Assignment history

Inventors

• William Giles Scanlon (Nortel Networks Ltd.)
• Tze-Yeung Chui (Nortel Networks Ltd.)

Both inventors were employed by Nortel Networks Ltd. at the time of filing. There is no unusual pattern of inventors departing the original assignee within 12 months of filing based on the provided information.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent was Nortel Networks Ltd. Nortel Networks was a multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer. While the patent itself does not explicitly state that Nortel Networks Ltd. shipped a product embodying these specific claims, Nortel was a significant player in telecommunications, and the patent's description compares its invention to Bluetooth, a widely used wireless standard, suggesting application in their product lines. Nortel Networks Ltd. filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009.

Assignment timeline

• 2002-05-07 (executed) / recorded 2002-05-30 — Reel 012947/0928

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: William Giles Scanlon, Tze-Yeung Chui
  • Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited, Canada
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the record.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventors to company.

• 2010-01-29 (executed) / recorded 2010-02-04 — Reel 023892/0500

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc.
  • Assignee: Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, New York
  • Correspondent: Jeffrey B. Fromm, Bingham McCutchen LLP, New York, N.Y.
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Avaya Inc.

• 2010-01-29 (executed) / recorded 2010-02-05 — Reel 023905/0001

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc.
  • Assignee: Citicorp USA, Inc., as Administrative Agent, New York
  • Correspondent: Jeffrey B. Fromm, Bingham McCutchen LLP, New York, N.Y. (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Avaya Inc.

• 2009-12-18 (executed) / recorded 2010-02-26 — Reel 023998/0878

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: Nortel Networks Limited
  • Assignee: Avaya Inc., New Jersey
  • Correspondent: Jonathan K. Waldrop, Gardner, Groff, Greenwald & Villaneuva, P.C., Atlanta, GA
  • Context: Acquisition of assets from Nortel Networks Limited (likely part of bankruptcy asset sales).

• 2011-02-11 (executed) / recorded 2011-02-22 — Reel 025863/0535

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc., a Delaware Corporation
  • Assignee: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust, NA, as Notes Collateral Agent, Pennsylvania
  • Correspondent: Mark J. Ehlert, Esq., Bingham McCutchen LLP, New York, N.Y.
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Avaya Inc.

• 2013-03-07 (executed) / recorded 2013-03-13 — Reel 030083/0639

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya, Inc.
  • Assignee: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Pennsylvania
  • Correspondent: Joseph L. Young, Esq., Bingham McCutchen LLP, New York, NY
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Avaya Inc.

• 2017-01-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-01-27 — Reel 041576/0001

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc.; Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions Inc.; Octel Communications Corporation; and others
  • Assignee: Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, New York
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Avaya entities.

• 2017-11-28 (executed) / recorded 2017-12-15 — Reel 044891/0564

  • Conveyance: Bankruptcy Court Order Releasing All Liens
  • Assignor: Citibank, N.A.
  • Assignee: Avaya Inc., California
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of security interest due to Avaya's bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2017-11-28 (executed) / recorded 2017-12-15 — Reel 044892/0001

  • Conveyance: Bankruptcy Court Order Releasing All Liens
  • Assignor: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust, NA
  • Assignee: Avaya Inc., California
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of security interest due to Avaya's bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2017-11-28 (executed) / recorded 2017-12-15 — Reel 044893/0531

  • Conveyance: Bankruptcy Court Order Releasing All Liens
  • Assignor: Citibank, N.A.
  • Assignee: Octel Communications LLC (formerly known as Octel Communications Corporation), California; Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions Inc., California
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of security interest due to Avaya's bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2018-01-08 (executed) / recorded 2018-01-10 — Reel 045034/0001

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC, Octel Communications LLC, VPNet Technologies, Inc., Zang, Inc.
  • Assignee: Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Collateral Agent
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Securitization of Avaya assets post-bankruptcy emergence.

• 2018-01-08 (executed) / recorded 2018-01-11 — Reel 045052/0971

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest
  • Assignor: Citicorp USA, Inc.
  • Assignee: Sierra Holdings Corp., Avaya, Inc.
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of a prior security interest.

• 2018-01-22 (executed) / recorded 2018-01-23 — Reel 045124/0026

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC, Octel Communications LLC, VPNet Technologies, Inc., Zang, Inc.
  • Assignee: Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Further securitization of Avaya assets.

• 2020-09-24 (executed) / recorded 2020-09-25 — Reel 053955/0436

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC, Avaya Management L.P., Intellisist, Inc.
  • Assignee: Wilmington Trust, National Association
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Securitization of Avaya assets.

• 2022-08-03 (executed) / recorded 2022-08-05 — Reel 058774/0979

  • Conveyance: Intellectual Property Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya Cabinet Solutions LLC, Avaya Inc., Avaya Management L.P., Intellisist, Inc.
  • Assignee: Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Collateral Agent
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Securitization of Avaya assets.

• 2023-04-20 (executed) / recorded 2023-04-26 — Reel 060938/0342

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest in Patents
  • Assignor: Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent
  • Assignee: Avaya Inc., Avaya Management L.P., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC, Avaya Holdings Corp.
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of a prior security interest.

• 2023-05-02 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-03 — Reel 061081/0376

  • Conveyance: Intellectual Property Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc., Avaya Management L.P., Intellisist, Inc., Knoahsoft Inc.
  • Assignee: Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB [Collateral Agent]
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Securitization of Avaya assets.

• 2023-05-03 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-04 — Reel 061087/0386

  • Conveyance: Intellectual Property Security Agreement
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc., Avaya Management L.P., Intellisist, Inc.
  • Assignee: Citibank, N.A., as Collateral Agent
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Securitization of Avaya assets.

• 2023-05-18 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-18 — Reel 061324/0273

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest in Patents
  • Assignor: Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Notes Collateral Agent
  • Assignee: Avaya Management L.P., Avaya Inc., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC, Intellisist, Inc.
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of a prior security interest.

• 2023-05-18 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-18 — Reel 061324/0273

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest in Patents
  • Assignor: Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Notes Collateral Agent
  • Assignee: Intellisist, Inc., Avaya Management L.P., Avaya Inc., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of a prior security interest.

• 2023-05-18 (executed) / recorded 2023-05-18 — Reel 061324/0273

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest in Patents
  • Assignor: Goldman Sachs Bank USA., as Collateral Agent
  • Assignee: Octel Communications LLC, Hyperquality II, LLC, Hyperquality, Inc., Avaya Integrated Cabinet Solutions LLC, Avaya Management L.P., CAAS Technologies, LLC, Intellisist, Inc., VPNet Technologies, Inc., Zang, Inc. (former name of Avaya Cloud Inc.), Avaya Inc.
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release of a prior security interest.

• 2023-09-18 (executed) / recorded 2023-09-21 — Reel 061986/0268

  • Conveyance: Grantor's Name Change (Security Interest)
  • Assignor: Avaya Inc.
  • Assignee: Avaya LLC
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Corporate name change from Avaya Inc. to Avaya LLC for security interest purposes.

• 2024-03-21 (executed) / recorded 2024-03-25 — Reel 062752/0064

  • Conveyance: Intellectual Property Release and Reassignment
  • Assignor: Citibank, N.A.
  • Assignee: Avaya LLC, Avaya Management L.P.
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release and reassignment of intellectual property.

• 2024-03-21 (executed) / recorded 2024-03-25 — Reel 062752/0073

  • Conveyance: Intellectual Property Release and Reassignment
  • Assignor: Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB
  • Assignee: Avaya LLC, Avaya Management L.P.
  • Correspondent: George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York, NY (This correspondent recurs in this chain.)
  • Context: Release and reassignment of intellectual property.

• 2024-03-25 (executed) / recorded 2024-04-04 — Reel 062837/0342

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Avaya LLC
  • Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the record.
  • Context: Transfer of patent ownership from Avaya LLC to Arlington Technologies, LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 7193986
    2002 : Inventors to Nortel Networks
    2009 : Nortel bankruptcy
    2010 : Avaya acquires from Nortel
         : Avaya securitizes with Citibank
         : Avaya securitizes with Citicorp
    2011 : Avaya securitizes with BNY Mellon
    2013 : Avaya securitizes with BNY Mellon
    2017 : Avaya securitizes with Citibank
         : Liens released for Avaya bankruptcy
    2018 : Avaya securitizes with Goldman Sachs
         : Citicorp releases security
         : Avaya securitizes with Citibank
    2020 : Avaya securitizes with Wilmington Trust
    2022 : Avaya securitizes with Wilmington Trust
    2023 : Citibank releases security
         : Avaya securitizes with Wilmington Savings
         : Avaya securitizes with Citibank
         : Wilmington Trust releases security
         : Goldman Sachs releases security
    2024 : Avaya Inc becomes Avaya LLC
         : Citibank releases IP to Avaya LLC
         : Wilmington releases IP to Avaya LLC
         : Avaya LLC to Arlington Technologies
    2025 : Patent expires May 25
         : Litigation filed
         : Reexamination initiated
    2026 : NIEIC issued

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present.

   • The transfer from Avaya LLC to Arlington Technologies, LLC on 2024-03-25 (executed) / 2024-04-04 (recorded) (Reel 062837/0342) is a strong signal. Arlington Technologies, LLC is the current assignee. The prior litigation summary indicates Arlington Technologies LLC is a plaintiff in infringement lawsuits and acquired a large portfolio of former Avaya patents, suggesting a licensing-only business model.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present.

   • Arlington Technologies, LLC is identified as a known asserter in the litigation summary, having filed lawsuits against T-Mobile and Comcast. This is confirmed by the assignment to Arlington Technologies, LLC on 2024-03-25 / 2024-04-04 (Reel 062837/0342).

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present.

   • Jeffrey B. Fromm, Bingham McCutchen LLP appears as correspondent for Avaya's security agreements on 2010-02-04 (Reel 023892/0500) and 2010-02-05 (Reel 023905/0001).
   • George T. Williams, Esq., Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP appears repeatedly for Avaya's security interests and releases from 2017-01-27 (Reel 041576/0001) through 2024-03-25 (Reel 062752/0073). This individual handled a significant portion of Avaya's assignments and releases leading up to the transfer to Arlington Technologies. The final transfer to Arlington Technologies, however, does not list a correspondent.

4. Cascading transfers — Not present.

   • While there are many security interests and releases, these are not direct ownership transfers between chained LLCs in quick succession. The primary ownership transfers are from Nortel to Avaya, and then from Avaya to Arlington, with a significant time gap between them.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present.

   • The patent was assigned to Arlington Technologies, LLC on 2024-03-25 (executed) / 2024-04-04 (recorded) (Reel 062837/0342).
   • The first lawsuit by Arlington Technologies against Comcast was filed in September 2024, and against T-Mobile on March 7, 2025 (Case 2:25-cv-00279).
   • The transfer date to Arlington Technologies is less than 6 months before the Comcast suit and less than a year before the T-Mobile suit, indicating the acquisition was likely made with the intent to assert.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Present.

   • Nortel Networks Ltd., the original assignee, filed for bankruptcy. The assignment from Nortel Networks Limited to Avaya Inc. (2009-12-18 / 2010-02-26, Reel 023998/0878) occurred after Nortel's bankruptcy filing, indicating a fire-sale of assets.
   • Avaya Inc. also underwent bankruptcy, with multiple releases of liens "due to Avaya's bankruptcy proceedings" in December 2017 (Reel 044891/0564, Reel 044892/0001, Reel 044893/0531), leading to a subsequent series of securitizations and eventual sale of the patent to Arlington Technologies.

7. Privateering — Unclear.

   • While Avaya was an operating company that sold its patents to Arlington, there is no explicit information provided in the patent text or derived from Google Patents that Avaya is directly backing Arlington's assertion campaigns against its competitors. It's a common pattern for NPEs to acquire patents from operating companies, but the specific "privateering" arrangement is not evidenced.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present.

   • The chain terminates with Arlington Technologies, LLC, which is an asserting entity, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is supported by multiple strong signals. The patent was transferred to Arlington Technologies, LLC (Reel 062837/0342), which is identified as a known patent asserter actively engaged in litigation against T-Mobile and Comcast, following a pre-litigation transfer within six months of the first lawsuit. Furthermore, the patent originated from Nortel Networks Ltd., which went through bankruptcy, leading to an asset sale (Reel 023998/0878), and Avaya Inc., an intermediate owner, also underwent bankruptcy, a common source for patent portfolios acquired by NPEs for assertion. The recurrence of a single correspondent attorney (George T. Williams, Esq.) across numerous Avaya assignments prior to the final sale further strengthens this conclusion.

USPTO Patent Assignment Search for US7193986