Assignment history

Inventors

David Eugene Hooks. The patent does not list an employer for the inventor at the time of filing. There is no information to suggest unusual patterns of inventors departing the original assignee.

Original assignee

Triumfant Inc.

Based on the patent description, Triumfant Inc. developed systems and methods for automated computer support, including anomaly detection and automated repair, which implies shipping a product embodying the claims. The current status of Triumfant Inc. is "Assigned to RPX CORPORATION" as of 2021-01-19, and later to Netskope Inc. in 2024.

Assignment timeline

• 2005-07-25 (executed) / recorded 2005-08-04 — Reel 016733/0388

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: CHORUS SYSTEMS, INC.
  • Assignee: SILICON VALLEY BANK
  • Correspondent: MICHAEL J. FEIN, FENWICK & WEST LLP, SILICON VALLEY CENTER, 801 CALIFORNIA STREET, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94041
  • Context: Security interest granted by Chorus Systems, Inc. to Silicon Valley Bank.

• 2005-08-11 (executed) / recorded 2005-08-25 — Reel 016766/0612

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: HOOKS, DAVID EUGENE
  • Assignee: CHORUS SYSTEMS, INC.
  • Correspondent: KORY D. CHRISTIANSEN, P.O. BOX 2496, BOISE, ID 83701-2496
  • Context: Inventor assigned interest to Chorus Systems, Inc.

• 2006-03-13 (executed) / recorded 2006-03-24 — Reel 017594/0675

  • Conveyance: Release
  • Assignor: SILICON VALLEY BANK
  • Assignee: CHORUS SYSTEMS, INC.
  • Correspondent: MICHAEL J. FEIN, FENWICK & WEST LLP, SILICON VALLEY CENTER, 801 CALIFORNIA STREET, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94041. This correspondent also appears on reel 016733/0388.
  • Context: Release of security interest by Silicon Valley Bank.

• 2007-11-02 (executed) / recorded 2007-11-19 — Reel 020295/0969

  • Conveyance: Change of Name
  • Assignor: CHORUS SYSTEMS, INC.
  • Assignee: TRIUMFANT, INC.
  • Correspondent: FENWICK & WEST LLP, SILICON VALLEY CENTER, 801 CALIFORNIA STREET, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94041. This correspondent also appears on reel 016733/0388 and 017594/0675.
  • Context: Chorus Systems, Inc. changed its name to Triumfant, Inc.

• 2020-10-23 (executed) / recorded 2020-10-28 — Reel 049580/0179

  • Conveyance: PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
  • Assignee: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: RUTH A. CARTER, BARINGS LLC, 300 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 2500, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202
  • Context: Security agreement granted by RPX Clearinghouse LLC to Barings Finance LLC.

• 2020-10-23 (executed) / recorded 2020-10-28 — Reel 049580/0187

  • Conveyance: PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: RPX CORPORATION
  • Assignee: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: RUTH A. CARTER, BARINGS LLC, 300 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 2500, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202. This correspondent also appears on reel 049580/0179.
  • Context: Security agreement granted by RPX Corporation to Barings Finance LLC.

• 2021-01-19 (executed) / recorded 2021-01-28 — Reel 050011/0458

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: NEHEMIAH SECURITY, INC.
  • Assignee: RPX CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: BRIAN R. MCGRATH, MCGRATH LAW A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION, 1425 PEARL STREET, LA JOLLA, CA 92037
  • Context: Nehemiah Security, Inc. (and Triumfant, Inc., as indicated by Google Patents data) assigned interest to RPX Corporation.

• 2024-05-31 (executed) / recorded 2024-06-03 — Reel 054922/0200

  • Conveyance: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN SPECIFIED PATENTS
  • Assignor: BARINGS FINANCE LLC
  • Assignee: RPX CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: JILL P. ALDERMAN, BARINGS LLC, 300 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 2500, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202
  • Context: Release of security interest by Barings Finance LLC.

• 2024-07-05 (executed) / recorded 2024-07-16 — Reel 055106/0001

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: RPX CORPORATION
  • Assignee: Netskope, Inc.
  • Correspondent: ALAN P. NOWLIN, 1941 W. SWITZER CANYON ROAD, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001
  • Context: RPX Corporation assigned interest to Netskope, Inc.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 7593936
    2005 : Security Agmt: Chorus to Silicon Valley Bank
         : Assignment: Hooks to Chorus Systems
    2006 : Release: Silicon Valley Bank to Chorus
    2007 : Change of Name: Chorus to Triumfant Inc.
    2009 : Patent Issued
    2020 : Sec Agmt: RPX Clearinghouse to Barings
         : Sec Agmt: RPX Corp to Barings
    2021 : Assignment: Nehemiah/Triumfant to RPX Corp
    2024 : Release: Barings to RPX Corporation
         : Assignment: RPX Corp to Netskope Inc.

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — unclear. While there are transfers involving RPX Corporation and RPX Clearinghouse LLC, RPX is a known defensive aggregator, not typically a shell entity for assertion. The ultimate assignee, Netskope Inc., appears to be an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. RPX Corporation is a known defensive aggregator (anti-NPE), which is the inverse signal.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.
   • Michael J. Fein, FENWICK & WEST LLP, appears on Reel 016733/0388 (2005-08-04) and Reel 017594/0675 (2006-03-24). Fenwick & West LLP also appears on Reel 020295/0969 (2007-11-19).
   • Ruth A. Carter, BARINGS LLC, appears on Reel 049580/0179 and Reel 049580/0187 (both 2020-10-28).
4. Cascading transfers — not present. The transfers, while sometimes grouped, do not show multiple consecutive assignments through chained LLCs in a short timeframe that suggest a rapid transfer for assertion.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The earliest recorded litigation for this patent is IPR2026-00027 filed by Unified Patents, but this IPR was not instituted. The transfers precede this by a significant margin.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — unclear. There's no explicit mention of Triumfant Inc. or Nehemiah Security, Inc. filing for bankruptcy, although the assignment to RPX could be a result of financial distress or acquisition.
7. Privateering — not present. There is no indication of an operating company transferring the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf against competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — present. RPX Corporation, a known defensive aggregator, acquired the patent in 2021.

Verdict

Defensive / non-asserting

The chain shows an assignment to RPX Corporation in 2021 (Reel 050011/0458), which is a known defensive aggregator. While RPX later assigned the patent to Netskope, Inc. in 2024 (Reel 055106/0001), the presence of RPX in the chain strongly suggests a period of defensive aggregation. Netskope, Inc. is an operating company, further indicating a non-assertion intent.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/