US 6161149

Patent Analyst Report: US 6161149

Date of Analysis: 2026-05-11

This report provides a concise summary of United States Patent 6161149, including its key bibliographic details and an overview of its independent claims.

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I. Bibliographic Information

• Title: Centrifugal communication and collaboration method
• Assignee: The patent lists "Sampo IP LLC" as a current assignee. The original assignee was "GroupServe Inc".
• Inventors: Theodore B. Achacoso, D. Wayne Silby
• Filing Date: 1998-03-13
• Issue Date: 2000-12-12
• Abstract: A system and method for communicating information among members of a distributed discussion group having peripheral communication devices involves communication between the peripheral communication devices and a central agent. The central agent receives and stores messages intended for at least one other group member. It creates a notice informing the at least one other group member that such a message exists and containing a channel (e.g., a hyperlink) directly to the memory location of the message. The at least one other group member may then elect to retrieve the message and may also elect to reply to the message. Such replies are transmitted from the peripheral device of the at least one other group member to the central agent, where it is stored and associated with the original message. Messages are retained in memory, thereby causing discussions to be maintained.

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II. Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

This patent contains four independent claims: 1, 14, 20, and 23. These claims form the core of the invention.

• Claim 1: Describes a system for managing a discussion group. The system includes personal devices for each member and a central agent. When one member sends a message to another, the central agent stores the message and sends a notice to the intended recipient. This notice contains a direct link (a "channel") to the stored message. If the recipient replies, their response is also stored and linked to the original message, creating a threaded conversation that is preserved over time. This process continues for subsequent replies.

• Claim 14: Outlines a method for communication within a group. It details the steps of a central device receiving a message from one member for another, storing it, and then sending a notice with a direct link to only the intended recipient(s). When a recipient responds, that new message is also stored and linked to the first one. This process is repeated for further replies, creating a stored, threaded discussion, and it emphasizes sending information only to those for whom it is intended and only when they respond to a notice.

• Claim 20: This claim recasts the invention in terms of "means for" achieving the communication. It describes a system with components responsible for:

  • Centrally receiving and storing a message.
  • Generating a notice with a direct link to the message.
  • Selectively sending that notice to the intended recipient.
  • Allowing the recipient to retrieve the message and send a response, which is then associated with the original message.
  • This process of generating and sending notices continues for subsequent responses, maintaining an associated chain of communication.

• Claim 23: This claim describes a similar system to claim 1, but with a specific focus on automation and security. It specifies that the direct link ("channel") in the notice contains all the necessary information, including authentication details like a password, to automatically access the message. This allows the recipient to access the message directly and automatically, without needing to manually log in after clicking the link.

In essence, the patent describes a "push" notification system for group discussions, where users are actively notified of new messages relevant to them and are provided with a direct link to access the content, rather than having to manually check a central repository. The system is designed to maintain threaded conversations over time.

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III. Litigation Status

As of 2026-05-11, a review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 does not show any current appeals specifically listing US Patent 6161149. However, historical records indicate this patent has been subject to litigation in the past, with Sampo IP, LLC asserting the patent against various companies. No active litigation at the CAFC level is apparent from the available 2026 dockets.