC" all within a day of filing, suggests a structured setup for IP management that is separate from an obvious product-shipping entity. While Sitnet LLC presents as an operating company in IT/telecom, the initial chain of transfers involving "Resource Consortium Limited" prior to SitNet LLC, with potentially differing business activities (waste management for one "Resource Consortium" entity found), raises a signal. The quick succession of transfers from inventors to multiple entities before landing at the applicant/assignee Sitnet LLC (even if Sitnet LLC is an operating company) can be indicative of IP holding structures. [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Sitnet LLC has filed infringement complaints against Meta Platforms, Inc., asserting this patent family against Meta's Facebook Crisis Response feature and Ad platform. This directly identifies Sitnet LLC as an entity engaged in patent assertion.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. The provided Google Patents legal events for the initial assignments do not specify correspondent attorney names or firms [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]. Without USPTO Assignment Center records providing this detail, it's not possible to detect recurrence.

4. Cascading transfers — Present. The patent undergoes three transfers within a single day (2024-09-13) from the inventors to RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, then to RESOURCE CONSORTIUM LIMITED, LLC, and finally to SitNet LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]. This rapid succession immediately after the filing date is a strong indicator of cascading transfers, suggesting a deliberate structuring of patent ownership.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The patent was issued on 2025-03-04 [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]. A US case against Meta Platforms, Inc. was filed in the New York Southern District Court (1:25-cv-06185) [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en]. RPX Insight reports that SitNet LLC filed its first complaint against Meta Platforms roughly two years after filing, and a second one (case 1:25-cv-06185) was filed by August 1, 2025. This second complaint, within 6 months of the patent's issue date (March 4, 2025), qualifies as a pre-litigation transfer setup, even if the formal assignments to Sitnet LLC occurred earlier relative to the filing date, they were strategically in place for assertion shortly after issuance.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication in the provided data or search results that any entity in the assignment chain was involved in a bankruptcy fire-sale of this patent.

7. Privateering — Unclear. While Sitnet LLC is an operating company that is asserting the patent, it is unclear from the provided data whether this assertion is on behalf of another operating company (privateering) or solely for Sitnet LLC's own benefit. Further investigation (e.g., into SEC filings of larger tech companies or specific reporting by patent watchdog groups) would be needed to determine this.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain terminates with Sitnet LLC, which is an asserting entity, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The combination of cascading transfers immediately after the patent's filing date to establish ownership under SitNet LLC [cite: Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en], Sitnet LLC's known role as an asserter in active litigation against Meta Platforms, Inc., and the filing of a district court case within six months of the patent's issuance date [cite: 7, Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US12245325/en] are strong signals supporting a high-confidence NPE verdict. The rapid and complex initial assignment chain for an operating company primarily engaged in IT/telecom services suggests a primary intent to leverage the patent for licensing or litigation, consistent with NPE behavior.

For verification of assignment records, refer to the USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

As a technical patent analyst, I will identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 12245325 based on the "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS" and "Related to U.S. patent application" sections provided within the authoritative patent text. While I cannot perform a live USPTO database search, these sections explicitly list the applications and patents that US12245325 claims priority from or is related to, and thus constitute the cited art for the purpose of this analysis. I will note that many of these are part of the same patent family and generally would not anticipate the core inventive concepts under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as they share a common priority date, but they represent the evolution of the invention's disclosure.

My analysis of potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 will be based on the abstract and detailed description of US12245325, and the high-level descriptions of the cited prior art, due to the absence of the full claim text for US12245325 and detailed claim charts for the cited art. I will particularly focus on the earliest-filed applications as they establish the priority date for much of the disclosed subject matter.

The interpreted independent claims of US12245325 (from the previous section) primarily revolve around a situational network (SitNet) that forms based on an event, includes geographically proximate participant devices, and features a system/method for presenting a "roll call query" and aggregating responses into a "roll call list."

Most Relevant Prior Art for US12245325

Based on the cross-reference information, the most relevant prior art, especially for establishing the foundation of the situational network and personal information aggregation, are the earliest-filed applications:

1. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/887,843

   • Full Citation: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/887,843, entitled "Situational Network".
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed Feb. 2, 2007. This is the priority date for US12245325.
   • Brief Description: This provisional application is the foundational document for the "Situational Network" concept. As the earliest application, it would describe the initial ideas of forming a network based on an event, connecting participants, and sharing information related to a situation, as well as the dynamic and proximity-based aspects of a SitNet.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This application would likely disclose the core concepts of forming a situational network based on an event, including participant devices, and the general exchange of situation-related information. It would thus potentially anticipate the fundamental elements of the interpreted independent claims relating to the formation and operation of a SitNet for event-related information. However, without the full content, it's uncertain if the specific "roll call query" and "roll call list" features of US12245325's abstract are fully disclosed.

2. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,947

   • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,947, entitled "Aggregating Personal Information in a Personal Information Aggregator". The entire disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference in US12245325.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed Dec. 5, 2006. This filing date predates the provisional application (60/887,843).
   • Brief Description: This application focuses on the Personal Information Aggregator (PIA), a key component described throughout US12245325. It details how a PIA provides a user with the ability to store, organize, and control personal information, obtain data from various sources, and authorize access to subsets of this information by other entities.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates the underlying technology of the "participant devices" being PIAs and how they manage and share personal information within a network. Elements of the interpreted claims that involve participant devices (PIAs) storing and exchanging status information could find foundational disclosure here. The general concept of "aggregating" information is central to both the PIA and the roll call list.

Other Cited Applications (Part of the Same Patent Family)

The remaining cited applications are primarily continuations or related applications that claim priority from the 60/887,843 provisional application, or divisional applications derived from them. As such, they typically share a common disclosure and would not constitute prior art in the traditional sense of anticipating novel features introduced by US12245325, assuming US12245325's claims are properly supported by the earlier common priority document. They represent further development or narrower claims within the same inventive concept. However, they are listed as citations, and their titles indicate the specific aspects of the situational network that were further elaborated in those filings.

For brevity, these can be grouped due to their common origin and often overlapping subject matter, particularly as they are continuations of each other or divisional applications of the same lineage.

• Continuation and Divisional Applications of "Method And System For Using A Situational Network" (e.g., US12120769, US11470682, US10524307, US10375759, US10117290, US9877345, US9143535):

  • Full Citations:
    • Ser. No. 18/639,871 (now U.S. Pat. No. 12,120,769), filed Apr. 18, 2024.
    • Ser. No. 17/902,427, filed Sep. 2, 2022.
    • Ser. No. 16/730,339 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,470,682), filed Dec. 30, 2019.
    • Ser. No. 16/207,059 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,524,307), filed Nov. 30, 2018.
    • Ser. No. 16/164,715 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,375,759), filed Oct. 18, 2018.
    • Ser. No. 15/638,722 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,117,290), filed Jun. 30, 2017.
    • Ser. No. 14/861,340 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,877,345), filed Sep. 22, 2015.
    • Ser. No. 13/612,964 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,143,535), filed Sep. 13, 2012.
  • Publication/Filing Dates: These range from Sep. 13, 2012, to Apr. 18, 2024.
  • Brief Description: These are all continuations of earlier applications in the same family, sharing the title "Method And System For Using A Situational Network" or similar. They would elaborate on various aspects of forming, managing, and utilizing a situational network as described in the parent applications.
  • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): As part of the same patent family, these applications disclose the same or similar subject matter. They would not typically "anticipate" US12245325's claims if those claims are supported by the common priority date. However, they demonstrate the continuous disclosure of the SitNet concept.

• Continuation and Divisional Applications related to Specific SitNet Features:

  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/274,712 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,332,454), filed Oct. 17, 2011, entitled "Creating a Projection of a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,711 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,069,202), filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Creating a Projection of a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,706 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,812,717), filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,721 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,045,455), filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Location Based Services in a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,727 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,711,475), filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Use of a Situational Network for Navigation and Travel".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,731 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,036,632), filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Access of Information using a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,741, filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Searchable Message Board".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/924,748 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,249,932), filed Oct. 26, 2007, entitled "Targeted Advertising in a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/731,413 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,000,893), filed Mar. 25, 2010, entitled "Use of a Situational Network for Navigation and Travel".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/253,374, filed Oct. 5, 2011, entitled "Access of Information Using a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/274,687, filed Oct. 17, 2011, entitled "Location Based Services in a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/274,696, filed Oct. 17, 2011, entitled "Location Based Services in a Situational Network".
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/274,734, filed Oct. 17, 2011, entitled "Notifications Using a Situational Network".
  • Publication/Filing Dates: These applications generally have filing dates from 2007 to 2011.
  • Brief Description: These applications delve into specific functionalities and embodiments of the situational network, such as creating projections, location-based services, navigation, information access, message boards, targeted advertising, and notifications.
  • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): Like the "Method and System" continuations, these documents further detail various aspects of the situational network. If the specific "roll call query" and "roll call list" features of US12245325's interpreted claims were fully disclosed in any of these earlier applications (which share a common priority date), then they would be considered anticipatory to those specific elements. Given the titles, elements like location-based services and information access are certainly anticipated by these earlier family members. Without the full text of each, it's difficult to pinpoint exact anticipation for the unique "roll call" aspect, but the broader concepts of forming and interacting within a geographically-aware SitNet are undoubtedly present.

The obviousness of US patent 12245325 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 requires identifying prior art references that, when combined, would render the claimed invention obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) as of the patent's priority date of February 2, 2007.

The "Cross Reference to Related Applications" section of US12245325 explicitly identifies U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,947, filed on December 5, 2006, and titled "Aggregating Personal Information in a Personal Information Aggregator," as related prior art, with its entire disclosure incorporated by reference. This document predates the priority date of US12245325 and serves as a primary reference for the Personal Information Aggregator (PIA) concept.

Key Features of US12245325 (as interpreted from Abstract and Detailed Description):

The independent claims of US12245325, as interpreted from its abstract and detailed description, center on:

1. Receiving an indication of a "situation" or "event" occurrence.
2. Forming a "situational network" (SitNet) based on this situation.
3. Including participant devices in the SitNet that are "geographically proximate" to the situation.
4. Presenting a "roll call query" to these participant devices to solicit status replies.
5. Receiving status responses from participant devices.
6. Aggregating these status responses into a "roll call list" in a database.
   The patent describes the SitNet as potentially leveraging a Personal Information Aggregator (PIA) and an N-Dimensional Social Network (NDSN) framework.

Prior Art Analysis:

1. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,947 (filed Dec. 5, 2006) - "Aggregating Personal Information in a Personal Information Aggregator":
   This reference would teach the concept of a Personal Information Aggregator (PIA) that enables a user to store, organize, and control personal information. This information can be accessed by other authorized entities and may include aspects such as a user's life, social interactions, health, consumer behavior, and travel [cite: The entire disclosure of each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference., The personal information obtained by and/or stored in a PIA encompasses a broad array of types of information about a person's life, social interactions, health and healthcare, consumer behavior including consumer purchases, entertainment consumption and habits, fitness activity, travel, financial, employment, education, hobbies and personal computing and/or other aspects of a person's world that can be reduced in any way to data.]. The PIA is associated with user devices, such as cell phones or PDAs, capable of network connection. This reference would establish the foundation for managing and sharing personal data through a user-controlled device.

2. General Knowledge and Publicly Available Systems (Pre-Feb 2, 2007):

   • Location-Based Services: Before 2007, location-based services (LBS) were already common, especially with the proliferation of GPS-enabled mobile phones and in-vehicle navigation systems. These systems could determine a user's geographic position and provide information or services based on that location.
   • Emergency Alert Systems: Systems for broadcasting emergency alerts (e.g., weather warnings, Amber Alerts) to geographically defined areas were also known.
   • Group Communication in Emergencies: The concept of quickly establishing communication channels among individuals in a specific area during an emergency was a recognized need. This included simple "check-in" mechanisms or status updates, even if not formally termed "roll calls."
   • Event-Driven Communication: Systems that initiate communication or data sharing based on predefined events (e.g., traffic incidents, severe weather) were also known.

Obviousness Combinations and Motivation:

A PHOSITA in 2007, familiar with personal information management systems (as taught by Ser. No. 11/566,947), location-based services, and the need for efficient emergency communication, would have been motivated to combine these technologies to create a system for managing crisis situations.

Combination 1: Ser. No. 11/566,947 + Location-Based Services + Emergency Communication Needs

• Rationale: The primary reference (Ser. No. 11/566,947) teaches a PIA that stores and manages a user's personal information, potentially on a mobile device (e.g., cell phones, PDAs) [cite: Users 250 are connected via the situational network 3000 using devices 402 such as cell phones, PDA's, personal computers, network servers, PVR's, in-vehicle and portable navigation systems, or other devices generally known to those skilled in the art that enable connection to, from and through the computer network 900.].
• A PHOSITA would recognize the existing capability of mobile devices to determine their geographic location (e.g., via GPS). It would be obvious to integrate location information, either directly from the device or as part of the personal information stored in the PIA, to determine if a user is "geographically proximate" to a given "situation" [cite: The list of users connected to the SitNet may change for each updated forecast of the hurricane, with users determined to be out of the projected hurricane path being disconnected from the SitNet while other users included in the projected hurricane path are added.].
• Given the well-known need for effective communication during emergencies, a PHOSITA would be motivated to adapt a PIA-enabled system for "event-driven network formation." If a major event occurs, a system incorporating PIAs could dynamically identify affected users based on their stored location or real-time location data.
• The concept of a "roll call query" (soliciting status updates) and aggregating these into a "roll call list" in a database for tracking individuals during an emergency would be a straightforward application of known emergency management practices, adapted to a digital, networked environment. In one embodiment, the patent explicitly describes a PIA displaying an "alert warning 3070 requiring user input that they are either ok 3074 or need assistance 3072" [cite: a PIA 400 displays an alert warning 3070 requiring user input that they are either ok 3074 or need assistance 3072 .]. Such functionality aligns with general public safety requirements.

Motivation to Combine:
The motivation to combine a personal information aggregator with location-based services and emergency communication needs stems from the inherent desire to improve safety and coordination during crises. A PHOSITA would seek to leverage existing personal data management tools (PIAs) on mobile devices to provide real-time, location-specific information and status updates. The ability to automatically form a network of affected individuals (situational network), ascertain their status (roll call), and consolidate this information would address critical gaps in emergency response, making the combined system more efficient and effective than prior art systems alone. For example, by integrating location with personal information, emergency responders could identify not just who is in an area, but who in that area has specific needs (e.g., medical conditions from PIA profile) [cite: the user profile information may contain, but is not limited to, number and ages of individuals in the user's household, number and type of pets owned by the user, languages spoken, medical conditions of the user and his/her dependent (e.g., diabetes), and special services need by the user and his/her dependents (e.g., dialysis).]. This enhanced functionality would be a predictable improvement for a PHOSITA.

Therefore, the combination of a system for aggregating personal information (Ser. No. 11/566,947) with existing knowledge of location-based services and the recognized needs for digital emergency communication and status tracking would render the claims of US12245325 obvious.